One of the most exciting things about social media is the joy of discovery. If you are adventurous, a click is all it takes to dive headlong into the world of a new-to-you creator. At the very least, it will be an intriguing environment to explore. If you’re lucky, however, that space will resonate with you. The music, the style, the message, and the attitude will fortify you. You will immediately realize you’ve found an artist who not only gives you that invincible feeling (that only the right music can deliver), but she also gets you.

Slay Raché is that artist. Her voice is flawless. She dances through twisting melodies and invigorating rhythms and lands soundly on every note with a feline grace. Her style ranges from a soft, classic Hollywood glamour to an edgy, street-savvy strut. Raché’s message and attitude intertwine to create a sassy late-night swagger — if you’re looking for excitement, she knows the way. In short, Slay Raché makes being iconic look easy.

With her latest single, “When the Lights Go Out,” Slay Raché enters 2026 with an alluring request. Her sensual vocals beg for relief from a fever that can’t be cured by popping a couple of ibuprofen. The track sizzles with a sultry groove that makes her condition highly infectious. And “WTL” is just the beginning. Slay Raché has already mapped out a release schedule for the entire year.

Entertaining Options was eager to learn more about this rising star, so we started doing research. We found out that Raché was raised in Pennsylvania and began her musical journey when she was just 3. Before becoming a professional artist, Raché survived a shark attack in Florida, was awarded Pennsylvania State Youth of the Year, and competed in the Miss New York Pageant. Now, she is a rising vocal diva who is gaining more and more attention for her remarkable voice, her passionate songs, and her forever-sparkling style.

Slay Raché graciously agreed to answer a few questions about her life experiences, her career, and her many striking looks. And speaking of looks, the engaging and effervescent talent completed her interview in a simple but winsome pale blue and white ensemble featuring glittering eyeshadow and bejeweled eyes. Her main character energy was genuine and refreshingly humble, but she still slayed.

What is the first impression you want people to get from you? 
I think the first impression that I want people to get from me is that music is definitely at the core of everything that I do. And a lot of the things that I do may look very flashy and vain, but [it’s] definitely not a vanity project for me. It’s more about my musical journey as a human. 

Which was scarier? Surviving a shark attack or being in the Miss New York pageant?
A shark attack. No, really, the shark attack.

Was it difficult to prepare for the pageant?
I did a lot of interview-style preparation, which was kind of an extension of what I did as Youth of the Year — in 2015, I was PA state Youth of the Year through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. And I had done a lot of interview-style preparation for that, you know, in front of a panel and one-on-one with my aunt and other people who had been helping train me at the time. And then, when I was doing Miss New York, which was just 4 years later, it was a similar setup. I had a one-on-one coach who coached me with these questions. And then I went to a modeling class, and then I had a private lesson. But then my aunt ended up teaching me how to walk the most, after watching my video and tweaking. 

It was kind of an experiment for me to see if I could be on stage, especially in a bikini. I think they may have gotten rid of the bikini part now, but they had it at the time. So I just wanted to see what I could do because I had never been on stage like that. My only experience was singing jazz with a band on gigs, and I was always dressed in normal, you know, formal wear… always sparkly. Always. But more conservative. And so, when I wanted to transform into Slay Raché, I was like, “I know I want this to be more pop-centered.” A lot of the things that I wanted to do involved crazy outfits and dancing and choreography. So that was the first step for me, definitely, for sure.

Could you talk a little more about the shark attack?
It’s like Googleable, you know. My real name is Juliet Shipp. When I was 9, I was visiting my grandmother in Florida, and I was attacked by a shark. And so, yeah, that’s pretty much it.

Did surviving a shark attack help make you a more fearless artist? Or did it make you more afraid?
Definitely more fearless, because I feel like there’s a level that I’m willing to go that a lot of people aren’t willing to go, because I’ve faced so many crazy things, including that. So, definitely, yeah, the first.

Your looks are mercurial. You can be a suburbanite in one photo and street-savvy in the next. What is the key to being authentic in all of your looks?
Well, I love to play dress-up. Basically, I have been doing it since I was a kid. It’s definitely a healing activity. Getting into my looks is very healing for me. So, it’s really for me, and that’s how I stay authentic. It never really is for anyone else. First and foremost, it’s always for me and always for my creative endeavor. And then sharing it is the privilege beyond that. That’s how I stay authentic.

