Raihana Khan (Rai Hana) is an American-Trinidadian alternative rock and pop singer, songwriter and guitarist who knows what it feels like to be an alien. An apt name for her new single which acknowledges the emotions of feeling like an outsider to appreciating that spark which makes everyone unique.

Alien, was created out of her love for writing and sharing stories in a purposeful way. It started with the continuous humming of a melody which then took shape with lyrics and guitar chords that sounded like a 70s classic rock song on acoustic guitar and then transformed into a modern rock song.

Different but unique

Rai Hana is no stranger to the alternative rock scene in Trinidad. In 2020 she released an EP with ‘Alive’ and in 2024 released two singles, ‘ Love Me’ and ‘Vilified’.

In an interview with Caribbean Pulse for her new song ‘Alien’ Rai Hana says she had an idea for a song that would express her experience of being an outsider her entire life.

“I’m quite literally a migrant. I have been a multi-national being shuttled between Florida and Trinidad my entire life. I have felt very different and other, felt it a lot in every section of my life. Entertainment…friends… relationships.

This topic was haunting me recently and I wanted to capture that experience but then I realised it’s not all that bad and there are positives to being different.”

Rai Hana found that people always look up to the different ones.

“Everyone wants to be like the outsider because they are unique, their style is different, they bring something fresh and otherworldly to the table and I have experienced that admiration and rejection all at once. I wanted to capture that with the song Alien.”

“A lot of people go through life feeling out of place. They don’t fit in with the people around them, even if they’re not like me, like a migrant, they feel like they are one. They don’t fit the norms or the check boxes of what society or social media tells us to be.”

(Photo credit: Kevin Benny)

Empowerment in the otherness

When listening to Alien, Rai Hana wants people to feel empowered in their otherness, to embrace being different and not see it as a curse but as blessing.

She believes it’s the unique and innovative people among us that inspire change and take charge.

“Especially in these times we are living in where aliens in the literal sense are mistreated, I want them to be reminded that there is power in being different and I want to create an uplifting atmosphere during these really crazy times.”

Rejection stings

Like Rai Hana has pointed out, feeling like an outsider comes with its challengers. For her as a full-time musician, the rock singer says she is not usually included in a lot of spaces.

“I feel the brunt of exclusivity quite often and it’s a hurtful feeling but I try to recentre, refocus and repurpose and remember what I’m about and what my individual goals and dreams are and just be okay with constructing my own journey from scratch.

“There are a lot of things I would like to be a part of and I don’t get the opportunity to be but I believe in those who believe in me and that makes the difference.”

She shared one of her best experiences of a lifetime was her recent participation as an extra in a Green Day film project, with it being no secret that she is a superfan of the American rock band which inspires her music.

What’s next?

Rai Hana says more, so much more.

“I have so many more songs to write and I’m just itching to jump back in studio right now. I’m already writing something else. I hope this year can bring me closer to actualising that dream I have of creating a constant flow of recorded music and hopefully being able to tour internationally.

I still want that Grammy! It’s a lot of hard work but I’m willing to go the extra mile for it.”

Alien releases on January 23, 2026 and will be available on all streaming platforms including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.