Rayne Fernandez

Urban-pop siren Rayne Fernandez is a fierce force for positivity poised to shine her light on the mainstream. But the self-described “AfroTina” didn’t come out of the womb singing. Her journey to assured artistry has been steeped in hard work and self-possession. “I feel very empowered in this new era,” the San Antonio, Texas-based starlet says. “I know who I am, I know my roots, and I’m running with it. I want to make music for everyone, no matter what culture or background they come from.” Rayne’s music is a smoldering fusion of classic and current Rhythm and Pop spiked with a dash of Hip Hop. Her aesthetic has been shaped by her parent’s impeccable record collection, and her own musical explorations. At home, Rayne was weaned on evergreens such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Al Green, Diana Ross and Etta James. On her own, she soaked up modern icons such as Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Prince, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Mary J. Blige, and Lauryn Hill. However, by far her most seismic influence is none other than Beyoncé, and, incidentally, a sweetly charming Rayne appears in a concert trailer for Beyoncé’s 2013 Miss Carter Show World Tour. Rayne is a multi-faceted entertainer and has performed and made appearances in a wide variety of contexts. She’s appeared in film, television, modeling shows, radio festivals, sporting events, anti-bullying campaigns, award ceremonies, and at traditional musical performances. Select live performance highlights include sharing show bills with such diverse artists as Keith Sweat, Doug E. Fresh, Becky G., G-Eazy, Steve Aoki, Lil Wayne, Future, Migos, funk icons Lakeside, Baby Bash, Wiz Khalifa, and Khalid. Onscreen, Rayne has been featured in a Taco Cabana Restaurant commercial, and she has also made an appearance as herself in the independent film, The Margarita Man, a romantic college-comedy directed by Daniel Danny Ramos, and starring veteran actors Pepe Serna and Jesse Borego. Core to Rayne’s soul is her desire to set a positive example as a multi-cultural young woman, with faith-based ethos, and unflinching optimism. Following this path, she’s earned prime accolades and awards from a variety of sources. A cross section of highlights in this realm include earning the title of “Teen Vogue Ambassador”; cover features in ReFocused Magazine  and ChicaGirl; being a Bold Favor Award Honoree, in recognition of amazing leadership in the entertainment field, and being named a City of San Antonio Youth Ambassador. Born Reiana Fernandez in San Antonio, Texas, Rayne came into her own through hard work and big dreams. Initially, she had her heart set on becoming an actress and a model, but after experiencing the elegant thunder of Beyoncé, Reiana began the transformation to Rayne Fernandez. At 13, Rayne applied her family’s work ethic to vocal lessons, pushing away her barriers of shyness in service of her dreams. “I really had to push myself—I was scared to sing in front of anybody. I had to get over it, and just put in the work,” she says. That enlightening year she made her singing performance debut at church. Rayne is also not going to stop dancing as she sashays her way into the spotlight, releasing music, building her fanbase through gigging, and attracting industry exposure with her inner light and pop-star aura. With a lot to look forward to, Rayne says she’s most excited about inspiring others to shine.  She says: “If there is one thing I achieve, I hope it’s to make people feel like they can be their best selves. And I’m not afraid to be the role model that shows them they can do it all without compromising their values.”