Born and raised in North Carolina, Reneé knew from a very young age that her biggest passion in life is performing; having written and recorded her own music since her teenage years. Starting out with local musical theater in high school, followed by appearances on Broadway and in television series’, it has been a long but worthwhile process to arrive at Reneé’s current place in the music industry. In a press conference hosted by Universal Music Group’s 1824 branch, Reneé discusses her conflicting feelings about this journey, and what she always had in mind as her end goal.
“To be honest, music was always the goal, music was always the thing that I wanted to do, and honestly it was the only thing I thought I was going to do. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to act, I idolized Jennifer Aniston in ‘Friends’, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I just didn’t think I was a good actor, at all, I thought that was the shittiest part of my talents, or lack thereof. That and songwriting were my biggest insecurities, and those are literally what I do now. But yeah music was always what I was going to do, acting just happened to be a really really cool conduit and something that came into my life and ended up being incredibly important, and has really served my music ultimately.
Following the debut EP Everything to Everyone, where Reneé seemed to struggle in finding her own unique sound, having tracks that posed resemblance to popular breakout pop music. Heavily focused on ballads and slow tempos, the EP is starkly contrasted by Snow Angel, a bold, cathartic, rich and energetic album. The difference between the two is clear as day, Reneé seems to have found her niche, emphasized by the confidence radiating from her vocals. Taking inspiration from both classic pop and R&B, her songs now bring forth a distinct sound that stands out amongst current mainstream pop music.
Through the absolute rollercoaster ride that is Snow Angel, Reneé navigates sexuality, relationship anxieties, growing up, and moving on; of course with a little resentment thrown in the mix. The vocal range showcased within this album is incredible, setting the mood perfectly for every single track.
Starting off with a powerful introductory line “Tasted the blood in my mouth and left you there to bleed out”, the opening track “Talk Too Much”, paints a picture of a love story compounded by overthinking. As someone who always considers the worst-case-scenario, especially when concerning relationships and friendships this track hit close to home for me. Something that stuck out to me was the fact that I felt slightly comforted in the lyrics as I took my first listen, perhaps knowing that I am not alone in feeling this way. Reneé’s relatability is one of the biggest reasons why she is loved by so many, it is incredibly easy to be enraptured by an artist that you feel that you can relate to in such a personal way.
Snow Angel’s title track delves into the misery felt after a breakup, and the determination to make it through in one piece, even if it kills you. The progression from slow tempo and soft vocals, to explosive and powerful vocals, back to slow and soft, encapsulates the conflicting emotions and moods that are typically present in this kind of post-breakup state of mind.
In contrast to the title track, in “Gemini Moon” Reneé questions her own romantic feelings, admitting “I exist on a pendulum”, resenting the fact that she feels and treats her romantic partner differently every day, while assuming they are just as sick of Reneé’s ebbing and flowing emotions as she is.
The themes change in “Willow” where Reneé delivers a gentle message to a friend that is going through a hard time, reassuring that she is there, encouraging them not to cry, for she will cry tears for them instead.
The sweet softness of Reneé’s sympathetic tone differs from the vengeful and taunting attitude displayed in “Poison Poison”. Dedicated to who she considers to be “the worst person on earth”, Reneé releases her pent up resentment towards this individual, making striking statements such as “And yes, I am a feminist/but bitch, you’re making it so hard for me/to always be supporting all women”. While recounting the writing process for Poison Poison, Reneé makes light of the difficulty she faced with being honest in her lyrics, while still producing an admiral piece of work.
“Poison Poison was written maybe three different times in three different ways, and that is because I write very blatant, direct lyrics, and sometimes you can’t do that, because apparently it becomes a danger to others. Just kidding… I mean I’m not kidding, I’m dead serious but I digress.”
The biggest standout track, for me personally, has to be the earworm that is “Pretty Girls”, which has an accompanying music video directed by Cara Delevingne. Recounting queer experiences where girls who have not quite figured out their sexualities yet, only feel confident enough to show interest at night, perhaps a few drinks in, and pretend like it never even happened come the next morning. As a queer person myself I have been on the receiving end of such affections, the lyrics “Say your boyfriend, he wouldn’t mind/you think that I’d be flattered/it’s pathetic, ‘cause you’re right” are painfully accurate in describing how it feels. Going back to the factor of Reneé’s relatability, it is extremely validating to hear someone, especially someone you idolize, describe a situation that is all too familiar to you.
Although Reneé often says she can’t be everything to everyone, with the addition of Snow Angel, she has only increased the diverse amount of audiences that can find comfort in her lyrics.
It has been vastly inspiring to watch Reneé go through the evolution from Broadway, to television, to the music industry, and to now see her flourish in the place that she always wanted to end up. Reneé’s potential is limitless, and I am so eager to see all of the future successes that await her.
