# Rhea Raj

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rhea_Raj
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rhea_Raj.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_Raj
> Source revision: 1355850904
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American singer-songwriter (born 2000)

Rhea Raj Born Rhea Sri Rajagopalan[1] (2000-04-05) April 5, 2000 (age 26)[2] Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. Alma mater New York University Tisch School of the Arts Occupations Singer songwriter Years active 2016–present[3] Relatives Lara Raj (sister) Musical career Genres Pop electropop[4] Instrument Vocals Website rhearaj.com Musical artist

**Rhea Sri Rajagopalan** (born April 5, 2000), known professionally as **Rhea Raj**, is an American singer and songwriter. She released her first album, *Hunter*, in 2024.

## Early life

Rhea Raj was born in [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut) to Indian parents, Kavita Raj and Sri Rajagopalan. Her parents are both ethnically [Tamil](/source/Tamils).[5][6] She grew up in [Plano, Texas](/source/Plano%2C_Texas).[7] Her mother ran a [Bharatnatyam](/source/Bharatanatyam) dance school and her father worked in digital marketing.[5] At two years old, she began learning classical Indian dance.[8] She began singing when she was 10 years old, and began writing songs when she was 11 years old.[9][10] Her younger sister, [Lara](/source/Lara_Raj), is part of the girl group [Katseye](/source/Katseye).[11][5]

## Career

### 2016: *American Idol*

Raj appeared in the [fifteenth season](/source/American_Idol_(season_15)) of *[American Idol](/source/American_Idol)* in 2016. She progressed from the audition stage but failed to pass the Hollywood Week round.[3][12]

### 2018–present: Solo career

After graduating high school, Raj founded the [record label](/source/Record_label) Misschief Records in 2018.[*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*][13] Her mother runs the label with her.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Raj began her career as a solo artist in 2019 with the singles "2AM" and "You're a Star".[14] In 2020, she was selected by [BMI](/source/Broadcast_Music%2C_Inc.) to receive the Abe Olman Scholarship Award from the [Songwriters Hall of Fame](/source/Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame).[14]

She studied at the [New York University Tisch School of the Arts](/source/New_York_University_Tisch_School_of_the_Arts)' Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music where she met [Jacob Kasher Hindlin](/source/Jacob_Kasher_Hindlin).[13] She later signed with Hindlin's publishing company, Livelihood Music Company, for representation as a writer and producer.[15][10]

In 2023, Raj was selected as the [Spotify](/source/Spotify) x [Gold House](/source/Gold_House) Artist of the Year.[16]

In 2024, Raj released her debut studio album, *Hunter*,[17][4] and a stripped down version, *Hunter (Tamed edition)*.[18] In 2025, Raj released her follow-up EP, *Commotion*.[19] Its lead single "Haute Couture" with [Aliyah's Interlude](/source/Aliyah's_Interlude) received a [Fortnite](/source/Fortnite) emote. Later that year, Raj went on her first headlining tour to promote the EP.[20] She performed "Haute Couture" alongside Aliyah's Interlude at [Lollapalooza](/source/Lollapalooza) in 2025.[5]

In January 2026, Raj became the first artist signed to 5 Junction Management, a subsidiary of [Warner Music Group](/source/Warner_Music_Group) led by [DesiHits](/source/DesiHits) founder Anjula Acharia.[21]

## Discography

**Studio albums**

- *Hunter* (2024)

**Extended plays**

- *Commotion* (2025)

**Singles**

- "2AM" (with [UpsideDown](/source/UpsideDown_(DJ))) (2019) [22]

- "MVP" (2021)[22]

- "Venom" (2021)[22]

- "In Ur Hands" (2021)[22]

- "Outside" (2022)[22]

- "Taste That (Mwah)" (2023)[22]

- "Atmosphere" (2023)[22]

- "Oops! Ur Single Now" (2023)[22]

- "OUT OF BODY" (2023)[22]

- "MESSY" (2024)[22]

- "HUSH" (2024)[22]

- "DIGITAL BABE" (2024)[22]

- "PRAY ON IT" (Feat [Talwiinder](/source/Talwiinder) & [Yung Raja](/source/Yung_Raja)) (2025)[22]

- "Haute Couture" (with [Aliyah's Interlude](/source/Aliyah's_Interlude)) (2025)[22]

- "Mumbai" (2025)[22]

- "Haute Couture with [Aliyah's Interlude](/source/Aliyah's_Interlude) (Slush Puppy Remix)" (2025)[22]

- "Killer" (2025)[22]

**Features (tracks Rhea features on)**

- "fw me(dirty)" [Knock2](/source/Knock2) (2025)[15]

Songwriting Credits Year Artist Album Song 2025 Knock2 and Rhea Raj 2025 Rhea Raj and Aliyah's Interlude "Haute Couture" 2025 Maroon 5 featuring Lisa Love Is Like "Priceless"

