L'Rain

Under the mononym L'Rain, Taja Cheek records and performs music rooted in R&B, jazz, noise, and pop, using voice memos and manipulated samples as inspiration and source material.

Cheek has toured the US, Canada, and Europe with her band. Her album Fatigue was released to critical acclaim, rated the #1 album of 2021 according to The Wire and the #2 album of the year in Pitchfork. The record also earned praise from outlets including The New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, and Artforum. A frequent collaborator, Taja has worked with artists including Helado Negro, Okay Kaya, Naama Tsabar, and Kevin Beasley.

In addition to her work as an artist, Cheek is also a curator. Most recently, she led performance programs at MoMA PS1, including the “Warm Up” summer outdoor music series and the Sunday Sessions performance series. Prior to MoMA PS1, she worked closely with artists to realize projects at institutions, including Creative Time and The High Line. She also co-founded a DIY rehearsal and performance space in her neighborhood in Brooklyn that primarily supports experimental music.