Naomi Raine

Naomi Raine, born Naomi Raine Solomon on April 9, 1987, in New York City, is an American Christian and gospel singer, songwriter, worship leader and worship pastor. She is known for her expressive vocals, intimate songwriting and a style of worship that blends contemporary Christian music, gospel and modern praise and worship. Raine first built a name for herself as an independent artist before becoming one of the prominent voices associated with Maverick City Music.

Raine’s career has developed along two closely connected paths: music and ministry. Her early solo recordings established her as a thoughtful songwriter, while her work with Maverick City Music brought her voice to a much larger international audience. Songs such as “Promises,” “Jireh” and “The Story I’ll Tell” became particularly associated with her, while her later solo projects have allowed her to explore personal experiences, faith and worship in greater depth.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Musical Background

Music was part of Naomi Raine’s life from childhood. She was raised by Lawrence and Marissa Felder in New York and grew up in a musical Christian household. According to her official biography, she sang in her first concert as a young child and wrote her first song at the age of seven. Her parents’ involvement in church music had a particularly strong influence on her understanding of worship.

Raine has recalled being deeply affected by hearing her parents and their church choir sing when she was young. Around the age of ten, she began to understand worship in a more personal way, an experience that helped shape the direction of her life and music. She later learned to play guitar and continued developing her ability to communicate through songwriting and melody.

Rather than viewing music simply as a performance, Raine developed an approach centered on honesty, faith and spiritual connection. Those qualities became increasingly visible as she began releasing her own music.

How Her Music Career Started

Raine began her recording career independently, releasing Heart Songs, Vol. 1: My Heart in 2015. The project introduced listeners to her intimate approach to Christian songwriting and was followed by Heart Songs, Vol. 2: Adoration in 2017. The latter performed strongly for an independent release, reaching the Top 10 of the iTunes Christian & Gospel chart.

One of the early songs that helped expand her audience was “Pour Me Out,” a worship song built around the theme of surrendering one’s life to God. The song connected with younger Christian listeners and became an important early example of the personal and congregational style that would become characteristic of her work.

Her early career also included collaborations with artists and ministries such as Todd Dulaney, Bethel Music, Jonathan and Melissa Helser, JJ Hairston and Israel Houghton. These collaborations gradually positioned her within the wider contemporary gospel and worship community.

Maverick City Music and Breakthrough

In 2019, Raine became part of Maverick City Music, the Atlanta-based worship collective founded by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay. Her arrival coincided with the group’s rapid rise and its distinctive approach to worship, which brought together musicians from different Christian and gospel backgrounds.

Raine became one of the collective’s recognizable voices, contributing to projects and live recordings that reached audiences around the world. Her performances on songs including “Promises,” “Jireh” and “The Story I’ll Tell” helped establish her as a major voice in contemporary worship.

Her work with Maverick City Music also brought significant industry recognition. The collective’s collaboration with Elevation Worship on Old Church Basement won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2022. Raine subsequently became part of additional Grammy-winning projects associated with Maverick City Music and its collaborations, including Kingdom Book One with Kirk Franklin.

Beyond recordings, she participated in Maverick City Music tours and major worship events, helping bring the group’s communal style of worship to live audiences.

Solo Career and Major Projects

While working with Maverick City Music, Raine continued developing her individual career. In 2022, she released Journey, her first major solo album with Tribl Records. The project is notably personal, addressing faith, relationships, motherhood, emotional struggles and the pressures that can accompany life and ministry.

One of its most revealing songs is “Okay,” in which Raine writes openly about anxiety, stress and the desire to maintain faith while dealing with difficult emotions. The album demonstrated that her songwriting could move beyond congregational worship into more personal reflections on everyday life.

In 2023, she released Cover The Earth (Live in New York), a large-scale live worship project featuring guest appearances from artists including Natalie Grant, Todd Dulaney, Chandler Moore and Lizzie Morgan. The project was later expanded through a deluxe edition in 2024.

Raine followed it with Jesus Over Everything (Live in Las Vegas) in 2025. The live album features collaborations with artists including Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Christine D’Clario, Todd Galberth, Seph Schlueter and Anike. Its release marked another important stage in Raine’s development as a solo worship artist.

Musical Style and Influences

Naomi Raine’s music sits at the intersection of contemporary worship, gospel and contemporary Christian music. Her vocal style can move from quiet, conversational passages to powerful declarations, while her songwriting frequently focuses on surrender, trust, identity, God’s faithfulness and personal spiritual growth.

A defining characteristic of her work is its vulnerability. Rather than presenting faith only through triumphant declarations, Raine often writes about uncertainty, emotional pressure and the process of learning to trust God. This approach is particularly evident in Journey, where personal experiences become part of the album’s larger spiritual narrative.

Her background in church worship also gives her music a strong communal quality. Even when she performs as a solo artist, many of her songs are structured to invite participation rather than simply showcase her voice.

Awards, Recognition and Collaborations

Raine’s work has earned recognition from some of the leading organizations in Christian and gospel music. As part of Maverick City Music, she has been associated with Grammy-winning recordings and has also received recognition through the GMA Dove Awards, Stellar Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

Her collaborations have been an important part of her career. In addition to her work with Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship, she has worked with artists including Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Natalie Grant, Todd Dulaney, Israel Houghton, Chandler Moore, Lizzie Morgan and others.

Songs such as “Jireh,” “Promises,” “The Story I’ll Tell,” “One Name (Jesus)” and “God Problems” have become among the most recognizable recordings connected with her career. Her songwriting and vocal contributions have helped make her one of the more distinctive female voices in modern worship music.

Ministry, Family and Current Career

Raine’s work extends beyond recording and touring. She has served as a Worship Pastor at Fresh Start Christian Center in Mount Vernon, New York, and has been involved with ReFRESH Worship, a worship ministry connected to the church. She has also expressed a strong interest in mentoring creatives and creating opportunities for other musicians and worship leaders.

She is married and is a mother of three children. Family, motherhood and the balance between personal life, ministry and a demanding music career have all influenced her songwriting, particularly on Journey.

In October 2025, Raine announced that she was leaving Maverick City Music, bringing her formal period with the collective to an end after several years of major recordings, tours and international recognition. She explained that she believed it was time to pursue the individual calling she felt God had placed before her. Her departure has therefore marked a new chapter rather than an end to her involvement in worship music.

Raine continues to release music as a solo artist. In 2026, her catalog includes new recordings such as “Jesus At The Center,” “What A God (Live)” and “What A Miracle Feels Like (Live),” reflecting her continued focus on worship and personal expressions of faith.

Legacy and Influence

Naomi Raine has become an important figure in the modern worship movement by combining the intimacy of a singer-songwriter with the communal character of contemporary church worship. Her journey from independent recordings to one of the most visible voices in Maverick City Music demonstrates the growing influence of collaborative, genre-crossing worship music.

Her contribution is also significant because of the honesty with which she approaches faith. Her songs frequently acknowledge vulnerability while still pointing toward hope, making them accessible both in church settings and in personal listening. Through her recordings, collaborations, ministry and work with younger creatives, Raine continues to contribute to the evolving sound of contemporary gospel and worship music.