Hotbox (song)

## Music Video

**"Hotbox"** (stylized all in caps) Is the seventh track to RAYE's self-released debut EP, *Welcome to the Winter*.

## Background

RAYE wrote the song at 14 after attending a "wild" house party, where she was first introduced to marijuana.
She went to a friends house where someone was rolling a "massive joint",

“*I was just 14 and I said "no thanks" but I became stoned anyway because the room became a big cloud, do you know what I mean? I felt really scared but safe but worried - and I expressed that in the song. It's very anecdotal.*”
―via BBC
It was released as part of her debut EP, Welcome to the Winter, in 2014 while she was still in school. When she released the EP she was met with jealousy and suspicion from her fellow classmates, and Hotbox was a song she was mocked by her peers for as it was about smoking weed.

In 2015, Olly Alexander of the band Years & Years heard the song on HypeMachine and sent it to the head of the label he was signed to, Polydor Records.

## Lyrics

In the hotbox

In the hotbox

I'm on my feet, but I can't feel the ground

I'm swimming in the distorted sound

What? I can't hear you, babe

This ain't my buzz, I inherit a high

How ya doin'? Have we been here all night?

Speak up, I can't hear you babe

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

Boy you numb and some girl just passed out

And to my left is the face of a clown

What? There's nothing funny, babe

Them regulars still passing me rounds

No, it's blunt but this punch knock me out

I'm not an heavyweight

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

Mix up in these sounds and these rainbow colored clouds

When those people climbing out and climbing in, watch my head spin

Pink and grey illusion, all these colors are confusing

Don't remember what I'm doing, what? Sorry, anybody in?

This is such a pretty house before the lounge is emptied out

And now the television's going, "Wipe that face off your grin"

Right now my mind is wasted, slowed it down to taste this

Moment which is slowly fading, slowly in, and I can't take this

In the hotbox

In the hotbox

In the hotbox

In the hotbox

Look at me all alone in the clouds

If only my mom could see me now

If she could see me now

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

High, losing it, losing it

High, losing it in the hotbox

## References

1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38402963
2. ↑  https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64468448.amp
3. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38402963
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.thefader.com/2017/11/24/raye-interview-gen-f