BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BRITISH singer, songwriter and guitarist Corinne Bailey-Rae said it has been challenging trying to resume her recording career following the sudden death of her husband Jason Rae in March 2008.
The British artiste, who was born to a Kittitian father and British mother, released her debut album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in 2006 for which she won a Grammy for Album of the Year for her work as an featured artist in Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters.
Her single ‘Put Your Records On’ was a worldwide hit, as she was described as bringing a new refreshing sound to the industry.
According to cityalert.com, Bailey-Rae has spent much of this year gradually returning to work, writing and quietly playing low-key gigs to help her move though the grief.
She told UK's Observer Music Monthly, "I did think I could never do this sort of thing again because if anyone asked me about Jason, I would just explode. For a long time I didn't even try and write. It was just too big a thing, too raw."
She was married to Jason in 2001 and they lived together until his death in 2008. Jason Rae, a 31-year-old saxophonist who played in Mark Ronson's band and sometimes toured with his wife, was found dead following an accidental overdose of methadone and alcohol.
After an 18 month hiatus, she returned to the studio and has written two new songs about her loss.
The cityalert.com reported that ‘Are You Here’ was "one of the songs that just came through. It was like I was wishing him here. It's a song about grief and loss and that's really what the whole record is about".
She added: "I don't think there is anyone of my generation saying these things, singing about these things," she said. "And it happens, you know. It can happen to anyone at any time. I want to be out there on stage with my hands outgoing. Does anyone else feel the same way?"
Bailey-Rae said she had tried to get back to work and record some songs too early.
"I laugh now at how deluded I was. I felt like everything would somehow go back to normal if I got on with things but, in reality, I was still in shock," Observer Music Monthly reported.
Now, she is looking ahead. Later this year she will showcase the new set of songs in some concert dates and the to-be-named album is set for release in early 2010.
