The Evolution of RaiNao

How she faced her fears to become one of Puerto Rico’s most exciting and original voices

It started with a failed math course. “I failed the same class three times,” RaiNao says over Zoom. “The third time, I said, ‘No, this is not for me.’ ” So, around 2014, the singer-songwriter born Naomi Ramirez quit her biology major at the University of Puerto Rico and gave up on her plan to become a surgeon, instead pivoting to a new major in theater arts and audiovisual production. “Theater really helped me learn how to utilize my voice,” she says.

A decade later, RaiNao, 29, is one of the most exciting voices in urbano. Her music expertly folds jazz, R&B, and alternative-pop touches into sleek reggaeton, creating a refreshing blend of genres that’s all her own. It helps that she’s also a trained saxophonist with an ear for sounds that stand out and intrigue. “People take longer to understand if you’re not following a trend, but making your own,” she says.

Speaking on her lunch break while filming a music video, RaiNao looks otherworldly with winged eyeliner and sparkling lime green eyeshadow. Her hair is perfectly tousled, a signature blond highlight streaking her dark locks. Two nose piercings punctured with silver hoop rings match the chunky necklace of linked circles across her neck.

She describes her life as being like a line of flicked dominoes falling into place. In fact, the name of her debut album, Capicú, refers to a play in the popular Caribbean game. “It’s like a win-win,” she explains. “No matter what you do, you’re winning.”