Rhea Raj
{{Short description|American singer and songwriter (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rhea Raj
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Rhea Rajagopalan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|4|5|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
| relatives = Lara Raj (sister)
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2014–present
| awards =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|electropop|dance music{{cite web | url =https://bollywoodchronicle.com/international-sensation-rhea-raj-making-wonders-with-her-enchanting-voice-across-the-globe/|title = International sensation Rhea Raj making wonders with her enchanting voice across the globe | website = bollywoodchronicle.com/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200323083203/https://bollywoodchronicle.com/international-sensation-rhea-raj-making-wonders-with-her-enchanting-voice-across-the-globe/ |archive-date = March 23, 2020 }}}}
| website = {{URL|rhearaj.com}}
}}
}}
Rhea Rajagopalan{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/6843764/american-idol-recap-auditions|title='American Idol' Recap: Fourth Night of Auditions Returns to Little Rock and Denver|date=January 14, 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 22, 2020|archive-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322072130/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/6843764/american-idol-recap-auditions|url-status=live}} (born April 5, 2000), known professionally as Rhea Raj, is an American singer-songwriter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellyexpress.com/the-2-am-singer-rhea-raj-is-indian-by-birth/|title=The "2 AM" singer Rhea Raj is Indian by birth|last=Reeta|date=June 1, 2019|website=Tellyexpress|language=en-US|access-date=March 22, 2020|archive-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322003717/https://www.tellyexpress.com/the-2-am-singer-rhea-raj-is-indian-by-birth/|url-status=live}} She is a Songwriters Hall of Fame winner for 2020, and is the Spotify x Gold House Artist of the Year winner for 2023, an initiative to increase Asian talent in the music industry.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Regina |title=10 Rising AAPI Artists You Need to Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rising-aapi-artists-2023-1234733064/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 5, 2025 |archive-date=January 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105182650/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rising-aapi-artists-2023-1234733064/ |url-status=live }} She released her debut album, Hunter, in 2024.
Early life
Rhea was born in Stamford, Connecticut, to Indian parents, Kavita Raj and Sri Rajagopalan. Her parents are both ethnically Tamil. She grew up in New Jersey before moving to New York. Her mother taught Indian classical music and Indian dance, which led Rhea to begin her interest in music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glamsham.com/en/a-blend-of-music-and-dance-rhea-raj-surely-is-a-one-of-a-kind-artist-of-today-s-time|title=Rhea Raj, surely is a one of a kind artist of today's time|last=Glamsham|website=Glamsham|date=March 23, 2020 |language=en|access-date=March 23, 2020}} She has been musically trained since age 10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/a-blend-of-music-and-dance-rhea-raj-surely-is-a-one-of-a-kind-artist-of-todays-time/ar-BB11yP4Q|title=A blend of music and dance.. Rhea Raj, surely is a one of a kind artist of today's time|website=www.msn.com|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=February 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219235948/https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/a-blend-of-music-and-dance-rhea-raj-surely-is-a-one-of-a-kind-artist-of-todays-time/ar-BB11yP4Q|url-status=live}}
Her younger sister Lara is also a singer; she is a member of the girl group Katseye.{{cite web|url=https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-lara-raj-lara-raj-hollywood/|title=Meet Lara Raj|website=Voyage LA Magazine|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/korean-wave/2023/11/21/2313135/filipina-sophia-laforteza-joins-girl-group-katseye-under-bts-agency|title=Filipina Sophia Laforteza joins girl group KATSEYE under BTS agency|website=Philstar.com|date=November 21, 2023|access-date=November 24, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123165528/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/korean-wave/2023/11/21/2313135/filipina-sophia-laforteza-joins-girl-group-katseye-under-bts-agency|url-status=live}}
Career
= 2016: ''American Idol'' =
Raj appeared in the fifteenth season of American Idol in 2016. She progressed from the audition stage but failed to pass the Hollywood Week round due to a throat infection.{{Cite web|url=https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2018/04/ex-american-idol-contestant-rhea-raj-talks-new-music-feminism-and-more/|title=Ex American Idol Contestant Rhea Raj Talks New Music, Feminism and More!|date=April 17, 2018|website=Urban Asian|language=en-US|access-date=March 22, 2020}}
= 2024–present: ''Hunter'' =
In 2024, Raj released her debut studio album, Hunter,{{Cite web|url=https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2019/06/royalty-by-upsidedown-happy-singh-rhea-raj-will-make-you-shake-a-leg/|title=Royalty By UpsideDown, Happy Singh & Rhea Raj Will Make You Shake A Leg|date=June 10, 2019|website=Urban Asian|language=en-US|access-date=March 22, 2020|archive-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322003654/https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2019/06/royalty-by-upsidedown-happy-singh-rhea-raj-will-make-you-shake-a-leg/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Mier |first1=Tomás |title=Rising Pop Star Rhea Raj Dances Through a Moody Sci-Fi World in Flirtatious Video for 'Hush' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rhea-raj-drops-hush-video-album-hunter-1235046974/ |website=Rolling Stone |date=June 27, 2024 |access-date=June 22, 2025 |archive-date=June 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627160631/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rhea-raj-drops-hush-video-album-hunter-1235046974/ |url-status=live }} and a stripped down version of it called Hunter (Tamed edition).{{cite web |title=Year of the Hunter |url=https://bazaarvietnam.vn/year-of-the-hunter-rhea-raj/ |website=Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam |date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=June 22, 2025 |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204190545/https://bazaarvietnam.vn/year-of-the-hunter-rhea-raj/ |url-status=live }}
In April 2025, Raj performed at Coachella.{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Erica |title=Coachella Backstage Interviews 2025 - PAPER Magazine |url=https://www.papermag.com/coachella-2025-interviews#rebelltitem2 |website=Paper Mag |language=en}} The next month, she performed at Wango Tango in Santa Monica.{{cite web |last1=Teti |first1=Julia |title=iHeartRadio's Wango Tango: Meghan Trainor, Gwen Stefani, Doja Cat and More Celebrity Style |url=https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/gallery/iheartradio-wango-tango-photos-1237692744/iheartradios-102-7-kiis-fm-wango-tango-10/ |website=WWD |date=May 12, 2025}}
Discography
;Studio albums
- Hunter (2024)
;Singles
- "2AM" (with UpsideDown) (2019)
- "Royalty" (with UpsideDown and Happy Singh) (2019)
- "You're a Star" (2019)
- "Need Me" (with UpsideDown and Happy Singh) (2019)
- "Overdose" (2020)
- "Go Down" (2020)
- "We Outside" (2022)
- "Haute Couture" (with Aliyah's Interlude) (2025)
References
{{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Raj, Rhea}}
Category:Singers from New York City
Category:Singers from New Jersey
Category:American women songwriters
Category:American television actresses
Category:American women pop singers
Category:American female models