In a world where electronic beats, frat boys turned DJs and recycled tunes dominate the stage, Raye’s new single “Where Is My Husband?” feels like a breath of fresh air. With powerful vocals and vibrant instrumentals, the track combines humorously relatable lyrics, showcasing Raye’s undeniable star quality.
First performed as the opening number of her Glastonbury 2025 set, the song was officially released on Sept. 19. Since then, it has become her most-streamed track and climbed onto the Billboard Hot 100 by mid-October. As if anticipating the wave of excitement her new song would create, Raye released “Where Is My Husband?” as the first single from her upcoming 2026 album — a move that has only heightened the expectations surrounding her next era.
When I first heard the song, it felt like the kind that could transcend fleeting trends and short-lived catchy tunes. It has the same theatrical energy of “Bohemian Rhapsody;” the kind of song that could unite an entire crowd, whether performed on a grand stage or by a lone artist in a train station with nothing but a guitar and a dream.
Much like Adele’s unmistakable tone, recognizable within a single line, Raye’s vocals possess that same instant familiarity and emotional pull. There’s also a touch of Amy Winehouse in her delivery: the rawness, the chaos and the unapologetic honesty. All these comparisons converge in “Where Is My Husband?”, delivering more than just a song, but an experience. It doesn’t simply play; it takes over the listener.
The song captures both amusement and a touch of desperation through a mix of rap-like verses and dramatic pauses, all while Raye flaunts her diverse vocal range. Singers online have taken on the challenge of covering her single and few have succeeded.
While the vocals alone could carry the song, Raye doesn’t stop there. Calling herself “a maximalist when it comes to music production and vocals,” she takes listeners behind the scenes in her TikTok “Break Down” series, revealing the layers and meticulous details woven throughout the track. These snippets uncover hidden harmonies, instrumental flourishes and lyrical nuances that make the song an intricate masterpiece.
Raye remains a refreshing voice in both lyricism and musicality. Her vocals are as powerful as they are versatile, mirroring her genre-bending style. Having evolved from R&B and pop roots, she’s carved a distinct space for herself through her bold embrace of jazz and blues influences.
In a musical landscape that may sometimes be bland and repetitive, Raye’s “Where Is My Husband?” proves that maximalism, personality and pure musical craftsmanship can still steal the spotlight.