Diva Spotlight: Naomi Raine

Naomi Raine is one of the voices at the very forefront of worship music right now, and what a voice this woman has. She's a gifted and blessed worship leader, songwriter, and singer, and her work with worship ministries at Maverick City, Bethel, and Elevation have allowed her gift to be shared with so many people. Raine got on my radar about two years ago when I started seriously listening to Maverick City Music, and her voice never fails to blow me away. The messages of the songs she writes are beautiful and God honoring, and it's so wonderful to see someone stewarding their gift of talent so well.

Raine's Wikipedia biography isn't quite as extensive as some of the other ladies I've covered on the Diva Spotlight series, but here's what I was able to find between Wikipedia and her personal website (information current as of January 2023):

-Full name is Naomi Raine Solomon

-35 years old (she's an Aries)

-Born in New York

-Singer, songwriter, worship pastor

-Vocalist

-Unknown marital status, but she does have three children

-Has won 1 Grammy awards to date as a part of Maverick City Music

-Has released 5 solo studio albums

While this post is only going to center on Raine's solo projects, I highly encourage you to check out the songs she's lead with the collectives I mentioned above. They're all great, but my top picks would be:

Reason To Praise - Bethel Music & Cory Asbury ft. Naomi Raine

Getting Ready Reprise - Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM ft. Naomi Raine, Joel Figueroa, & Abbie Gamboa

Be Praised - Maverick City Music ft. Naomi Raine

I Can't Get Away - Melissa Helser ft. Naomi Raine

Fresh Fire - Maverick City Music ft. Naomi Raine & Brandon Lake

Jireh - Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine

God of Israel - Maverick City Music ft. Naomie Raine & Maryanne J. George

Ok, on to the music!

Heart Songs, Vol. 1: My Heart (2015)

Raine's debut Christian album was released August 4th, 2015 by Naomi Raine Music when she was 28 years old. With a run time of around 55 minutes, Apple Music has three songs starred as Popular on this album: Open Heaven, Finish Strong, and I Love You (Praise Anthem). This album has more of an R&B feel to me than gospel, and a few of the songs came off a little dated past even 2015. However, I enjoyed it overall and think there's some really great examples of Raine's vocal agility on here as well as great examples of her songwriting abilities. My Top 3 were pretty easy to narrow down this time, so here they are:

Track 3: Finish Strong (composer unknown)

I'm pretty sure Raine wrote most if not all of the songs on this album, but I can't 100% confirm that and didn't want to miss out on crediting someone else along with her. This is a good, uplifting, motivational song that would be great on a day when you're really struggling with yourself and need some encouragement. It's a good message with great musicality blended with it.

Life is too short to be fake/By the time you wanna be real, you find it’s too late/Well, what can I say, life is sorta tricky that way/When you’re ready to take off, you start to hesitate/But I heard a man say, "Start, punch fear in the face"/And I decided to ‘cause I ain’t got no more life to waste/I’m at the good part and I’m drinking it in/And I don’t wanna have no regrets when I get to the end/I wanna finish strong, I wanna finish brave/I wanna show the world we don’t have to live afraid/I wanna finish bold and be able to say/I am someone courageous and I, I wanna finish changed

Track 7: Wet Cement (Drift Back) ft. Army (composer unknown)

This is another track I couldn't confirm writing credits on, and I also wasn't able to find a reliable transcript of the lyrics, but this is definitely a song I'd recommend listening to regardless. The rap part did feel a little 2012 to me, but it doesn't necessarily bring down the overall quality of the listening experience. This is another quick paced song with a good, uplifting message.

Track 10: Definition of Good (written by N. Solomon)

This was for sure my favorite song on this album. It's a bit more ballady than the other two, and Raine's vocals really get to shine through here and amplify the lyrics she wrote. She pours so much joy and love into each song she sings, and this one is no exception.

Your mercy survives/It outlasts my fear, it outlasts my strife/To do everything right/When my will is tired and I’ve lost my mind/I will sing, my soul will boast in You, yeah/I will bless You, Lord, my soul will boast in You, yeah/Change my definition of good/‘Cause sometimes I think I’m misunderstood/But it won’t change my definition of You/‘Cause You are good, You are good

Heart Songs, Vol. 2: Adoration (2017)

Raine's sophomore Christian album was released April 9th, 2017 by Naomi Raine Music when she was 30 years old. With a run time of around 30 minutes, Apple Music has two songs starred as Popular on this album: Pour Me Out and Definition of Good. I liked this Heart Songs album a bit more than the previous one; I can't fully pinpoint why, but part of it may be the somewhat more polished sound this one has. While it's shorter than Vol. 1, it's no less powerful or impactful lyrically or vocally. Again, I found my Top 3 pretty easily here:

Track 1: Celebrate (composer unknown)

Just as the title suggests, this song is a joyful celebration of praise to the Father. Raine's joy radiates throughout every single note, and this song is sure to lift your spirits on days when you really need it. It's also a lot of fun to listen to, and of course that always helps.

