Memories of RAYE | My 21st Century Blues with Laura Endler

How does studying sociology, tracking active reading habits on Instagram, learning wind instruments, and trading an English accent for life in Vancouver shape a listener's profound connection to raw storytelling? In this episode of The Friday Vinyl Club, Jamie sits down with Oliver's great friend and book reviewer Laura Endler to trace how Raye’s fearless 2023 independent masterclass, 21st Century Blues, confronts deep trauma, industry constraints, and reclamation of power with brutal honesty. Plus, Laura calls back for a post-concert update following Raye's record-breaking North American headline show at Thunderbird Stadium. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB: • Our Official Website: ⁠thefridayvinylclub.com • Contact / Guest Inquiries: [email protected] INSIDE THE EPISODE & TIMESTAMPS: 00:18 - Intro: Welcoming Laura Endler from Vancouver and introducing Raye’s 21st Century Blues. 02:38 - Endler's Reading: Tracking literary fiction habits to escape online scrolling after university. 04:56 - Early Cinema Seeds: How childhood Disney soundtracks like Aladdin laid structural roots for storytelling. 07:44 - The Car Journey Stereo: Dancing to Oasis and Simply Red tapes passed down from her mother. 08:55 - Sisterly Divergences: Navigating shifting teenage tastes between alternative wind band scores and Spanish reggaeton. 10:28 - One Direction Fandom: Navigating early X Factor voting loops and using boybands to bond across international moves. 11:42 - Clarinet to Saxophone: Unlocking sight-reading at age nine and graduating to tenor and alto sax loops. 14:34 - Wednesday Night Vinyl: Gathering at a local pub to share eclectic records hands-free away from phones. 17:14 - Crate-Digging For Arctic Monkeys: Buying a cheap copy of AM at 16 before selecting records for kitchen soundtracking. 18:47 - Smaller Vancouver Vaults: Catching early nightclub dates by Dave and Catfish and the Bottlemen for only $20. 20:48 - Facing Gigs Alone: Taking a brave leap of faith to catch Milky Chance solo on campus to build true confidence. 25:31 - Radio Pigeonholes: How Raye's early chart remixes led to a furious label formula prison before she went independent. 28:42 - Pockets of Vulnebrality: Empathizing with explicit human experiences and watching an artist transition in real-time. 33:41 - The Glamour Glaze: Why complex, heavy topics require upbeat tempos so conversational elements aren't missed. 35:11 - Escapism: The physical punch of a looping rhythm track and unpacking Raye's biggest global breakthrough. 37:19 - Ice Cream Man: Finding absolute exposure in the shadows of a stripped-back, piano-led arrangement with nowhere to hide. 39:36 - Hard Out There: Standing up to industry friction and representing the collective anger of younger musicians. 45:44 - Pile of Expectations: Dissecting oversized red heels, men in suits, and finding control in the gatefold artwork. 50:44 - The Friday Spin: Laura's dual classic fiction book reviews and a timeless pop-ballad track suggestion. 54:09 - The Post-Concert Call: Raye breaks live records at Thunderbird Stadium with a multi-genre rave and sisters singing "Joy." THE FRIDAY SPIN: LAURA ENDLER – BILLIE EILISH SPOTLIGHT: • The Recommendation: Billie Eilish’s beautifully reflective track "My Future". • The Vibe: An empowering, hopeful anthem centered on choosing yourself and honoring the path toward your own creation. TOPICS COVERED: Raye, 21st Century Blues, Endlers Reading, independent artist autonomy, modern book curation, wind orchestration, live concert tracking, stadium rhapsody loops, visual packaging codes, and seasonal listening psychology. FOR FANS OF: If you love music memories, physical media, and human stories behind the songs on podcasts like The Vinyl Guide, Back to NOW!, Music Is None Of Our Business, Desert Island Discs, or A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, you are right at home in the club! Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help our independent community grow!