RAIGN
| Raign | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rachel Rabin |
| Also known as | RAIGN |
| Born | 1983 (age 33–34) |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Pop music, progressive house, blues, folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, artist |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | Millionaire London Records, Sony ATV, Dim Mak Records |
| Associated acts | Fred Falke, Rita Ora, Edwin Serrano, Swanky Tunes, Tyrone Griffin, Tulisa, Mysto and Pizzi |
| Website | IamRAIGN.com |
Rachel Rabin (born 1983) also known by her stagename Raign (stylised as RAIGN), is a British singer-songwriter and vocal producer.[1] Early in her career she co-wrote several singles for albums by Rita Ora, Jesse McCartney, and Tulisa, and in 2014 she was featured as a vocalist on the track "Fix Me" by Swanky Tunes. Released on Dim Mak Records, the song spent two months at No. 1 on the Russian airplay chart.[2]
In May 2014 her first solo track as RAIGN, titled "Don't Let Me Go",[3] debuted on episode 110 of The Vampire Diaries.[4] She performed the song on The X Factor shortly after,[5][6] which led to the song peaking at No. 11 on the official UK indie breakers chart [2][4] and No.38 on UK Alternative Charts.[7]
Raign has also had singles included on the TV series The 100, and she released her EP Knockin' on Heaven's Door in March 2015,[2] with the lead track reaching No. 116 on the US iTunes pop charts.[2] In 2015, the use of the EP's track "Knocking on Heaven's Door" in The 100 was voted Best Use of Music by audiences in the Entertainment Weekly TV Season Finale Awards.[8]
Early life and education
Rachel Rabin[1] was born in London, England, where she also spent her childhood.[9] She attended Tolworth Girls' School in Surrey.[6] She is of Latvian and Jewish ancestry. Her grandfather was Oscar Rabin, musician known for founding the Oscar Rabin Band. Her father also had a musical background, and had worked with Frank Sinatra.[1] According to Rabin, she grew up listening to big band music, and "when I first decided to learn an instrument I chose a clarinet and learned to play blues and jazz. My mum was also a semi-professional opera singer and she was always singing and I used to try and emulate her."[10] Her father, who died when she was young,[1] had been a survivor of the Holocaust.[11]
Music career
Early songwriting and producing (2010–2013)
Working as a vocalist and songwriter, in 2009 she self-released a demo in the UK under her full name.[12] By 2010, she was performing original music with a mix of blues, folk, and pop in the Kingston area, at venues such as the Bull's Head.[10] She played her first show in the United States at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, where she performed a one-hour acoustic set with an accompanying guitarist.[10] Also in the early 2010s she played festivals and venues in Leicester,[10] and in 2011 she performed at the Mint in Los Angeles.[13]
Recent singles and Debut EP (2014–2015)
Her second solo single as RAIGN, a cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak, was released on 7 October 2014 as an electropop number.[3] The New York-based electronic duo Mysto & Pizzi mixed the song.[9] At that point Mysto & Pizzi, also known for their work with Avicii and Justin Timberlake,[14] were helping produce much of her work.[2][14] In February 2015, her original track "Empire of Our Own" was included on an episode of The 100.[2]
She released the EP Knocking on Heavens Door in March 2015, which included three of her previous tracks and the new song "Knocking on Heaven's Door." Her cover of "Knocking on Heavens Door" was included on the soundtrack of the finale to season 2 finale of The 100 in March 2015.[2] In its first week of release the lead single reached No. 116 on the US iTunes pop charts.[2] In 2015, the use of "Knocking on Heavens Door" in The 100 was voted Best Use of Music by audiences in the Entertainment Weekly TV Season Finale Awards.[8]
When It's All Over (2016–present)
On 31 March 2016 Raign announced that her second EP When It's All Over would be released on 14 April 2016 and the lead single would premiere on The Vampire Diaries on 1 April.[4]
Style and influences
Rabin has self-described the style of her material as "pop romanticism,"[2] and modern influences on her music include acts such as Florence + the Machine.[2]
Personal life
As of 2014, Rabin continued to live in both Kingston upon Thames in southwest London and Los Angeles, where her grandmother lives.[11]
Discography
Extended plays
| Album title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US iTunes Pop | ||
| Knocking On Heaven's Door |
|
116 |
| When It's All Over |
|
- |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart position | Album/EP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Indie Breakers | UK Alternative Charts | |||
| 2013 | "Raise the Dead" | – | – | Non-album single |
| 2014 | "Don't Let Me Go" | 11 | 38 | Knocking On Heavens Door |
| "Wicked Game" | – | – | ||
| 2015 | "Empire of Our Own" | – | – | |
| "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | – | – | ||
| 2016 | "When It's All Over" | – | – | When It's All Over |
Guest appearances
| Year | Single name | Primary artist(s) | Album | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Fix Me" (ft. Raign) | Swanky Tunes | The Only Way Is Essex – Dance Anthems | Dim Mak Records (DM614) |
| 2015 | "Dark Lights" (ft. Raign) uncredited | Dimension | MTA Records MTA073A | |
Songs
| List of RAIGN songs featured on various productions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Song | Where | Type |
| 2012 | "Goodbye" | Desperate Housewives | Television |
| 2013 | "Raise The Dead" | The Originals (TV series) | Television |
| 2014 | "Don't Let Me Go" | The Vampire Diaries | Television |
| 2015 | "Raise The Dead" | Eye Candy (TV series) | Television |
| "Empire of Our Own" | The 100 (TV series) | Television | |
| "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | The 100 (TV series) | Television | |
| 2016 | "When It's All Over" | The Vampire Diaries | Television |
| "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | Containment (TV series) | Television | |
| Year | Title | Artist | Songwriter(s) | Album/EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Goodbye" | RAIGN (as Rachel Rabin) | Rachel Rabin | |
| "Been Lying" | Rita Ora | Rita Ora Rachel Rabin Edwin Serrano Michael Linney Brandon Linney |
Ora | |
| "Steal My Breath Away" | Tulisa | Tulisa Contostavlos Toby Gad Rachel Rabin Tyrone Griffin Max Gousse |
The Female Boss | |
| 2013 | "Raise the Dead" | RAIGN (as Rachel Rabin) | Rachel Rabin | |
| 2014 | "A Queen's Head" | RAIGN | Rachel Rabin David Jurgens |
|
| "Don't Let Me Go" | RAIGN | Rachel Rabin Mysto & Pizzi |
Knocking On Heavens Door | |
| "Empire of Our Own" | RAIGN | Rachel Rabin Mysto & Pizzi |
Knocking On Heavens Door | |
| "The Other Guy" | Jesse McCartney | Jesse McCartney James G. Morales Matt Morales Julio David Rodriguez Rachel Rabin Lazonate Franklin Sherry Goffin Kondor |
In Technicolor |
Further reading
- Rachel Rabin at AllMusic
- Rachel Rabin at Discogs
- Raign at Discogs
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Who is Raign? 8 facts about the controversial X Factor 2014 contestant". Metro. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Bio". iamraign.com. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 Redmond, Jim (October 2014). "Raign: Wicked Game". Towel Road. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 3 "LISTEN: Raign's "Wicked Game"". Fecking Deadly. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- ↑ "Simon says Yes: Cheryl can’t stop the Raign!". British Weekly. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 "Rachel Rabin, known as Raign, divided opinion on the X Factor". Surrey Comet. October 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- ↑ Nadia Mendoza. "X Factor Raign Rabin hits charts as wild card rumours surface - X Factor - Judges, Contestants, News & More - Daily Star". Dailystar.co.uk.
- 1 2 "TV Season Finale Awards: YOUR 2015 Winners". Entertainment Weekly. 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 "RAIGN – "Wicked Game"". Ear Buddy. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 3 4 Gore, Will (14 April 2010). "Rachel Rabin goes from the Royal Borough to the Bull's Head". Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 "Exclusive: Interview with X Factor ‘diva’ Raign". Jewish News. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- ↑ Raign at Discogs
- ↑ "Rachel Rabin at the Mint". Dan Bowery Photography. 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
- 1 2 "Raign". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-05-06.