We lay aside all of our problems, we have come to worship You/On one accord when we gather, You will fill the room/We're excited, we're delighted when You come in this place/We expect You to reside in our praise/You're the guest of honor, You're the reason we are here/And we wanna celebrate, celebrate/You're the main attraction, You've drawn us all here/And we wanna celebrate, celebrate our King

Track 2: Pour Me Out (written by N. Solomon)

This is a beautiful song that serves as a plea to the Holy Spirit to fill us with God's love. Raine urges herself out of the way to make room for the Spirit with beautiful lyrics and a stunning melody line. It's a great song to listen to in order to prepare your heart to hear the Word of God.

Pour me out, pour me out/All I am is Yours, all I am is Yours/Pour me out, pour me out/All I am is Yours, all I am is yours/Pour me out, pour me out/All I am is Yours, all I am is Yours/Surround me with your glory, fill me with Your love till I overflow

Track 5: Now & Forever ft. Woody Vereen (composer unknown)

Raine and Vereen's vocals blend together so well on this song. The lyrics are full of praise for an Almighty Creator, and again the emotions are almost tangible as you listen. Another great song from a beautiful album.

All of creation sits at Your feet/Patiently waiting for the next word You speak/Let our lives tell the story of all that You are/You are beautiful/Every tongue will one day confess/Giving You glory for Your faithfulness/Let our lives tell the story of all that You are/You are faithful/Now and forever/You are perfect, perfect/Now and forever/We will worship, worship/We will worship You, oh God

Back To Eden Pt. I (Live) (2019)

Raine's third Christian album was released July 19th, 2019 by The Bridge Collective when she was 32 years old. With a run time of around 81 minutes, Apple Music has three songs starred as Popular on this album: Be the Place (Live), Be the Place Flow Pt. 1 (Live) and Be the Place Flow Pt. 2. Since I'm so used to listening to Raine on live recordings anyway, this album felt very comfortable and familiar to me even though the music was new to my ears. Both her solo and her collaborative songs on this album are equally moving and beautiful. My Top 3 was a little surprising to me this time, but here we go:

Track 3: Back To Eden (Live) (written by N. Solomon)

The title track to this album grabbed my attention immediately and kept me captivated to the very end. The imagery Raine uses in these lyrics was both so similar to other songs about spending time in paradise with the Lord, but also so new because you don't hear a lot of people singing about Eden unless it's about the Fall. Wanting to reset back to the beginning is quite the example of wiping a slate clean with Jesus' salvation, and the song is really, really great.

I am on a journey/A journey to the garden/It’s the place that I belong/A moment in Your presence/Tunes of my heartstrings/Takes me back where I belong/When that wind rushed in the upper room/It blew men’s hearts back to You/Where Your presence is, Lord/That’s where I want to be/Ooh, ooh, I belong with You/I belong with You/Ooh, ooh, I belong with You/Take me back to Eden

Track 7: Over & Over (Live) (composer unknown)

I like the piano on this track a lot, not because it's particularly intricate but because of how it complements the vocals so perfectly. I could also easily see this song as a purely instrumental piece that would be a beautiful tune to meditate on the Word. It's relaxing, reassuring, and lovely.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain before it all began/Your salvation plan in action before we ever sinned/What a price for our redemption, blameless sacrifice/You never spoke a word to save You, but Your word saved our lives/And over and over, You called me/Deeper and deeper into love/And over and over, You showed me/Who I am and who You are

Track 10: Be the Place Flow Pt. 1 (Live) (written by N. Solomon)

It's pretty unusual for me to latch on to a spontaneous free-form reprise in Christian music because they can be a bit repetitive and go a bit long for my taste. However, there seems to be something about songs that involve Raine and the way she leads worship that cause me to make an exception to my own rule. I love the usage of the classic worship tune Sanctuary in this beautiful moment, and it's very easy for me to see how this was probably an unmatched moment of Spiritual movement at this live recording.

We honor You, we honor You/Not just with our lips, but with our hearts/We honor You, we honor You/Not just with our lips but with our hearts/‘Cause we want to be the place/Where Your glory dwells/And we want to be Your people/Where Your presence dwells

Back To Eden Pt. II (2020)

Raine's fourth Christian album was released March 13th, 2020 by The Bridge Collective when she was 32 years old. With a run time of around 74 minutes, Apple Music has three songs starred as Popular on this album: Find My Peace, The Blood, and The Blood Reprise. I'm not sure why there's not a Live Recording designation on this album like there was on Part 1, but this sister album is every bit as good as its predecessor. There are some really incredible moments of worship on here that I truly enjoyed. I feel very solid and confident about my Top 3 on this album:

Track 2: Find My Peace (written by N. Solomon)

One of my best friends sent this song to me almost six months ago, but for whatever reason it didn't resonate as hard with me then as it did this week. This song, like its title implies, is a peaceful listening experience and features gorgeous vocals by Raine. It builds in all the right places, softens up right when it should, and overall is just a great song.

