Lara Raj

Lara Rajagopalan -- known professionally as Lara Raj -- was born on November 3, 2005 in Stamford, Connecticut, to a Tamil family with roots on both sides of the Palk Strait. Her mother Kavita, an Indian Tamil, is a Bollywood dance teacher and chef; her father Srivatsan is a Sri Lankan Hill Country Tamil businessman. Lara grew up in Dallas before relocating to New York City, where she attended Professional Performing Arts School for middle school and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She began performing at five, training in vocals, acting, and dance through Septien Entertainment Group, playing the House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, and Six Flags. As a preteen she made a brief appearance on The Blacklist and shot commercials for Macy's and Spotify. She later danced at Broadway Dance Center and hosted segments for the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign. Her older sister Rhea Raj, a singer-songwriter, helped Lara develop an early grip on music production. Lara placed second in The Debut: Dream Academy -- the highest rank of the six members who formed KATSEYE -- and became the group's main vocalist. Built by HYBE and Geffen Records, KATSEYE debuted in June 2024 and earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance within its first full year. Lara's vocal precision is central to "Gabriela" and "Touch," and her Tamil heritage alongside her open identity within the LGBTQ+ community have made her one of the most culturally significant voices in contemporary global pop.