ABOUT ANGÉLICA
After establishing herself as a formidable supporting artist—serving as musical director, background vocalist, and guitarist for Kali Uchis during a tour opening for Lana Del Rey in 2018—Angélica Rahe (pronounced "ray") made a decisive pivot toward her solo career. In 2020, following her relocation from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, Rahe released her debut album "REINA." Critics described the work as "intoxicatingly smooth" and praised how it "challenges what you think you know about Spanish music."
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of Rahe's planned 20-city tour supporting her debut album. Rather than allowing this setback to stall her momentum, she channeled the isolation period into expanding her artistic and technical capabilities. This period of growth culminated in her sophomore album "autorretrato" (self-portrait), which showcases significant artistic evolution.
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
"Autorretrato" represents a departure from Rahe's earlier work, replacing her signature Spanish guitar with more dynamic production featuring uptempo arrangements and enhanced bass elements. Tracks like "Soy Una Obra de Arte" and "Semillas" exemplify this evolution while maintaining the sensuality that distinguishes her vocal performance. Notably, Rahe personally produced and engineered every song on the album, demonstrating her expanded technical mastery.
The album features impressive collaborations, including Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas on "Ancestros," Soft Glas on "Sueño Fugaz," and guest verses from AC Metta (of Puerto Rican duo Cometta) and Dallas rapper Cameron McCloud on "Detrás de la Cortina." Austin's Megz Kelli (of duo Magna Carda) contributes to the album's final track, "Comin' Back to Home."
In 2024, Rahe released the single "Dale Nena" on International Women's Day, positioning it as "an anthem in celebration of feminine strength and resilience"—themes that have become central to her artistic identity and mission. In September 2024, she further expanded her artistic range with the release of "Wanna Do" featuring acclaimed guitarist Jackie Venson, marking Rahe's first foray into English-language music. This collaboration represents another example of her commitment to featuring and amplifying powerful female musicians in her work. It is also the first single on “La Cocina Sessions”, which Rahe plans to release this year.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPANSION
During the pandemic, Rahe's artistic practice expanded beyond music into visual arts. While creating "autorretrato," she developed a complementary visual art series titled "Figuras," studying the female form in motion through watercolor and pencil. This visual work explores the same themes present in her music: the duality of feminine energy embodying both softness and strength, and the refusal to be confined to prescribed spaces.
MENTORSHIP & COMMUNITY BUILDING
Rahe's recent work extends beyond her personal artistic output into community building through Songraft.co, a songwriting collective with a strong focus on mentorship. This initiative particularly emphasizes empowering female-identifying artists, songwriters, and producers/engineers—reflecting Rahe's commitment to amplifying other feminine voices within the industry.
As both a producer and artist, Rahe has articulated a philosophy that these roles are "completely interlinked," with her experience as an artist informing her approach to production. She has specifically noted her passion for "empowering and amplifying other female voices and stories" through her production work, establishing herself as not only an evolving solo artist but also an emerging force in nurturing the next generation of musical talent.