Come near to me, closer to me, Jesus/Don't let me go, no other help I know, Jesus, Jesus/Come fight for me, You make the darkness flee, Jesus/And I know I can do anything as You strengthen me, Jesus/So when the enemy tries to come for me/I will not fear because You've prayed for me/I find my peace in You, Jesus, Jesus/All of my joy in You, Jesus, Jesus

Track 3: The Blood ft. Dante Bowe (written by J. Johnson, M. Wong, D. Bowe)

I love Dante Bowe's voice, so this song was absolutely right up my alley. This anthem of trust and faithfulness is beautiful and powerful, and as always you can feel the genuine love for God in Raine's voice. Raine and Bowe are fantastic duet partners, with their harmonies dancing around each other beautifully and smoothly.

Oh what a mystery/You require blood to make us clean/Abel's blood cries out from the ground/But Your blood cries out for mercy/I will have faith in Your love/I put my trust in Your blood/Oh, what a system/You require blood to clear our names/Oh, how Your precious blood was spilled/So we could come before You without shame/So I will have faith in Your love/I put my trust in Your blood/The blood that drips down, Lord, let it shower/The blood that protects, it'll never lose it's power/The blood that drips down and cleanses my soul/The blood that stains me white as snow/The blood that stains me white as snow

Track 7: Open Heaven (written by N. Solomon)

This song grabbed my attention from start to finish. It's a beautiful declaration of joy and love for the Father and longing for Heaven on Earth. I'm a big fan of the drum beat on this one, as well as the vocals and the lyrics.

Miracles, signs, and wonders everywhere I go/To show Your glorious power that the world would know/Your Kingdom come, Your will be done/Just like Heaven right here on Earth/We're under an open Heaven and we pull the Kingdom down/The Kingdom is right here, the Kingdom is right now/The blind will see and the lame will dance/The mute will speak, the dead will live again/We cry Holy, Holy Spirit/Come and move through us/Beneath this open Heaven

Journey (2022)

Raine's fifth Christian album was released July 8th, 2022 by Tribl Records when she was 35 years old. With a run time of around 66 minutes, Apple Music has four songs starred as Popular on this album: Not Ready, Safe, World on Fire, and Like You. The sound on this album is more similar to Heart Songs Vol. 1 than the others in my opinion, but a little more polished and refined. The songs are also intercut with Voice Memos called Car Chats that I really liked and felt added an extra level of genuineness to the album. I've already changed my Top 3 from when I talked about this album in December, but there's nothing wrong with that, right?:

Track 2: Pending Emotions (written by N. Solomon)

This short interlude of a song is a bit unique from the others in its droning sound, but I love the lyrics. It gets its point across efficiently and is super relatable to just about anyone. Definitely don't miss this one as you move through the track list.

I’ve got pending emotions/I live a life of avoidance/I’ve got no room for drama/Got an aversion to conflict

Track 18: Okay (written by A. Moses, N. Solomon, T. Hill)

This song has taken its place as my favorite off of the album. Raine gets super real with her lyrics on this album, and it's so nice to hear from a worship leader that while she struggles with similar things that I do, she knows it's all going to be okay in the end. It's a great song about faith and a very enjoyable listen.

I’m afraid that this anxiety is killing me/But I’ve been trying to believe that there is nothing wrong with me/Everybody says I’m strong, but they can’t really see me/I’m hiding my emotions, but they show up in my dreams/And every day, I grind away, make the dream a reality/But every night I’m in a fight, sleeping, grinding my teeth/I try to pray, take it away, all the stress and the business/But I just can’t stop saying yes, this time I’m facing the music/Won’t lose my mind, He’s walking me through this/I finally realized/Yes, I’m going through some things/And even if I feel away, I’ll be okay

Track 21: Merrily (written by N. Solomon)

This song is super catchy and fun to bop along to, but it's another nice, real example of life as Raine sees it herself. The callback to the classic nursery rhyme Row, Row, Row Your Boat is pleasant and familiar all while she makes the melody entirely her own. Another great song from a great album.

I save each voice note just to hear their voice/I wish that I could be home every bedtime, I hope I’m making the right choice/There’s just no place like home/I get in and kiss all the kids on their heads and wonder what they’re dreaming/I tiptoe and quietly lay in the bed, I drift off to sleeping/I wonder if they know just how I love them so/Please don’t call and interrupt me, I’m living the dream/It’s like ooh, ooh, gently down the stream/Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily/Don’t mistake me, life gets crazy on the winning team/It’s kinda like ooh, ooh, life is but a dream/Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

I loved getting to explore Naomi Raine's solo catalogue on this post, and I hope you enjoy it as well. Happy listening, and see y'all next week!