Raye "prefers" herself after discovering "discipline and abstinence"

She told America's Elle magazine: "A lot of My 21st Century Blues, I was up in the clouds, rolling a blunt.

"I like that I've come down to earth to write these lyrics. I prefer myself like this. I've found discipline and abstinence in my life, and it's a beautiful thing. I'll have a nice glass of wine every now and then, but I'm no longer drinking to fix or bury or numb or escape."

The 28-year-old star had a "lot of damage" to repair in her life and she's thankful with the way that she has changed.

She said: "A lot of damage had to be repaired from my old life, where I was entirely disconnected from my family. You see how close I am with my family now-that's my centre point. But I was a world away from that.

"I was a very different person to who I am now, even though I may present the same or be able to put on the mask and play the part."

Raye has grown to realise that the only thing that could ever "fix" her is loving herself.

She said: "There's this thing in society about other things being able to fix us.

"Love is number one, like, 'Find love and everything's going to be okay.' Or 'Drink this wine and everything's going to be okay.'

"But actually, the most beautiful lesson that I've been learning is self-love, which is so hard.

"My gosh, being able to spend an evening with yourself, just you, is humbling. Bit by bit, I'm shining a torchlight in the shadows of my life - areas I've neglected, areas I've buried, things I've been running from."

The Escapism singer wants to settle down and have children one day but for now, she's happy just to focus on herself.

She added: "I know there's going to come a time where I'll be surrounded with people and family. I want to have kids one day. I want to do all of those beautiful things, but I know that before I'm ready to meet anyone, I need to find myself first.

"I don't want someone else to come and fix me. I want to meet someone as the best version of myself."

And Raye tries to be more "cautious" and "safe" in her choices now.

She said: "I won't put myself in harm's way, the way that I used to. And that in itself is real growth.

"I don't want to hurt myself at the expense of a night of joy or a night of escape, whether that be through a man or friends who, even though they mean well, are allowing me to be in a space where I'm surrounded by temptation and drugs and things that I know aren't good for me.

"We have one little life, and I was choosing to live so much of it in the wrong place."