Rankd x Orla Rae
A sonic journey of soulful jazz + infectious energy
Independent artist Orla Rae kicks off 2025 with her brand-new single ‘FOMO’, released on February 26th and co-written, produced and mixed by the talented James Berkeley. A fusion of soul, pop, jazz, and R&B, the track explores the freedom that comes with letting go of external validation and embracing your own path.
Glistening with smooth melodies and hair-raising harmonies, the song delivers an uplifting message about letting go of the fear of missing out and learning to put yourself first. “Healing and growing and learning who I wanna be”, Orla sings, capturing the journey of knowing what’s best for yourself and embracing self-growth.
Her effortless jazz-jewelled melodies burst free from the restraints of musical convention, showcasing a powerful delivery and pushing a more experimental sound – while embracing a catchy pop-adjacent hook – ‘I’m getting better there’s no doubt’. This head-bopping sing-along intermission amongst jaw-dropping jazz complexity creates a space for a multitude of genres to mingle and flourish – something Orla achieves seamlessly.
To put it simply – This is a MUST listen.
I wrote this last summer with James Berkeley - I had been listening to loads of my fave jazz/soul artists like Amy, Cleo and D’angelo at the time and it was such a fun song to make. I really hope you all love it, no more fomo in 2025 <3
‘FOMO’ is the first release from Orla Rae this year, setting a compelling foundation for a year of wins.
Hailing from Brighton, 23-year-old singer-songwriter Orla Rae is quickly becoming a name to watch. Her music is a vibrant mix of soulful melodies, intricate harmonies, and intimate storytelling, all tied together by her distinctive voice and rich vocal runs.
Her journey so far has been nothing short of impressive – supporting artists like Sophie Faith and IYAMAH, as well as performing with Grammy Award-winning jazz duo Blue Lab Beats on their EU tour. She has also gained major radio support, with her single ‘Richest Girl’ landing on the BBC Radio 1Xtra playlist and earning Introducing’s ‘Track of the Week’.
Orla is supported by the work of AudioActive, who continue to pioneer the youth music movement in Brighton and surrounding areas. We recently covered their Mak10 seafront cypher here.
Orla’s latest single ‘FOMO‘ is out now, and she’ll be making an appearance on the live stage in the coming months at the ‘Global Soul Showcase‘, The Jazz Cafe, London on April 20th 2025 and ‘Vivid: A Reigning Women Celebration‘, The Old Market, Brighton on March 6th 2025!