writer, singer-songwriter

My name is Raquel Sáenz Llano (but you can call me Ra). I am a singer, songwriter and aspiring writer from Medellín, Colombia now based in Boston, MA.

As a singer/songwriter, I combine my classical training as a Soprano with my deep afinity to diverse genres such as rock, folkloric music, electronic music, and film scores. My artistic ambition lies in harmoniously melding storytelling with music.

​

My debut album, THE LLORONA 3.14 serves as the centerpiece of a larger creative endeavor (an animated music movie). Through the album's compositions, I share my ongoing journey of self-discovery, love, fear, and transformation. My vocal delivery shifts between lyrical and popular techniques, at times intertwining with spoken word. These vocals are further complemented by electronic arrangements, inspired largely by my revered artists like Björk, Enya, Kate Bush, and Whitney Houston. I draw inspiration from the Latin-American myth of The Weeping Woman, La Llorona. After defending my thesis La Llorona, evolución, ideología y uso en el mundo hispano I was able to get a profound insight on this story and developed my own reinterpretation that I share through music and text. 

​

As an aspiring writer, I am currently working on a bilingual compilation of short stories that I call Myths of the América (MOTA). I am also reviewing my novel’s draft THE LLORONA, la memoria.

​

I’ve been honored with the Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship from the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston. I hold a master’s in Hispanic Studies (literature & culture concentration) from Louisiana State University 2019; and a BA in Music (vocal performance) from Universidad EAFIT 2015.