It always comes from my own enjoyment, and I follow my own instincts. There’s usually not even that much of a plan. I let myself kind of be free, and then I put the plan in place. During the brainstorming period for all my looks, I definitely just take a look at everything I have, and I pick out the pieces and try to pick out a theme. Most of the pieces that I wear are mine, that I own in my personal collection. So, even through that, I feel very connected to the pieces that I’m wearing and the looks that I’m wearing. 

Sometimes I have an outfit or a piece for literally like 5 years or even more. And it takes years for her to have her moment. But I will take care of her in my closet for so many years. I get very connected to the clothing, you know. I’ve taken care of it and I’ve held it in my possession for so long, so by the time I wear something, I feel very comfortable. Especially now. I’m doing a lot more self-styling. I’m gaining my confidence as a stylist for myself. I still have a stylist. I still consult with stylists. But I’m definitely getting more confident following my own instincts.

I am a person who is all over the map, just as a person. So, I think [my] fashion probably reflects that. I grew up in Pennsylvania in the suburbs. I went to college in New York City, lived there for almost 10 years, and moved back to Pennsylvania. So, I am both of those things [“suburbanite” and “street savvy”].

Your songs and videos can make me really feel the emotions you’re singing about. It’s very powerful art that takes the listener on a journey. Do you enjoy attention? Does being in the spotlight excite you? Or does it make you anxious? 
Oh, no, I don’t really like attention very much. It’s weird. I hate it when it’s happening, but then if I don’t have it, I’ll be like, “Wait, why don’t I have attention?” But then when I get attention, I’m like, “Don’t look at me. I’m so scared.” So I don’t know. I need to figure that out.

But for the most part, I think I’ve always been a little bit shy and have always had to dig into a little bit of courage to do it anyway, which is maybe why such emotion comes out in my music and takes people on a journey or feels strongly, because I have to muster up a lot to [do it]. Every studio session, I know it sounds weird because I am professional and I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s not about the singing, that’s, like walking for me, it’s more about acting. It’s the fear of emotionally having to feel things because I’m tired of being emotional. I’m an empathetic person, so I feel very deeply, and it can be very exhausting for me. So, often after the studio, I’m so drained. I have to just not talk to anyone and just eat a lot and go to sleep immediately and zone out. 

You just released your first single of 2026: “When the Lights Go Out.” What can fans expect from you for the rest of the year?
I’m going to be releasing 5 more songs this year. My next song comes out in April. I just got back from Canada where I shot in the middle of a frozen lake. And yeah, so that’s what you can expect. Lots of songs, same sh*t. I’m not going anywhere.

What’s the name of your next song? 
“Coldest Place on Earth.” I’m really excited. I love the visuals. I love the song. And also, I think it’s a little bit of a pivot for me, because it’s very dancey. I want to put out some music that can be played in the club soon. So I’m kind of trying to segue into that. And this is a really cool in-between for me. It’s very poppy. It’s very bright. I really love that. I never really put that kind of sound out before, so I’m excited.

Do you have a message for your fans?
Yes, I love my fans. Thank you for listening and supporting me. I literally, so many times, have wanted to quit because I couldn’t find the strength in myself to continue. But then I think about the people who are listening and are inspired by what I’m doing and have reached out and have told me so, and I can’t quit. So, to all of those people who know who they are, and to all the people who are now finding out and will find out… Hello. Thank you for being here. I’m so grateful to have anybody listen. That was always my prayer since I was a kid, to be able to inspire people with my music. That’s literally my prayer. If that’s what’s happening, I am so happy. And if you’ve come to my music and you feel anything? Yay! Hi!

What’s the best way to follow and support you?
The best way to follow and support me is to follow me on social media [officialslayrache]. Like, repost, comment, share, and save. Most importantly, save my songs on Apple Music or Spotify or whatever streaming platform you use so the algorithm keeps pushing me up for the streaming so more people listen to the music, because the most important thing for me is that my music is heard. But social media is just so important, and I am very active. I love to post all my looks, so if you’re into that kind of thing, you probably would like my feed.

Slay Raché links:
Instagram • TikTok • Spotify • Apple Music