Oh Hye-rin (), known professionally as 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". 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.Arirang Radio interview April 2, 2014 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIVw9z5IIls 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.
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". 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". 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.
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. The single consists of title track "You End, and Me" and b-side track "Repertoire".
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.
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). 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". 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.
On December 4, 2021, Raina signed a contract with Aer Music.
Discography
Single albums Title Album details Peak chart positions KOR Reset Released: October 10, 2014 Label: Pledis Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download— Loop Released: July 31, 2017 Label: Pledis Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 41"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album KOR"A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" 20141 KOR: 2,176,748"You End, And Me" ()25 KOR: 142,407 Reset"Don't Know" () 201569rowspan="2" "Sugar and Me" ()(with San E) 20165 KOR: 454,350"Loop" () 201755 KOR: 33,454Total downloads for "Loop":Loop"It's Okay" () 2018— rowspan="11" "Ann" () 2020— X-MAS Project Vol.3"Piggyback Ride" () — MBN Miss Back Part.2"tantara" — MBN Miss Back Part.4"Winter Fantasy" — MBN Miss Back Part.5"Can We Break Up?" () 2021 — MBN Miss Back Part.7"Finale" — MBN Miss Back Part.9"We Are The One" — "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness: Summer Again" 202168 A Midsummer Night's Sweetness: Summer Again (TEN PROJECT Part.3)"Morning Aroma" () 2022 — Project 'Hwaeum': Morning Scent with Raina"Just like us back then" () 2023 — Soundtrack appearances"Glowing" 201297 rowspan="10" Glowing She OST Part 2"Faraway"—"Stay Weird Stay Different" 2015—Stay Weird Stay Different OST"When Rain Falls" 2017—The Guardians OST Part 3"Home"2018—Your Honor OST Part 5"LOVE IS DANGER" 2020— Once Again OST Part 4"Waiting For You " 2021— How to Be Thirty OST Part 1 "Endless Night" 2022— Café Minamdang OST Part 3"Angel Wings" 2023— Oh! Youngsim OST Part 3"Enduring Long And Clumsily" — CEO-dol Mart OST Part 3"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Other songs
TitleYearAlbum "Allday Allnight" ()2015XXX Digital Single"Forgotten Season" ()King of Mask Singer Volume 34"You in My Imagination" ()2016Two Yoo Project Sugar Man Part 13"By My Side"Melody to Masterpiece Track 1"Jingle Jingle Jingle Bells" ()Sing For You"Once" ()2017"When autumn comes" ()2019Project 10"Merry Merry Christmas Day" ()20212021 Christmas Story
Theater YearTitle Role 2022 Again, Oh Hae-Young Oh Hae-young
Awards and nominations Mnet Asian Music Awards
| rowspan="2"| 2014 | rowspan="2"|San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" |Song of the Year
| Best Collaboration
Melon Music Awards
| rowspan="3"| 2014 | rowspan="3"|San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" | Song of the Year
| Hot Trend Award
| Rap/Hip Hop
Golden Disc Awards
| 2015 | San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" | Digital Bonsang
Seoul Music Awards
| 2014 | San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" | Hip Hop/Rap Award
Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
| 2014 | San E & Raina – "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness" | Artist of the Year – July
Notes
References
External links