Despite its thunderous, cinematic sound, Raye’s global smash “Where Is My Husband!” is a masterclass in musical restraint, per musicradar.com. In a new breakdown for Mix with the Masters, co-writer and producer Mike Sabath reveals that the track’s “gigantic” atmosphere relies on surprisingly few elements.
“Even though it sounds massive, this song is literally drums, bass, fresh elements… and then one of the greatest singers of our time,” Sabath explains. He credits the song’s slow-burn success, reaching Number 1 in the UK this January following a standout Glastonbury debut, to Raye’s peerless vocal prowess.
The track famously begins with a drum groove created via the Addictive Drums plugin. Sabath, a drummer by trade, insisted on opening with a drum roll to signal a “statement of intent” for Raye’s era as a “global queen superstar.”
One of the song’s most complex moments, the vocal bridge, was composed by Raye alone. Sabath recalls his initial hesitation upon hearing her intricate arrangement: “I was like, ‘This is either too much or the sickest of all time.’ It ultimately ended up being super great.”
From the iconic “Your husband is coming” line, delivered by Raye’s grandmother, to a closing section designed to “soar over 100,000 people,” the production proves that with the right talent, less truly can be more.
•Featured image: Raye/Jim Dyson/Getty Images
