RAYE, Amma & Absolutely, Joy. | Music Lifts

In the 22^nd edition of Music Lifts (2026), we’re uplifted by British singer-songwriters RAYE, Amma, and Absolutely performing “Joy.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 22^nd edition of Music Lifts (2026), we highlight “Joy.” as performed by RAYE, Amma, and Absolutely.

British singer-songwriter RAYE (Rachel Keen) sings in the chorus of “Joy.” The exuberant, soulful-pop/R&B/gospel cut arrives near the end of her 2026 album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. Notably, RAYE collaborates with her sisters, Amma (Lauren Keen) and Absolutely (Abby-Lynn Keen). The inspirational song samples the 1974 Fred Wesley/The J.B.’s song, “Damn Right I’m Somebody”.  It was composed by the Keen sisters, Mike Sabath, and Tom Richards.  RAYE, Sabath, and Richards produced it.

“Joy.” begins with an intro by James Brown, where the Godfather of Soul asks, “Mr. Ray, are you somebody?” Fitting (Ray and RAYE)! This question recurs throughout the first verse, performed by RAYE.  Spiritually driven, she asserts, “I declare and decree / Any chain that has been holding me / Any evil tongue that whispers in these ears / I said, ‘I rebuke you, you must leave my life, you are not welcome here.’” Amen! In the pre-chorus, she gets Biblical, petitioning God to “Cover me with Your feathers, Father / Shelter me with Your wings.” She continues to declare J-O-Y in the chorus, excerpted earlier, as well as the post-chorus, where she introduces her youngest sister, Amma. Amma performs the second verse, where she sings, “It’s been hard for me to fall asleep / Building burdens up to kill my dreams,” and concludes, “When my spirit gets low / I know there’s someone out there who’s been praying for me.” In the third verse, Absolutely takes the reins, encouraging us all that “But the light comes with the morning.” With RAYE performing the high-flying, tuneful chorus, her sisters join in on the final post-chorus, which is filled with, dare I say, JOY! Beautifully written, authentically performed, and marvelously produced (the groove and orchestration are sickening), “Joy.” Is one of the many gems that graces THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. We could all use the encouragement and reassurance that RAYE, Amma, and Absolutely sing about so elegantly.

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RAYE » THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. » RAYE / Human Re Sources » 2026

RAYE, Amma & Absolutely, Joy.: Music Lifts No. 22 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; RAYE / Human Re Sources; Emma Bauso, foad shariyati, nappy, Niko Twisty, Victoria Strelka_ph, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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