ALBUM REVIEW: AUTORRETRATO

(Austin Chronicle)

Written, recorded, and produced alone in her bedroom studio, Autorretrato thrives in simplicity. Like a lingering touch, warm embrace, or longing look, her sophomore record swells in a vulnerable vastness of tactile and sensual intimacies, wave after wave.

KUTX Staff pick their favorites of 2022 so far

This slinky, hypnotic song from Austin’s Rahe has a lot going on. With each listen, I hear a new element that makes it more pleasantly complicated. This is definitely an artist on the rise and don’t be surprised to see her on a national or even global broadcast near you

NPR MUSIC LIVE SESSIONS

After moving to Austin from Los Angeles in 2019, the Spanish-American singer-songwriter delivered Reina, a debut album that was called "intoxicatingly smooth" and "challenges what you think you know about Spanish music." While the album was immediately followed by a global pandemic that resulted in a canceled tour, Rahe used the time to expand her musicianship to piano and production and her artistry to commission painting. The result is her latest album autorretrato (self portrait) and features appearances from Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), Megz Kelli (Magna Carda), AC Metta (Puerto Rican duo Cometta), and Dallas rapper Cameron McCloud.

Watch Angélica’s in-studio performance here.

ANGÉLICA RAHE AT 3TEN

(KUTX)

The message reigns on Angélica Rahe‘s powerful 2020 debut, the regal Reina. It’s crystal clear on Rahe’s latest release, autorretrato. And, in case you missed it and needed further clarification, Rahe gently reminded listeners during her recent KUTX Studio 1A performance: She writes songs that are unabashedly, unashamedly, about femininity (in all humanity), female empowerment, and self-love. And it’s not simply the lyrical oeuvre of each song, but Rahe’s vocals that carry this distinctive power.

MEET ANGÉLICA RAHE: ARTIST & MUSICIAN

(Shoutout HTX)

“In a lot of ways I think my music and my art has become my best form of identity in that it conveys where I’ve been, who I am and where I want to go more than someone asking me “where are you from?” or “what are your goals?” or something like that. My art is my self expression, particularly my femininity, which is at the core of my sound and my point of view. I moved around a lot growing up between Japan, Spain and the U.S., but now I’m firmly rooted in one place, which is my connection to myself and my art.”

DON’T MISS ‘REINA,’ ANGÉLICA RAHE’S INTOXICATINGLY SMOOTH NEW ALBUM

(Austin Monthly)

While communicating such a deep, personal evolution over 13 tracks could be tricky for many artists, Reina flawlessly drives home Rahe’s message—all the while drawing heavily on her first language, Spanish. Unlike English, she says, her mother tongue allowed her to authentically explore her deepest passions and emotions, which are central to the album’s message of self-healing. At the same time, Rahe capitalizes on her rich collection of musical influences (which she credits to spending her childhood in a variety of places across the world, including Spain, Japan, and the U.S.), delivering scintillating compositions that infuse everything from traditional Spanish flamenco to soul and contemporary R&B. - David Leffler

ANGÉLICA RAHE CHALLENGES WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT SPANISH MUSIC

(Dallas Morning News)

Much like Solange, Rahe’s music doesn’t resemble the packaged, made-for-radio R&B of today. “Como Yo” and “Templo,” two singles from Reina, are velvety and seductive, like a Sade record you can’t stop listening to even after 20 years. The lyrics, written by Rahe and sung completely in Spanish, are connected by her airy, feathery vocals and soft-stepping temperament. She also plays lead guitar on the record and is accompanied by Cleon Edwards on drums (drummer for Erykah Badu and Jill Scott) and bassist Nick Clark (who’s performed with Kanye West and H.E.R.). - Brenna Rushing

ANGÉLICA RAHE CLAIMS HER CROWN WITH DREAMY RELEASE “REINA”

(Austin American-Statesman)

The title of the record translates to “Queen,” and the album unfolds in several movements as a portrait of an artist’s transformation. She grapples with a tendency toward self-sabotage and unhealthy desire before rediscovering her roots, reveling in inner strength and claiming her crown. Along the way we are treated to entrancing cascades of guitar, Spanish poetry whisper sung over lush and lovely soundscapes and a sensual vision of femininity at its most powerful. Rahe calls the album “pretty much autobiographical.” It traces her inner journey as she learned to let go of negative patterns and “see myself a different way and celebrate that and put myself out there,” she said. The album, sung almost entirely in Spanish, is also a testament to Rahe’s rich cultural heritage. - Deborah Sengupta Stith

INTERVIEW: ANGÉLICA RAHE

(D Magazine)

If you like sultry R&B with a Latin twist, you’ll love singer-songwriter Angélica Rahe. The Spanish-born musician has been working behind the scenes in the music industry for years, writing songs for other artists in LA and touring as a guitarist and backup singer for Kali Uchis. Now, Rahe is finally preparing to release her own debut album, “Reina,” coming early next year. - Natalie Gempel

LIFE AND WORK WITH ANGÉLICA RAHE

(Voyage Houston)

Years later, I made my way to LA, where I truly fine-tuned my craft, having the opportunity to write music for every kind of project imaginable – not just songs for artists in genres ranging from pop to reggaeton, but also for tv shows, movies, family films, apps, you name it. Fast forward to early last year, when I found myself touring across the U.S., Europe and Latin America with Kali Uchis as her musical director, guitarist and backup vocalist.

NEW MUSIC: ANGÉLICA RAHE FEAT. CURE FOR PARANOIA

(Global Money World)

Angélica comes from a well-traveled background; born of a Spanish musician father and French-American theatre actress mother. She spent her childhood living between Japan, Spain, and the U.S., absorbing different cultures in every sense of the word. It's with that diverse background that she has crafted her own universal sound. Angélica Rahe embodies the soul Latin music is legendary for with her new song “Como Yo. It’s a soul sound that grabs you instantly. She masters her skills with singing and nice melodies in the verses that’s truly infectious as she creates musical gold.

ANGÉLICA RAHE: EXPLORING THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF LOVE

(Paradise Playground)

Angélica comes from a well-traveled background; born of a Spanish musician father and French-American theatre actress mother. She spent her childhood living between Japan, Spain, and the U.S., absorbing different cultures in every sense of the word. It's with that diverse background that she has crafted her own universal sound.

INTERVIEW WITH ANGÉLICA RAHE

(La Chica del Flequillo)

Su viaje musical es infinito y, hasta el momento, ha destacado, componiendo canciones para muchos artistas, así como yéndose de gira por los Estados Unidos, Europa y América Latina con Lana del Rey y con la sensación colombiana-estadounidense de R&B, Kali Uchis, siendo su director musical, guitarrista y vocalista de respaldo.

A CONVERSATION WITH ANGÉLICA RAHE

(Localeur Magazine)

Well, I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for music, because that’s how my parents met! Growing up, my family listened to a very eclectic mix of stuff – everything from Japanese koto music to old-school Spanish music like Antonio Flores, Ketama, and Joan Manuel Serrat, plus artists like Sade (one of my idols), the Bee Gees, and Earth, Wind & Fire.