Today we’d like to introduce you to Reina.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Reina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a young, new, R&B/Pop Artist and West Coast Singer/Songwriter and my music is unapologetic and honest. I never shy away from the truth with my lyrics and I hope to captivate audiences. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up surrounded by music. I was heavily influenced by my grandfather, Verdine White, of the legendary band Earth Wind & Fire and found my passion for performance and musical theatre at a young age. At the age of nine, I studied Method Acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. I trained with legendary vocal coaches Gary Catona, Seth Riggs, and currently with Katie Riggs. My career as a recording artist began when I was 15, writing songs and creating tracks with my father Warner Wright IV. I also collaborated with the late great Nipsey Hussle. My collaboration with Nipsey Hussle led me to meet and work with Platinum award-winning producers, Myguymars and Brody Brown, whom I admire very much. I was grateful and humbled to work alongside my grandfather, Verdine White, and guitar player, Paul Jackson Jr.
While still in high school, I was fortunate enough to simultaneously attend and graduate from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, NYU/Tisch, earning a Music Industry Certificate. The beginning of my professional singing career began upon graduating high school. On August 01, 2020 I released my first single, “Sprung” Featuring Yella Beezy. The song is fresh, vibrant, and soulful.
Background about “Head to The Sky” Ft. Reina and Nipsey Hussle:
I first met Nipsey in January of 2019. I was 17 years old and a junior in high school. With the help of my parents, we created a song that was projected to be my debut single that year. We recorded at my Godfather’s iconic recording studio, Marvin’s Room. Nipsey told me to work hard, focus and make sure to finish high school before releasing it. We were working on finalizing the release during Spring Break 2019 when Nipsey was tragically murdered that March. Since April of 2019, I have been working on the song, deconstructing and reconstructing it. With the help of my Godfather and father, we reimagined the record in order to transform it into a heartfelt tribute to Nipsey—and to anyone who has experienced the devastating loss of a loved one.
Lately, the world has been filled with sadness, violence, and death. I wanted to make it a point to recognize those affected by police brutality, gun violence, and the systematic failure of our nation.
It was Nipsey who said, “The best thing you can do for a person is to inspire them. That’s the best currency you can offer—inspiration. So, when a person can rely on you for that, that empowers them in every realm of their life. Being inspired. It empowers them in their relationships, in their business, in their art, in their creativity. It empowers them because without inspiration, you’re dry.”
I hope to empower and encourage people with this song. I hope people can find comfort, peace, and strength.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The passing of Nipsey Hussle was devastating; that moment changed my motivation and drive, and I was fueled by hurt and confusion. Nip inspired me to work harder for what I love doing, for the ones I love, and for my community. Like so many, his death affected me deeply. I have definitely learned to appreciate every day more and recognize how blessed I am to be surrounded and guided by incredible people I love.
Shortly after Nipsey’s death, I was appalled to learn that the verse we had recorded had been leaked. I was in disbelief that someone could be so dishonest and disrespectful, especially in a time of mourning. I grieved and used that as motivation to finish what we had started. I am grateful to be surrounded by my family and people who genuinely love me. It is a blessing to have such great mentors in my life, those who have been through struggles and can help guide me and lift me up. I never feel alone, and I am grateful for that. It is because of God, hard work, family, and perseverance that I am where I am today.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
As I mentioned, I am a singer/songwriter from L.A. My success is defined by hard work and passion for what I do and love. I could define my success by the number of streams or amount of money I make but I don’t. Instead, my success is measured by the people I inspire and by what I can give back. I want people to find characteristics of themselves in my music. I want them to find the truth and authenticity in my art. If I can change one life or inspire one person then I am successful. I am a TikTok and Instagram Influencer and I select a few small businesses affected by Covid-19 each month and help promote their products for free, along with paid promotions. I am also in the process of creating and building my own clothing line. In my spare time, I volunteer with organizations that are making a difference in our community such as Project Angel Food. I am actively advocating for Black Lives Matter, bringing awareness to gender inequality, challenging injustices against the LGBTQ+ community, and advocating for DACA students. At Santa Monica College, I am a part of the Ujima Black Collegians Club.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always extremely outgoing, bold, and honest. I learned work ethic and dedication from my parents. I grew up always eager to learn new things and to have my voice heard. I loved reading books as a child, and I had a passion for musical theater. Musical theater was my outlet for creativity, along with sports and dance. I would lose myself in soul music like Etta James, The Temptations, Debarge, Steve Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Diana Ross. I would spend hours fascinated by Michael Jackson concert videos, choreography, and the genius of his musical intuition. My mom would always play gospel music by Kirk Franklin and we would spend hours on Sunday going to church and singing our hearts out to gospel music. I would also spend long hours and nights as a child in studio sessions with my father. I grew up going to concerts and surrounded by amazing musicians. I think my passion for music and the performing arts is in my DNA.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DRrX6yRTBI
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reina_nai/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/reina_nai?lang=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@reina_nai?source=h5_m
Image Credit:
Kane Borchert captured the pictures of me in the white off the shoulder top. IG: @Kane_Borchert
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