Rayana Ragan was born and raised in San Mateo, California by a fashion photographer father and fashion model mother; as a byproduct, Rayana signed her first modeling contract to LA Models at 1 year old.
Having spent her early childhood either on set or backstage at runway shows, Rayana always had a pointed interest in fashion and the entertainment industry. Growing up listening to artists such as Erykah Badu (Rayana has an ankh tattoo inspired by Badu’s song “On and On”), Tupac, U2, Sam Cooke, and Ella Fitzgerald (to name a few) Rayana has always had an eclectic taste in and a deep love for music. In grade school, Rayana played 1st chair trombone in her school jazz band for 2 years, taught by Brian Switzer, who later went on to play trumpet for Train.
Once an adult, Rayana based herself in Los Angeles and her focus centered around modeling and acting; in the years, she has come to sign to multiple top modeling agencies globally, including Wilhelmina, Next and MGM, as well as Luber Roklin Entertainment for acting; she has booked major campaigns for clients such as PacSun, American Eagle, Boot Barn, Fila, Milani and Burt’s Bees, as well as landed acting roles on projects such as ABC Family’s (now Freeform) Switched at Birth, and the upcoming independent film In Other Words. However, despite her successes, music continued to tug at her sleeve like an eager child asking her to come play.
Rayana made the decision to pursue a career in music and started training with Valerie Morehouse and Dean Shepherd at Morehouse Vocal Studio in Studio City, CA, home to household name artists like Sia, The Chainsmokers and Miley Cyrus. Now with her diverse musical tastes and training, as well as years in the industry under her belt, Rayana is ready to stake her claim in the music industry, starting with her debut single “Why Mama Why”.
“Why Mama Why” is the 1st song to release off of Rayana’s 5 song EP, godless. The album centers around faith, hardships, and her questions on religion— however, the album and its title are not to be confused with antichrist propaganda. Each song tells a personal story to Rayana’s life and phases where she felt a loss of faith and struggled to find the presence of a higher power. “Why Mama Why” begins us on this journey, telling the story of unstable and toxic relationships, her struggle to forgive her past, the hurt she felt at the hands of others, and seeking out maternal warmth to find comfort and answers. The overriding message of the song is one of why bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, and struggling to find where a God fits into that perception of injustice. To it’s core, it is a cry for help and a longing for understanding and peace. Originally written in 2017, the song has grown and transformed as Rayana has, into the version you hear today.
“Why Mama Why” Out on All platforms
