Singer-Songwriter RENE on Her Process of Discovering and Defining Herself

As someone raised in a family of music lovers, it seemed only natural for RENE to become a musician herself. But finding her own voice wasn’t so clear-cut. She says: “I struggled with some insecurity with regards to questions like, ