RAYE is headed towards her first-ever UK No. 1 single with Escapism.
Having peaked at No. 2 in December, the hitmaker is on track to top the rundown after rising 12 spots in the wake of the Christmas chart race.
It follows her previous Top 10 hits You Don’t Know Me with Jax Jones (No. 3), Secrets with Regard (No. 6) and Bed with Joel Corry & David Guetta (No. 3).
Of the possibility of bagging her first No. 1,, RAYE told Official Charts: “It would be beyond a dream to be Number 1. With this song? At this time in my life? Don’t!”
Elsewhere in the midweeks, US R&B star SZA is at No. 2 with Kill Bill, marking her first solo UK Top 10 hit, while Central Cee is set to reach a new peak with Let Go at No. 3.
Rema’s Calm Down is at No. 4 and Bugzy Malone & TeeDee round out the Top 5 with Out of Nowhere.
Over on the Albums Chart, Taylor Swift looks set to become 2023’s first chart-topper of 2023 as ‘Midnights’ returns to No. 1 for what will be its fourth non-consecutive week at the top.
Meanwhile, SZA’s second album ‘SOS’ rises one place to match its original peak at No. 2, with Ed Sheeran’s 2021 LP ‘=’ at No. 3.
The Weeknd’s hits collection ‘The Highlights’ rises to No. 4 following the release of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ soundtrack single Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength), and Elton John’s ‘Diamonds’ compilation is at No. 5.
