RAYE is a British singer and songwriter whose music combines a powerful voice with an unusually direct way of expressing herself. She can bring glamour and drama to a performance while singing about experiences that are uncomfortable, messy and deeply personal. Her songs move through soul, jazz, R&B, pop and dance music, with each style giving her a different way to tell a story. Sometimes she sounds composed and commanding; sometimes she sounds as though the feeling has arrived before she has had time to organise it.
Discover great music with The Fat Llama. From hidden gems to unforgettable live performances, he shares his favourites and gives his honest take on what hits the mark—and what misses a beat. Listen, explore, and join the conversation
RAYE is a British singer and songwriter whose music combines a powerful voice with an unusually direct way of expressing herself. She can bring glamour and drama to a performance while singing about experiences that are uncomfortable, messy and deeply personal. Her songs move through soul, jazz, R&B, pop and dance music, with each style giving her a different way to tell a story. Sometimes she sounds composed and commanding; sometimes she sounds as though the feeling has arrived before she has had time to organise it.
Sam Fender makes music that can have a crowd singing at full volume while telling a story that is anything but carefree. His songs carry the excitement of ringing guitars, driving drums and melodies that seem to keep climbing. Underneath that energy are accounts of family pressure, difficult friendships, grief and the struggle to imagine a better future. He has a gift for bringing those two sides together, giving painful experiences a sound that feels open, powerful and shared.
His eighth studio album, Oceanic, released on 16 October 2026, adds another chapter to that story. Recorded in Sydney with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie as co-producer, it reconnects O’Rourke with the country where his early songwriting developed. Its background brings together his experiences in Ireland and Australia, with memory, distance and the passage of time helping to shape the project. Returning to Australia to make the record gives it a personal significance: an experienced songwriter revisiting a place closely associated with his beginnings.
Fontaines D.C.’s next chapter arrived on 16 October 2026 with Dopamine Chamber, their fifth studio album. Following Romance, the release continues a career shaped by change, curiosity and a refusal to settle into one familiar sound. The Dublin band have travelled a considerable distance from the urgent introductions of Dogrel, while keeping Grian Chatten’s distinctive voice and their strong sense of identity at the centre.
Jamie T’s Ghosts (100 Days of Morning) turns towards the past and asks what happens when it follows you into the present. Growing older does not always mean leaving earlier versions of yourself behind. Friendships, relationships and nights you thought you had forgotten can still shape the person you become. Those questions sit at the centre of his new album.
Greta Van Fleet’s Palace for the People arrives with a title that puts the audience at the centre of the picture. Rock music can be a private escape, but it can also bring strangers together through a shared chorus or the excitement of a live performance. That sense of belonging provides a meaningful starting point for the band’s latest chapter.
A new chapter arrives with Carnaval De Luz, scheduled for release on 13 November 2026. Announced as their sixteenth studio album and their first collection of new material in nine years, it brings fresh songs into a catalogue already spanning several generations. The release gives their next period of touring a new musical focus alongside the songs audiences have lived with for decades.
Four experienced Northern Irish musicians finding a new direction together. Start with “Laughs for the Lonely” and discover the voices behind the band.
From today’s fresh releases to the classics that shaped generations, The Fat Llama celebrates great music across the decades. Discover new artists, revisit old favourites, and uncover hidden gems along the way—with honest opinions and a love of music at the heart of it all.
Soul / R&BRAYE
