Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Trinidad.
Hi Raquel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I remember the first time I sang in front of my mother when I was 6 years old. The song was none other than Genie in a Bottle by the iconic Christina Aguilera. When my mom heard me singing, she immediately told my dad that she believed I had a strong musical talent.
I grew up in a very musically inclined household—my mother was a singer in an award-winning barbershop quartet, my father was a drummer and guitarist who taught me to play guitar at a young age, and my brother was a drummer who eventually mastered music production. Every day growing up, there was some form of music being played around the house. Singing was always a hobby for me, and when I was around 11 years old, it also became a source of income. My mom helped me hire an agent to book commercials, music gigs, and modeling opportunities.
My first major singing opportunity arose when I was 11 years old. I landed the singing voice of one of Dora the Explorer’s friends, Kate, in Nickelodeon’s Dora’s Explorer Girls: Our First Concert featuring Shakira. This experience was incredibly positive for me, and it inspired me to continue pursuing a music career at a young age.
At 16 years old, I participated in the Grammy Museum’s Music Revolution Project, a program for young songwriters to collaborate on writing music while learning about the business and process behind music copyrighting. In 2019, I was contacted by a television producer from ABC, who helped me audition for American Idol, where I competed as a Top 20 finalist during my season. This experience brought me my first exposure to public interviews on television and radio, and it helped me begin to understand what type of artist I wanted to become.
About two years later, I auditioned for NBC’s The Voice. This show genuinely altered my career because I was fortunate enough to choose Ariana Grande as my coach for the season. Her fanbase took a liking to me, and I gained a following of supporters—I call them the “Raquettes.” On the show, I was one of the final five members on Ariana’s team. I returned home from The Voice with many promising music opportunities, and I still benefit greatly from the experience through brand deals, live performances, and recording opportunities.
I am currently a performing and recording artist based in Miami with three released studio albums and plenty of singles. I write almost all of my own music, and over time, songwriting has become just as much of a passion for me as singing has always been. Being able to play with words and create melodies that match their essence feels like the most effective and creative way to express myself. I feel lucky to see how much my musical ear has changed and improved over the years. It’s always fun to listen to my older music and consider how I would have sung or written things differently now, but it is also very fulfilling to know that whatever I wrote during those times perfectly expressed what I was hoping to convey when the music was released.
Being an artist feels very multifaceted—some days I want to deliver a certain message through my songs, and the next day I have a completely different image in mind that I want to convey. There is an unlimited number of lyrics to write, melodies to create, and ideas to showcase when it comes to music, and it brings me so much joy to know that I will always be hungry for creative growth and career-building opportunities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think there will always be challenges when it comes to trying to pursue a successful music career. I’ve learned that people are definitely not lying when they say that aspiring artists will hear a lot of “no’s” in the industry. By now, I’ve heard hundreds of “no’s” in my career, but rejection will never extinguish my passion for music & will never lead me to give up on my goals.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Aside from live performances, one avenue of music work that I really enjoy is vocal voiceover. I voice different characters, commercials & theme songs for various tv shows and products. This is probably the most playful part of my music career. It allows me to channel a very youthful energy, & sometimes it reminds me of the feeling of being 11 years old singing on Dora’s Explorer Girls.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Not everyone will understand your creative intentions, but the most important thing is that YOU enjoy the product that you create & the message you are trying to convey. Finding success in music can be a very long journey, & that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! There is beauty in being able to stop & feel grateful for all of those tiny accomplishments you achieve along the way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovyraq?igsh=MWQwNGpudXpiaGJy&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18vBrXvqkm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/groovyraq?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@groovyraq?si=h8vTKKQopJMlNOxo
