Songfacts®:

• The title references new beginnings and creations. Raye draws from the Book of Genesis, specifically verse 1:3, where God created light. Here, light becomes a metaphor for hope and a rejection of the darkness that permeated earlier sections.
  
  "The underlying message is 'Let There Be Light,'" said Raye. "It is a prayer and a plea and a cry for help and I really hope this song will be able to bring some hope, the way this music does for me, to those who need it most."
• "Genesis" is a sonic odyssey, defying genre classification and weaving together pop, soul, and even hints of rap. This ambitious track unfolds like a three-act play, each movement reflecting a distinct phase of Raye's emotional journey.
• The song opens with a gospel-tinged orchestral intro, setting a mood of introspection. Raye's vocals soar as she grapples with personal demons. She lays bare the pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, and the sting of social alienation.
  
  The music takes a dramatic turn, plunging into a dark and decadent R&B shuffle. Brass instruments blare as Raye battles her inner demons. The lyrics veer towards social commentary, railing against "fake democracy," "government lies," and "discrimination," highlighting Raye's desire for a better world.
  
  The final act offers a glimmer of hope. A jazzy big-band instrumental sets the stage for a powerful plea. Raye repeats the mantra "let there be light," a yearning for a brighter future. This sentiment extends beyond her personal struggles, as she prays for "those overworked and underpaid and dreams of somewhere out of sight."
  
  "There is so much darkness and pain in this world we live in, and I wanted to create something both as deeply personal and as raw as I could find myself to be about my own mind and the world I see around me," said Raye.
• Raye wrote "Genesis" with Marvin Hemmings, an American songwriter, producer, and pianist who often works alongside Rodney Jerkins.
• Raye produced the track with Rodney Jerkins, Shankar Ravindran, and Tom Richards. Rodney Jerkins, also known as "Darkchild," is a well-known music producer who has worked with artists like Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey. His involvement in "Genesis" adds a touch of experience and expertise to Raye's ambitious production.
• Driven by a powerful quote from Nina Simone, "It is an artist's duty to reflect the times," Raye poured her heart and soul into "Genesis." She began working on the track in 2022, months before the release of her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues. Fans first got a taste of the song during her performance medley at the 2024 Brit Awards, where it remained untitled.
  
  Throughout her My 21st Century Blues Tour in early 2024, Raye included the song in her setlist, building anticipation among fans. She performed it live on the April 6, 2024, episode of Saturday Night Live, where it was tentatively called "Let There Be Light" by media outlets.
  
  Finally, on June 7, 2024, Raye released "Genesis" independently through her label Human Re Sources.
• Originally, Raye didn't write "Genesis" with herself in mind. "And then I decided, actually, do you know what? I really love this song, and I really need to get this kind of emotion off my chest now," she revealed to Billboard. "So we went with it as a Raye song."