On April 20, a lyrical piano tune resounded in the auditorium of MGM Music Hall as the distant voice of an announcer thanked the audience for their presence. All of a sudden, the jazz band transformed stylistically into an orchestra — the string musicians played a swooping melody that resembled a classical version of Rachel Agatha Keen’s 2023 hit song “Oscar Winning Tears.” The artist — better known as Raye — brought the audience back to 1950s Hollywood with her lush vocals.

British singer-songwriter Raye performed at the Boston venue as part of her global tour, aptly named “This Tour May Contain New Music” — a play on the name of Raye’s second studio album “This Music May Contain Hope.” that released on Mar. 27 right before her shows in the U.S. and Canada. Rising artists Amma and Absolutely, Raye’s sisters, supported her as openers in Boston and are slated for every stop on the tour.

Blinding white lights and a loud thunder-like boom signaled the opening of the concert. Raye’s voice pierced through the hall in a grainy audio track, narrating the story of a woman in her late twenties, the same as in her album’s first track “Intro: Girl Under The Grey Cloud.” The crowd erupted in applause as Raye walked on the stage in a fur coat and high heels, cosplaying as her story’s heroine.

Her dramatic entrance served as a transition into “I Will Overcome.” As she sang the first few notes, a cartoon storm cloud loomed over her. The mood was comical as three violinists serenaded Raye and a staff member sprinkled confetti on her, setting the scene for the concert’s theatrical elements.

The concert was structured into five parts. “Act I” consisted of new songs from “This Music May Contain Hope.,” such as “Winter Woman.,” “Skin & Bones.,” and the trending “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” As soon as the opener “I Will Overcome.” ended, the curtains parted and Raye re-emerged in the red dress she wore on her album cover. The energy level of the audience increased even further when the band played the familiar introduction of her TikTok-famous track.

“Act I” — with all its freshness — went by quickly and Raye jokingly continued with her narrative. This time, she spoke of and roleplayed as a lonely, middle-aged woman who came across a jazz club in the middle of nowhere. She stepped through a door that read “RAYE’s Jazz Club,” the title of her concert’s second segment, as the stage reset and musicians moved forward to sit at tables with red tablecloths and cabaret lamps. In this part of the concert, Raye reminded the audience she is classically trained by performing a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as a heavily-improvised version of her own song “Worth It.”

The somber and reflective mood in “Act II” was drastically different from those in the previous two parts. With the intent of raising awareness, Raye spoke on sexual harassment and suicide prevention before “Ice Cream Man.” and “I Know You’re Hurting.” — songs that deals with these two themes, respectively. Her face was tear-stained throughout these tracks, with the music serving as an opportunity for emotional healing for both herself and the audience. “Act II” was wrapped up with an empowering chant of “I’m not givin’ up” from her song “Life Boat.”

After a swift and symphonic “Act III” in which Raye changed into a black and white sequin gown and presented the upbeat “Click Clack Symphony.,” she jumped straight into “RAVE,” the final portion of her concert. The monitor displayed the word “RAYE” as its “Y” slowly metamorphosed into a “V.” EDM music blared through the speakers and cool tone laser beams shot up towards the ceiling. Raye asked the audience to put their hands up as she performed a medley featuring collaborative singles such as “Secrets” with Regard, “You Don’t Know Me” with Jax, and “Prada ” with Cassö and D-Block Europe. She then brought out her sisters Amma and Absolutely to sing “Joy.” to round out the main set. The concert ended with her iconic track “Escapism.” as the encore, a continuation of the nightclub atmosphere built up before.

Throughout the show, Raye frequently interacted with the audience. At the beginning of “Act I,” she held up large signs and instructed the audience to clap, scream, and even yell “Whoop! Whoop!” as a warm-up. Although she added complicated riffs and harmonies to songs like “Worth It.” that made them impossible to sing along to, she taught verses and chants for others. She even provided lyrics to “Beware.. The South London Lover Boy.” on screen. It is safe to say her performance achieved a perfect balance of showcasing her artistry and entertaining the audience.

Storytelling was an essential component of Raye’s concert. Everything that remained unsaid on the album was explained live on stage. For instance, she confided in the audience about her heartbreak which inspired the song “Nightingale Lane.” Although there was a lot of dialogue, it provided opportunities for thought-provoking recesses and prevented audience overstimulation from too large a variety of music.

Overall, Raye’s concert was an unforgettable blend of drama and vulnerability. From jazzy ballads to high-energy EDM, the artist captivated the audience with her versatility, humor and down-to-earth character. Audience members were able to enjoy her ground-breaking vocals, as well as her ability to connect with them.

—Staff writer Sophie Tung can be reached at [email protected].