When it comes to Rauw Alejandro and his music, the singer has a genuine curiosity that pushes him to constantly experiment and evolve as an artist.
The Puerto Rican singer —whose given name is Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz — is a musical chameleon, one whose exploratory mindset has resulted in a wide range of trap, reggaeton, synth-pop, R&B and electronic music.
Case in point: The first single from his forthcoming fifth studio album. “Touching the Sky,” released in May, is a pop-disco dance track that introduces fans to his new era. And one of the first times fans will get to experience this new chapter is when the 31-year-old performs July 12 as part of TODAY's Citi Concert Series on the 30 Rock plaza.
“I’m really, really excited for this performance. I remember I used to (watch) a lot of artists when I was kid doing the TODAY show. For me, it’s really, really special,” he tells TODAY.com. “I have a lot of family also in New York, and there are a lot of Puerto Ricans living in the city, so it feels like a second home for me.”
Teasing his upcoming mini concert, he says fans can expect a “summer vibe — fun, a lot of dancing, energy.”
“I have a surprise for my fans,” he adds, before confirming that “Touching the Sky” and “Todo de Ti” will be among the songs he sings with a live band. But the rest he is keeping a secret.
“(Performing with a live band) is something I haven’t done in a long time, and it gives another feel to the music. Live instruments, everything feels real and in the moment. I think it’s going to be a special one.”
The many eras of Rauw Alejandro
From his early days on SoundCloud — creating music and releasing his first mixtape “Punto de Equilibrio” in 2016 — Alejandro has always embraced the unknown.
Born into a musical family with guitarist father Raúl Ocasio and singer mother María Nelly Ruiz, Alejandro's childhood was filled with music ranging from Elvis Presley, James Brown and Michael Jackson, as well as Daddy Yankee and Wisin y Yandel. His first passion was soccer, playing the sport since the age of 7 with hopes of going pro. However, at the age of 21, he left the sport behind after suffering an injury, turning to his other hobby, music, for comfort.
Rising during the new generation of reggaetoneros like Bad Bunny, Anuel AA, Myke Towers and more, Alejandro brought something to the genre that no one else did: dance.
Paired with a willingness diversify his music, Alejandro's slick moves, choreographed performances and music videos put him in a category of his own.
Other artists took note throughout his meteoric rise, including Selena Gomez, Shakira, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, who have all collaborated with Alejandro. Last year, he also released an EP, “RR,” with singer and then-girlfriend Rosalía.
For the past two years, the Latin Grammy winner has been one of the Billboard charts' Top 10 Latin Artists of the year, placing No. 3 in 2022.
He says that with each album, he aims to bring life to a new character that represents the music he's creating.
“I always try to reflect the sounds in how I look and how I present myself,” he explains.
Where his 2020 debut album “Afrodisíaco” appealed to reggaeton and Latin trap listeners, 2021’s “Vice Versa” took an electro-pop, house turn with more funk. “Todo de Ti,” the second single from that album, became one of the top songs of that summer, reaching No. 2 on the Hot Latin Songs Billboard chart.
Next came the album “Saturno,” a return to reggaeton mixed with intergalactic sounds, set to 80s-inspired high dance tempos. He surprised fans with a follow-up album almost eight months later titled “Playa Saturno." The project showcased his smooth vocals crooning against party anthems and heartbreak tunes — fitting, as several weeks after the album dropped, he and Rosalía announced they had called off their engagement.
Now, with one look at his Instagram and the “Touching the Sky” music video, and fans have guessed that Alejandro's latest chapter will feature more of a vintage, 1950s New York style. The singer will only tease a bit more about what to expect to TODAY.
“This new era, it’s a little bit more classic,” Alejandro says, describing it as “‘West Side Story’ — more Broadway.”
As for how that will translate into his next album — and when it will be released — he remains mysterious. “It’s not ready yet, but I hope soon,” he says. “These songs (are) too good to be inside the studio.”
He does, however, credit New York City for inspiring what's in the works.
“I’m a big fan of visual content, like movies. I’ve been going to libraries to just find different inspirations. I’ve been hanging out a lot in the city,” Alejandro says of his never-ending to innovate. “The city has so much to offer artists, and I’m just here learning and trying new stuff.”