Rae Morris - From Blackpool to Los Angeles
UK Singer Songwriter Rae Morris was born and raised in Blackpool, Lancashire, and started playing the piano when she was just four years old. She attended St. George's School and then studied A-levels in music and drama at Cardinal Newman College in Preston. She gigged in Blackpool and around the north-west of England during her college studies, before performing on the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2011.
She was signed to Universal Music Publishing Group the same month, and to Atlantic Records in September 2011. During this period Morris was mentored by fellow Blackpool singer-songwriter Karima Francis, who helped develop her songwriting skills.
Morris released her debut single in March 2012, "Don't Go", following its use in the final episode of the sixth series of the television drama series Skins. She recorded an EP, For You, which she sold exclusively at her live performances in mid 2012, and in November released a second EP, Grow. Another EP, From Above, followed in 2013.
GROW - OFFICIAL VIDEO
Alongside her solo gigs during 2012 and 2013, Morris was a support act for artists including Bombay Bicycle Club, Lianne La Havas, Noah and the Whale, and Tom Odell. She contributed guest vocals to three tracks on Bombay Bicycle Club's 2014 album So Long, See You Tomorrow, including the single "Luna". Also in 2014, Morris featured on the Clean Bandit song "Up Again" (from their debut album New Eyes) and opened for George Ezra on his European tour, as well as embarking on her own headlining UK tour.
CLOSER - OFFICIAL VIDEO
During 2014, Morris released the singles "Do You Even Know?", "Cold" (featuring Fryars), and "Closer"—each with accompanying EPs—to promote her debut album, Unguarded, which she recorded in Los Angeles with producer Ariel Rechtshaid.
UNDER THE SHADOWS - OFFICIAL VIDEO
Rae
Morris has been longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll, and Unguarded is scheduled for release in January 2015 alongside the single "Under the Shadows", with another headlining tour to follow in February.
RAE MORRIS TALKING ABOUT THE RECORDING OF UNGUARDED
Find out more at www.raemorris.co.uk
