Singer says gaming helps her cope with hectic schedule

What’s the first thing you think of when you see Raye’s name?

Reaching the top of the charts? Her record-breaking haul at the Brit Awards? Or the row with her record label that sent her career stratospheric?

But there’s something you might not know about Raye.

She really, really loves Mario Kart.

The Escapism singer tells BBC Newsbeat she’s a “huge gamer”, and says it’s a passion she’s had since she was a little girl playing on her Nintendo DS.

“I genuinely need to think about getting a 1-Up mushroom tattooed on my arm,” she says, referring to the famous Super Mario Bros extra life power-up.

“I’m that hardcore, which I know is really sad, but I actually am obsessed.”

Any gamer will tell you that reaching for a controller or mouse and keyboard can boost their mental health, and Raye says it’s no different for her.

“I find games to just be like a very beautiful escape from your everyday life,” she says.

“I’m really one of those people who loves to hyper-focus on something, and when I’m playing a game, nothing else matters in that moment.”

She says games can be a lifeline for someone with her hectic schedule of touring and performing.

“Almost every day, when I need to just turn off, I’m just playing a game, finding someone on tour who wants to play games with me.

“We have a console on the bus and we’ll gather around.”

Raye says Overcooked – a madcap cooking simulator – is a current favourite.

“It’s so good. And you’re basically playing as a chef in the kitchen and everyone’s like screaming at each other like ‘cut the carrots!’

“I just think games offer a moment of togetherness and pause and joy.”

Being able to connect with others is one of the big appeals of gaming for Raye.

She tells Newsbeat she invited followers to play Mario Kart with her on TikTok, and now has hundreds of friends who can jump into a multiplayer race with her.

“It’s actually one of my favourite things to do, especially when I’m feeling a little bit down or lonely, which you can do sometimes, being a musician, I think.

“So it’s nice to have those moments where you get to really connect,” she says.

But Raye warns others not to expect an easy ride if they do find themselves facing off against her.

“I consider myself to be such a lovely person, except when it comes to games,” she says.

“The nasty side really comes out, you know, I really care about winning.”

As an award-winning musician and songwriter, Raye says she recognises the power of music in gaming, adding tension and creating a mood at key points.

And there’s one instantly recognisable track that stands out for her.

“I just love the Super Mario soundtrack,” she says.

“I just think it’s absolutely genius. And also I love that it’s just kind of evolved over years and years and years.

“You have the same notes and chord patterns and sounds, but they’ve just kind of been refined.

“So yeah, music pairs really brilliantly with games, and I think Mario for me specifically has that nostalgia,” she says.

Raye appears in a new Nintendo campaign with her sisters, highlighting research commissioned by the company suggesting more women than ever are playing its games.

She insists she’d have done the job for free, and her history with its consoles is what persuaded her to get involved.

And, she says, she genuinely sees the power of gaming to help us escape and press reset.

“You can’t actually work to the best of your ability without taking those moments for yourself, to pause, to unwind, whatever that might be for you,” she says.

“And I just find for me, and for a lot of other people out there, it’s a moment to just be a character and run around a world of beautiful, bright colours, collect boxes and coins and have a great time.

“And then you come back to reality and you feel a little recharged.”

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.