Raffia is a New York born-Los Angeles based singer and songwriter. Raised a short distance from New York City in the suburbs of Long Island, Raffia was constantly surrounded by a rich culture of soulful music, dance, and meaningful art which later served as a foundation for her own musical talents.  Her voice could be best described as soulful, sultry, and passionate. From her ballads, to the up-tempo dance tracks, Raffia possesses the musical rhythm and style that has been compared to likes of Phyllis Hyman, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Toni Braxton. She graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, in Boston Massachusetts, with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education/Voice Principal.

Shortly after graduating, Raffia received the opportunity to travel to Manila, Philippines performing as the lead vocalist of the funk/jazz fusion band entitled Satya. She later sang with recording artist Jennifer Holiday, who played the original “Effie” from Dreamgirls at Martha’s Vineyard. It was evident early on that Raffia was destined for stardom, and that she was merely scratching the surface of what was yet to come. She later performed provided background vocals for, numerous artists including Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, UK band Bastille, Chante Moore, Anita Baker, Ledisi, Gloria Estefan, Patrice Rushen, Melissa Etheridge, and Donnie McClurkin to name a few.

Raffia’s remarkable journey began in 2009 when she captivated the judges on P Diddy’s Making His Band reality show, securing a spot as one of the five finalists chosen from thousands of auditioning musicians in New York. Her exceptional vocals propelled her through the competition, reaching the televised final round. Since then, Raffia’s talent has been showcased on various nationwide television shows, including The Jacksons – A Family Dynasty and Toni Braxton’s Braxton Family Values. She has also made appearances on popular shows like Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel, lending her background vocals to renowned vocal coaches such as Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and the UK band Bastille.

Raffia’s solo career as an R&B/Soul artist is blossoming, with notable performances for esteemed associations like the Jack and Jill Association, the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women), and the Gardenia Jazz Festival, where she had the honor of opening for Jazz Horn Artists Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, and Mindi Abair.