RaiNao: “I Came into This World to Leave Behind a Better Place Through My Art”
Here is the English translation:
Puerto Rican rising star RaiNao is not only crossing borders with her music, but also bringing her culture, roots, and life philosophy to every corner of the world.
The 32-year-old artist, whose real name is Naomi Ramírez Rivera, always carries a piece of home with her, even when she is thousands of miles away from her hometown of Santurce, Puerto Rico. Speaking while sipping coffee on a hotel terrace in Madrid, RaiNao notes that this morning routine never changes, no matter where she is in the world.
Moreover, right before this quiet morning, she had performed in front of 70,000 people at Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” concert series in Madrid.
“I think that was the biggest stage I’ve performed on so far, or maybe it was the concert in Brazil,” says the artist, adding that numbers aren't what matter most to her.
“Whether it’s the first time or the tenth time, every stage experience is unique and magical.”
Music Was Always by Her Side
RaiNao’s relationship with music began at an early age. Starting to play the saxophone at age 11, the artist had never imagined that music would one day become her profession.
The biggest driver of this transformation was Wiso Rivera, who is now both her creative collaborator and production partner.
Working various part-time jobs during the pandemic, RaiNao realized she didn't want to spend the rest of her life working at a bank.
“I felt stuck. Wiso told me, ‘The studio is here, the equipment is here. Let’s try it.’ And so we did.”
The artist’s stage name also emerged during this period. Formed by combining her childhood nickname “Nao” with the English phrase “right now,” RaiNao became something of a life motto for her.
“It’s like a mantra that reminds me to live in the moment. Being in the present is my way of life.”
Bad Bunny Collaboration Changed Her Career
One of the most defining projects that boosted RaiNao’s international recognition was “PERFuMITO NUEVO,” her collaboration with Bad Bunny.
Reaching new listeners worldwide thanks to the song, the artist expresses deep respect for the Puerto Rican superstar.
“Bad Bunny knows what he wants, but at the same time, he gives the artist creative freedom. Working together felt completely natural.”
RaiNao believes that the greatest strength behind the success of the Puerto Rican music scene is the solidarity among its artists.
“Artists here genuinely support one another. Behind these success stories lies a deep-rooted culture of solidarity.”
New Album: Marcría
The artist’s second studio album, Marcría, references both a Puerto Rican slang term meaning “spoiled child” and the concept of being “raised by the sea.”
Across the 16-track album, RaiNao also features emerging Puerto Rican artists. Notably, including Frido Vargas’s debut track “Mareo” on the album stands out.
“I will always create space for talents from our island to be discovered by more people. They deserve to be heard just as much as I do.”
Inspired by the Sea and Childhood Memories
The ocean sits at the center of the album. For RaiNao, the sea represents her safe space and inner peace.
However, the starting point for Marcría wasn't just the ocean.
The artist shares that her mother enrolling her in a school for the visually impaired when she was 10 years old was a major turning point in her life.
Because of this, the album is not made up of music alone; it offers a multi-layered experience supported by meditation guides, color visualizations, and sensory narratives.
The dominant color of the album, green, comes from emerald, her birthstone.
Playing Her Own Saxophone for the First Time
One of the album’s most striking tracks is “Cántaro,” her collaboration with salsa legend Andy Montañez.
This song also marks the first time in RaiNao’s career that she recorded her own saxophone parts.
“There are better saxophonists than me in Puerto Rico, but this song was deeply personal. That’s why the person playing it had to be me.”
The track came to life after a melody created with the artist’s vocals was later transformed into brass arrangements.
An Album Closing with Poetry
The closing track of the album, “Marcría,” features excerpts from a 1966 poem by the late Puerto Rican poet Ángelamaría Dávila.
RaiNao says she stumbled upon this poem while working on the album, and it perfectly captured the spirit of the project.
“It’s incredible that this poem came from the mind of another Puerto Rican woman all those years ago.”
“For Me, Art Is a Spiritual Journey”
Selected for YouTube’s Foundry Program and gaining increasing international attention, RaiNao refuses to let success change who she is.
She views her art as much more than just a career.
“To me, art is something deeply spiritual. I know I came into this world to leave behind a better place through my art.”
“No matter how big I get, I will try not to distance myself from who I am and never lose my humanity.”
RaiNao’s new album Marcría is out now on all digital platforms via Rimas Entertainment.