Among the hustle and bustle of the hectic Big Apple music scene lies a ray of light that may very well be the new generation of genuine soul music. Ava Raiin offers a refreshing and hopeful interpretation of what the future of R&B and Soul could be. Her self-titled debut album swooped in at #9 on the Billboard R&B album sales chart in 2017, and ranked impressively on four other Billboard charts. It also debuted at #6 via R&B and Top 40 all genres on iTunes. Raiin accomplished this feat as an indie artist with no major backing. Impressive to say the least.
Raiin grew up singing in school choirs between the far north in Minneapolis, and the deep south in Houston, Texas. This is clear in her broad harmonious vocal range, especially evident in the beginning of her hit song “Eagle Eye.” The song received rave reviews from AfroPunk and was named Vimeo ‘Staff Pick’. Shortly after the release, her vocals on Blood Orange’s third album “Freetown Sound” also received stellar reviews and mentions in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Fader, Crack Magazine and others. The music video for “Eagle Eye” is incredibly artistic, vivid, and seductive. You can view the video HERE.
There’s a colorful transcendence and ambience to her style. She emulates this very articulately in her music and style. She delivers with fluidity and feel. There’s a cosmic and ethereal flare to her songs. You truly cannot pigeon-hole her in any one genre, as she bends R&B, Soul, Pop, and more with her unique vocals and melodies. When you have a style all your own, that’s when you know you have something special.
Over the last few years Ava has shared the stage and/or collaborated with Blood Orange / Devonte Hynes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Solange, Melissa Etheridge, The Chainsmokers, Jack Antonoff / Bleachers, Lupe Fiasco, and others. The reason for her success with such a diverse range of collaborators is made clear on her album.
Raiin attended the University of Texas (Austin) and shortly after moved to NYC where she collaborated with producers and made her rounds in the artist circuit singing at open mic nights. A series of fateful meetings and introductions led to worldwide touring gigs as a background singer with a range of artists. After gigging for a few years, Raiin took a break from music and took a job as a full-time creative producer with an apparel brand in NYC, but eventually gave that up to tour with Solange and work on her own music full-time. Through a friend she was introduced to producer David Siskovic, “Sisko”, and they clicked instantly. The two (with support from her best friend, singer/songwriter Sye Elaine Spence and producer/songwriter Robert Maxwell) created a unique and abstract sound that supported Raiin’s poetic lyrics and entrancing vocals.
You can learn more about Raiin and her music on her website HERE.
