Renn
Photo credit: Daniel Christopher
This is officially my last interview of the year, and I’m happy this interview is with another Nashville-based artist. I had to end 2020 with an epic record and “Fire To My Brain” by Renn does the work. It is a big record with an insane production, incredible vocals and poignant lyrics. This single may be different from what he’s done before, but the authenticity and honesty are still here. His voice is absolutely remarkable and I’m glad I got to discover him.
Thank you Renn for this great conversation. And to everyone else, go stream “Fire To My Brain” and watch the music video !! :)
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I was born and raised in Wilmington, NC… where One Tree Hill was filmed, if you’re familiar with that show. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to listen to the radio, so it’s kind of funny that today, music is what I’m doing. My parents were very religious and tried to keep me from the “influence” of pop culture, so we didn’t have cable television or really any music in the house that wasn’t church music. Maybe that’s why I ended up doing it… Spend enough energy trying to forsake something, and it becomes a precious stone. That’s definitely part of why I think I connect so powerfully with music—it was always hidden from me. When I got the chance to listen, it was special.
How would you define Renn, the artist?
It’s interesting… I think I spend less time trying to define myself lately, and more time trying to create music that feels like an extension of moments in my life. Not all my music is happy, because not every moment is happy. Not all my music is based on acoustic instruments, because sometimes there needs to be a more dramatic way to materialize an emotion. Moments carry certain moods, and music gives me a chance to tell the story. That’s all I’m trying to do, and perhaps why my sonic identity stretches across so many boundaries. It isn’t an attempt to do anything other that bring moments to life through the songs I write.
"Fire To My Brain" is your latest single - what's the inspiration behind this single?
I remember watching a Gary Vee (Vaynerchuk) video where he called out anyone for thinking that a "golden opportunity" would come to anyone who was taking a day off on Saturday… There is no time to waste not creating content. So I started working on two, three sessions a day in Nashville writing songs. I’d start at 8am some days and go until 3am, depending on the day and the need. I thrived in making my ethos “always say yes” and that was a very productive time. The problem was, I would get home at 3am those nights and stare at the paint on my ceiling for another two hours waiting for my brain to slow down. The brain has a metabolism… if you speed it up, it doesn’t like to slow down. So I had all these nights of restless tossing and turning, and days of over caffeinating or medicating in other ways to keep the ideas coming… then the psychoses leaked into every aspect of my life. I sacrificed relationships for work, started flings in order to get my needs met while literally ignoring the basic needs for community, rest, and thankfulness for the present. All of it left me dry and pummeling even faster into the frenzy and chaos of it all. I hurt a lot of people, including myself. It was a terrible time.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create this particular single?
I remember getting together with my producer friend Oscar Martin, and he invited his friend and collaborator Kendall Brower to join in on the session. Three minds in a room is almost always the magic number—there’s hardly ever a slow moment where ideas aren’t being thrown out and building towards the song. I was pretty chaotic that day, and they were graciously willing to play ball with a song that was a little bit darker in nature, and I’m so grateful they did! The song was always bouncing around in my head, and when I brought it to my producer and mixing engineer Andrew Gomez, it quickly became a fun game of making the sounds as aggressive as can be. Andrew is a genius at all things sonically, so it was the time of my life working with him to get this to where it is now.
What did you feel when writing this song?
To be honest, as stated earlier, I was in a bit of a frenzy mentally, and the futility of all the things I was trying was fresh on my mind. I knew I needed to find peace, but wasn’t quite sure why I kept looking to things that weren’t doing much to help.
What do you like the most about this single?
I know this might sound dumb, but the break and drum fill in the very last chorus hits me every time. I wish I could take credit for it, but that was my producer Andrew’s idea. He’s so good at taking something, establishing it well throughout a song, and then finding ways to tweak it at the very end so that it keeps getting more and more interesting. I think he is a genius, and still freak out when I hear what he added there. I know that I never would have thought of it.
What made you want to release "Fire To My Brain" as a single?
I’m sitting on quite a few songs, soon to be released, and there’s a story arc through all of them that describes the last few years of my life. The period of chaos and inability to navigate my own emotional instability felt like something that could show people they’re not alone. If they’re feeling the same, for whatever reason, I get it. It gives us a space to talk about our patterns and the desire to break free from them, regardless of whether our choices aid in that process. Let’s throw it all out on the table; nobody’s helpless or alone in this.
What can you tell us about the music video?
What a TIME. WHAT a time. WOW. Daniel Rivera, Acacia Evans, and Eli Greiss, who are all dear friends of mine now, heard this song over Call of Duty during the quarantine phase when the world was shut down. When we all started talking about doing a music video for it, I thought they were joking at first… After discussing what it would entail, and it seeming like a great idea to trust them with the vision, we started working together. By working together, THEY came up with everything, shot everything, edited everything. Marshall Gombos had a hand in the editing, and Camille Aimee played the girlfriend you see in the video. I was nervous at the undertaking at first, but I couldn’t have been more impressed with what everyone contributed to the project. They’re all amazing, and already I want to use them again for a next release.
What do you want to accomplish professionally and personally?
That’s an interesting question. The joy I get from playing a part in creating music is deeper than almost anything else in life. I want to find new and more ways to be involved in the process. Whether producing, learning new instruments, or getting a grasp on engineering records… I want it all. I eat it and breathe this mystical thing we call music. I’ll never be satisfied not learning more about it. There’s just so much to discover, and it never ends.
What major life lesson have you learned this year?
I learned to stop trying to control life towards my goals. Instead of doing that, I’ve started to be mindful of the opportunities and gifts that are in front of me, and give my mental energy towards those things. Thankfulness opens far more doors than my earnestness ever could.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Learning how to make peace with someone, without controlling their decision.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
I want us all to see that the human experience brings us all together—No one is above having a struggle. It’s by giving voice to our struggles that we find a helping hand and healing along the way. That’s what music does for me, shows me that I’m not alone. I want other people to have that as well. That’s my goal. I hope you find a home in some part of my story, and maybe I can stay a while in yours as well. All the love, Renn.
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