RAEGAN: “I CAN BE LOUD, CAMP, AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY MYSELF”

New York pop artist RAEGAN is making music like the stage is already set. At 23, she’s carving out her own corner of pop by smashing together Broadway drama, camp, spectacle and brutally honest songwriting — or, as she puts it, “musical theatre pop”.

After introducing herself with the gothic, viral chaos of ‘TIM BURTON’, which racked up more than a million TikTok likes, RAEGAN followed with her debut EP FCK RAEGAN*. Now she’s entering her next chapter with RAEGAN CORE, a new EP that pushes her theatrical instincts even further.

The latest preview, ‘Crying Is A Girl’s Best Friend’, captures that sweet spot between heartbreak and humour, turning loneliness into something both dramatic and empowering. But RAEGAN’s world extends well beyond the songs themselves. She writes, produces, acts, dances and oversees the visuals and stage design, building a complete universe around each release.

With her profile continuing to grow across music, fashion and live performance — and recent recognition from HITS as one of its Q2 New & Developing Artists — RAEGAN is clearly thinking bigger than a conventional pop career.

Here, she talks about finding her way back to her inner theatre kid, turning tears into a source of strength, maintaining creative control and what she wants RAEGAN CORE to say about the artist behind it all.

1. Your music has been described as existing at the intersection of Broadway, pop, and theatre. How did you develop what you call your“musical theatre pop” sound, and why does that combination feel likethe right creative home for you?

I grew up in musical theatre so my inner child is very much a theatre kid. I found myself at a time in life where I was questioning who I am and who I wanted to be. I realised I wanted to reunite with my inner child and do theatre again. However, that didn’t mean that I was going to stop making music, I decided to blend them together and create something new. It feels like the right spot for me because I feel like all parts of myself can be expressed in this genre. I can be loud, camp, and unapologetically myself.

https://youtu.be/Ky1wWVdR4qU?si=F3vFxInu8okq6It5

2. Your latest single, Crying Is A Girl’s Best Friend, balances emotional vulnerability with satire. What inspired the song, and what messagedid you hope listeners would take away from it?

I wrote this song about feeling alone when the audience goes home and you're leftwith nothing but yourself. But, at the same time, this sadness is empowering. It’s mepersonifying my tears and reminding myself that I’m never alone when I can cry.

3. From writing and producing your music to shaping the visuals and stage design, you’re involved in every creative aspect of your work.How important is that level of creative control to telling your story?

I would say it's very important because my art is my complete self-expression.

4. You’ve built a passionate audience through viral moments like TIM BURTON, but you’ve also continued evolving your artistry withRAEGAN CORE. How do you balance the expectations that come withonline success while staying true to your creative vision?

Honestly, I feel like the expectation of success comes from within. I try not to put too much pressure on myself, although of course that can be hard at times. I always prioritize my artistic vision and focus on staying inspired and posting through that lens. If it resonates with people, that's amazing, but regardless I want to be proud of myself and what I put out into the world.

5. With RAEGAN CORE arriving in September and your profile growing across music, fashion, and live performance, what do you hope this next era says about who RAEGAN is as an artist?

I hope this era authentically shows who I am. Which is dramatic, quirky, emotional,comedic, and bold (to say the least)