Oh Hye-rin (born May 7, 1989),[1] better known by her stage name Raina, is a South Korean singer. She is best known as a former member of the South Korean girl group After School and member of the sub-unit Orange Caramel. Raina debuted with the group in November 2009 following the release of the group's third single, "Because of You".[2] She debuted as a solo singer in September 2014 with the single "You End, And Me".
Career
Predebut
Raina tried to audition with JYP Entertainment to become a rapper before joining Pledis Entertainment.[3] Before debut, Raina was a barista at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. She also previously auditioned for Mnet's Superstar K and was a student at the SM Academy. Raina is considered to be one of the best vocalists among idol girl groups in South Korea.[4]
2009–2014: Debut with After School and Orange Caramel
Raina officially debuted with After School for the release of their second single, "Because of You", which attained No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart and won the "triple crown" on SBS Inkigayo. She debuted in After School's sub-unit Orange Caramel on June 18, 2010, on KBS Music Bank with the song "Magic Girl".[5] She released her first solo single for the My Shining Girl OST in February 2012. Raina has written lyrics for Orange Caramel's "Still..." and "In this Place". Raina also wrote the lyrics for After School's "Love Love Love" and "Timeless".
2014–present: Solo career
On June 12, 2014, Raina and rapper San E released an R&B duet called "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness".[6] The collaboration topped all major music charts in South Korea soon after it was released, and it was No. 4 on the year-end Gaon Digital Chart.[7]
In October 2014, Raina became the first After School member to make a solo debut with the release her solo single titled "Reset", which was released on October 8.[8] The single consists of title track "You End, and Me" and b-side track "Repertoire".[9]
Raina performing in 2015
Raina released her second digital single titled "I Don't Know" on November 24, 2015.
On June 16, 2016, Raina and rapper San E released their second duet, called "Sugar and Me".
On June 5, 2017, Raina released her third OST titled When Rain Falls for MBC's drama Lookout; fellow After School member E-young participated in lyric-writing, composition and arrangement for the track.
Raina released her first single album, Loop on July 31. The single album contains three tracks, with title track "Loop" featuring NU'EST's Aron.
In August 2018, Raina released the single "It's Okay" as part of a project single with producer Bumzu. Subsequently, on September 5, 2018, Raina's soundtrack single entitled "Home" was released as the fifth OST for SBS' drama Your Honor. On December 17, 2019, it was shared that Raina had left Pledis following the expiration of her contract.[10]
Following her departure from Pledis, Raina has yet to join an agency. In April 2020 Raina participated in her first project since leaving Pledis as a member of the X-MAS project in which she released her version of Lena Park's "Ann" (앤).[11] To much excitement of fans, Raina released her next OST for KBS's Once Again alongside former Myteen member and Produce X 101 contestant Song Yuvin, called "Love is Danger".[12] Since then, Raina has been announced as part of the line-up for MBN's female idol revival show Miss Back hosted by Baek Ji-young.[13]
On December 4, 2021, Raina signed a contract with Aer Music.[14]
^"2014 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
^"2014 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
^Jeon Hee-yeon (January 13, 2022). "뮤지컬 '또!오해영' 3월 8일 개막…손호영→SF9 재윤 캐스팅 [공식]" [Musical ‘Again! Hae-Young Oh’ opens on March 8th… Son Ho-young → SF9 Jae-yoon Casting [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Naver.
