We were immediately impressed with Rayla’s LNT video and we knew it would be fun to speak with her about her career. Add in that fact that we were able to get some exclusive photos of the up and coming singer/songwriter we couldn’t pass it up. Get introduced to Rayla and listen to her over on Radio Disney and request they play it more and more.
Rayla is an impressive, emerging singer/songwriter who is making waves in the music industry. Handpicked to open for the likes of HRVY, Daya, Fetty Wap, and Jana Kramer, this 17-year-old’s fresh, unique sound delivers songs that are packed with relatable lyrics. She puts an original stamp on the music she creates, as evidenced in her covers of popular songs and in her original music. Writing her first song at the age of five, Rayla credits Halsey, Camilla Cabello, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran as major career influences.
BSCKids: Rayla how did you get started in writing music and performing?
Rayla: Growing up there was always music playing in the house – all genres from rock and roll to country to pop. I was surrounded by music all the time. My mom says I was born singing. I use to stand on the dishwasher door and use it as my stage to perform. I wrote my first song at five – not my best work but it had a great melody and catchy lyrics. Lol! We had a recording studio in my hometown, so when I was around 10 I would go there every day and write and record and just hang out with other kids doing the same thing. Once I started going to New York and LA for my music, everything just kinda grew from there.
BSCKids: Who would you say you were most excited to open for in the music industry?
Rayla: I am such a huge Jana Kramer fan. I was so excited to meet her that I cried. Lol. She was just so nice. Daya, Olivia Holt, HRVY were awesome to work with, I really admire them all. Recently I opened for Fetty Wap in Toronto, such a great show and really engaging crowd. I love when the crowd has so much energy, it really feeds into the performance. This month I’ll be opening for JAGMAC in Baltimore and then at the beginning of the year I am out on tour with 4th Ave. I’m really excited for all that’s coming up.
BSCKids: Tell us the process of bringing the song LNT to life. Did you write it all at once and did it change much from the first time you started working on it?
Rayla: I came up with the concept for LNT when I had major insomnia one night. I was going through a total teenage girl major crush moment. The song is all about that special someone you can’t get out of your head. When I sat down to write it with Nikki Sorrentino, my co-writer on the song, she totally got where I was coming from. The song came together pretty fast, we didn’t have to change to much from our first round to the final production. I wanted a fun song that makes you wanna blast it really load in your car, with the windows down and your friends singing along and I think we got it with LNT.
She puts an original stamp on the music she creates, as evidenced in her covers of popular songs and in her original music. Writing her first song at the age of five, Rayla credits Halsey, Camilla Cabello, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran as major career influences.
BSCKids: Tell us a bit about filming the LNT video and how you worked to bring the vision of your song to life.
Rayla: Making the video was so much fun! We had a great crew and cast pulling my vision together. The location was in Edgewater, New Jersey and it was so beautiful. I love being able to bring my vision around the song to life and film it in such a beautiful place. Having a song gives the audience a chance to interpret it the way they want too but having a visual makes it that much more special because people get to see exactly what the song is about and means to the songwriter.
BSCKids: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Rayla: I recently did a list of 10 fun facts, and the funniest one that comes to mind is that I never have matching socks! I don’t know why, I have the socks match but never seem to put them on together! It could be because my dog, Rudy is always stealing them.
BSCKids: We hear you wrote your first song when you were very young, tell us what you remember from that song?
Rayla: I was five when I wrote my first song! I had to ask my older sister to write the words down because I couldn’t do it! I do remember the melody was really catchy and it had a great hook. I even had a full dance routine to go with it. The complete package. LOL
BSCKids: How do you feel you have grown as an artist in the last few years and where you do hope to be in the next few years.
Rayla: I feel my sound keeps growing and evolving every time I get in the studio. I think through more life experiences I have more to pull from when creating. In the next few years I really hope to be doing what I am doing, creating music, being able to share it and going out on tour to meet the people who love to listen to it.
Music has always been a dominant part of her life, and she is eager to make her own imprint in the music scene. Outside of entertainment, she is committed to philanthropic work, supporting The Fuller Center for Housing.
BSCKids: Tell us about your work with The Fuller Center for Housing.
Rayla: The Fuller Center does such amazing work around the country helping to build homes in areas of need. This was my second year working with the organization in West Virginia. We had about 60 youth volunteers from my home town that spend the week working on building a house from the ground up. It is amazing to watch the house come together and know we all are working together to help a family build a better life. The families we work with are so appreciative and generous that not only are we improving conditions for them but they are in return giving us so much more by opening up their community to us and just the overall experience.
BSCKids: Where can we find you on social media?
Rayla: I am mostly an Instagram user, I love posting to stories, but you can find me on all social media at @Rayla. Also I will be out on tour the beginning of 2019 with @4thAve, so come out and see us! Tickets: https://www.4thavemusic.com/#!/events
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