Enrico Rao Released New Single CACTUS
The Boston University student and musician dropped his latest track following a successful campus performance.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Latin
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Musician and Boston University student Enrico Rao has released his latest single, CACTUS. This marks the ninth single for the artist, who previously won the 2026 Boston University Battle of the Bands with his group, Slightly Hammered.
Why it matters
Rao uses his music as a creative outlet to process personal emotions and life transitions. His trajectory reflects a dedicated pursuit of his craft while balancing his undergraduate studies and past military service in Singapore.
Rao has released 9 singles and 3 EPs throughout his career. His recent professional resume includes a 20-minute opening performance at the RhettRockz music festival.
The players
Enrico Rao
He is a musician and current junior student at Boston University who served in the Singapore military.
Slightly Hammered
This is the band led by Enrico Rao that achieved victory at the 2026 Boston University Battle of the Bands.
Zara Larsson
She is a globally recognized pop singer for whom Enrico Rao performed as an opening act at the RhettRockz festival.
The details
Rao began producing music on GarageBand during the COVID-19 lockdown using a microphone and digital interface. He now performs his original music at various venues around Boston as he continues to build his repertoire during his college career.
Timeline
Rao watched a Daniel Caesar performance in 2018.
The artist released his first single in May 2023.
His band Slightly Hammered won the 2026 Battle of the Bands.
The single CACTUS was released on September 25, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
Rao's career trajectory follows the trend of independent bedroom-produced music production, mirroring the shift toward self-made artist development. This approach allows students to build a catalog and live following while pursuing traditional academic paths.
Fans and listeners can access the new track CACTUS through standard streaming platforms where Rao distributes his music. The release provides a look at his evolving sound as he continues to perform at various gigs throughout the Boston area.
The takeaway
Rao demonstrates how digital production tools allow students to turn personal emotional processing into a professional discography. Aspiring musicians can emulate this path by leveraging campus events and local performance opportunities to grow a dedicated listener base.
Further reading
Discover more emerging artists and local music developments in the Latin section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Heights.
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