IAN RAE is one artist we admire, not just for his creativity and talent but for his spirit, originality and what he represents in the music world. At an age where most people slow down, he does the very opposite. He’s proof that real talent ages like fine wine.
He has built a loyal global fanbase—over 500,000 followers and 3.2 million streams in 166 countries by sharing his music online, streaming live three times a day on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch. And in just over three years, he’s released an incredible amount of music: 15 albums, an EP, and 10 singles.
Beyond the numbers, IAN RAE’s real strength lies in how he balances playfulness with emotional honesty. His track titles alone are enough to spark curiosity—The Enchanted Hedgehog, The Puddle Outside, Once A Nonny Mouse Always A Nonny Mouse—but it’s the music itself that keeps listeners coming back. His latest release, A Glasgow Kiss (August 1, 2025), might be his most quietly powerful work yet.
If you’re from Scotland, the term “Glasgow kiss” might make you flinch—it’s slang for a headbutt. But IAN RAE, always one to play with expectations, takes this rough-and-ready phrase and turns it into something completely unexpected: a tender, intimate piano ballad that feels like a comforting embrace.
The track draws inspiration from Craig Armstrong’s Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually and pays homage to cinematic romance, but with IANRAE’s signature warmth. The piece opens with soft, shimmering piano notes that feel like sunlight reflecting off water. These delicate, dancing tones float above deeper, steady chords that bring a sense of calm. As the track unfolds, gentle background textures quietly build, giving the music a dreamlike atmosphere. The strings come in, rich, slow-moving, and full of feeling.
It’s only a little over two minutes long, but the track feels complete. There’s no rush nor overcomplication. IAN RAE understands that sometimes less is more. There’s room for each note to breathe, allowing the silence between phrases to carry just as much emotion as the music itself. That space makes the listener lean in, making the experience deeply personal.
His use of rubato—the natural slowing and speeding of the music—adds a human, almost spoken quality to the melody. It’s as if the piano is telling a story in its own quiet voice. And the harmonies underneath offer just enough surprise to keep your ears intrigued without ever losing the piece’s sense of peace.
You can hear everything this track has to offer, the soft thump of the piano’s hammers, the subtle shift in tone when IANRAE changes his touch, the natural reverb of the room. A beautiful piano played with care, passion and clarity.
By naming this piece Glasgow Kiss, the artist challenges us to look at things a bit differently. A phrase once associated with violence is turned into something warm and meaningful. In a way, he’s asking us to believe that anything can become something beautiful.
The heart in every song is why people don’t just listen to IANRAE’s song, they connect to it. He isn’t just making music, he’s leaving a mark and showing us that it is never too late to connect with others, and never too late to surprise people with something unexpectedly beautiful.
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