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ASCAP_1-0)** ["Rajagopalan Rhea Sri"](https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/writer/729162631/RAJAGOPALAN%20RHEA%20SRI). *ASCAP*. Retrieved May 6, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIEjowDJ3Ri/?igsh=cWN4cjQ5cW12NXVh](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIEjowDJ3Ri/?igsh=cWN4cjQ5cW12NXVh)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["'American Idol' Recap: Fourth Night of Auditions Returns to Little Rock and Denver"](https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/6843764/american-idol-recap-auditions). *Billboard*. January 14, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200322072130/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/6843764/american-idol-recap-auditions) from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RollingStone_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RollingStone_4-1) Mier, Tomás (June 27, 2024). ["Rising Pop Star Rhea Raj Dances Through a Moody Sci-Fi World in Flirtatious Video for 'Hush'"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rhea-raj-drops-hush-video-album-hunter-1235046974/). *Rolling Stone*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240627160631/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rhea-raj-drops-hush-video-album-hunter-1235046974/) from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:7_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:7_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:7_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:7_5-3) Talawadekar, Vaishnavi Nayel (November 18, 2025). ["Rhea Raj is making pop music for the girls that pop music left out"](https://www.vogue.in/content/rhea-raj-is-making-pop-music-for-the-girls-that-pop-music-left-out). *Vogue India*. Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Poorvaja, S. (December 30, 2025). ["Rhea Raj on her love for Chennai, the Commotion tour, and what made 2025 special"](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/rhea-raj-and-lara-raj-of-katseye-in-chennai/article70453042.ece). *The Hindu*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0971-751X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X). Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Meet Rhea Raj - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide"](http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-rhea-raj-rhea-raj-misschief-records-nyc-la/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230323070002/http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-rhea-raj-rhea-raj-misschief-records-nyc-la/) from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Johnson, Perry (October 28, 2023). ["Rhea Raj is one to watch"](https://galoremag.com/rhea-raj-is-one-to-watch/). *Galore*. Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Rhea Raj | New Visual "Venom" & South Asian Roots"](https://www.flaunt.com/blog/rhea-raj-venom). *Flaunt*. January 3, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_10-1) Mitchell, Ashlee (October 18, 2021). ["Rhea Raj"](https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2021/10/interviews-rhea-raj/). *Euphoria*. Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Meet Lara Raj"](https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-lara-raj-lara-raj-hollywood/). *Voyage LA Magazine*. July 30, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Ex American Idol Contestant Rhea Raj Talks New Music, Feminism and More!"](https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2018/04/ex-american-idol-contestant-rhea-raj-talks-new-music-feminism-and-more/). *Urban Asian*. April 17, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_13-1) Pawa, Anjana (December 19, 2023). ["Rhea Raj: 'I want to share my culture with the world'"](https://joysauce.com/rhea-raj-i-want-to-share-my-culture-with-the-world/). *[JoySauce](/source/JoySauce)*. Retrieved February 23, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:6_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:6_14-1) ["Rhea Rajagopalan p/k/a Rhea Raj"](https://www.songhall.org/profiles/rhea-raj). *Songwriters Hall of Fame*. Retrieved May 6, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_15-1) ["Rhea Raj"](https://livelihoodmc.com/rhea-raj-2/). *Livelihood Music Company*. Retrieved February 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Rhea Raj"](https://goldhouse.org/people/rhea-raj/). *Gold House*. Retrieved February 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Royalty By UpsideDown, Happy Singh & Rhea Raj Will Make You Shake A Leg"](https://urbanasian.com/entertainment/2019/06/royalty-by-upsidedown-happy-singh-rhea-raj-will-make-you-shake-a-leg/). *Urban Asian*. June 10, 2019. [Archived](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/) from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Year of the Hunter"](https://bazaarvietnam.vn/year-of-the-hunter-rhea-raj/). *Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam*. December 4, 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241204190545/https://bazaarvietnam.vn/year-of-the-hunter-rhea-raj/) from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Q&A: Rhea Raj Burns It All Down and Rebuilds in "COMMOTION" EP"](https://www.thelunacollective.co/journal/qa-rhea-raj/). *Luna Collective*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Rhea Raj Announces First Headline Tour"](https://asiablooming.com/2025/10/19/rhea-raj-announces-first-headline-tour/). *Asia Blooming*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Ramachandran, Naman (January 6, 2026). ["Anjula Acharia Doubles Down on Warner Music Partnership, Launches 5 Junction Management With 'American Idol' Star Rhea Raj Signing (EXCLUSIVE)"](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/anjula-acharia-5-junction-management-rhea-raj-1236624344/). *Variety*. Retrieved May 9, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_22-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_22-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_22-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_22-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_22-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:2_22-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:2_22-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-:2_22-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-:2_22-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-:2_22-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-:2_22-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-:2_22-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-:2_22-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-:2_22-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-:2_22-15) [***q***](#cite_ref-:2_22-16) ["Rhea Raj Artist page on Apple Music"](https://music.apple.com/au/artist/rhea-raj/644922067). *[Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music)*.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rhea Raj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_Raj) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_Raj?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.