Yani Mercedes, born Janaiza Orealis Rodríguez on April 26, 1982, is a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of Ovidio Pujadas, an immigrant from Cuba, and Sonia Mercedes, a Puerto Rican vocalist who recognized her daughter's musical talent at an early age. Influenced by her family heritage, her style incorporates both Puerto Rican and Cuban musical traditions.
In 2016, she made her solo debut with the album Dando Cara, a production characterized by its rich Caribbean and salsa rhythms. Her body of work also includes the single Poco a poco, which helped introduce her to the tropical music scene, and the self-composed song Ser Negro Es Lindo, which she wrote as a tribute to Black heritage and its foundational connection to salsa.
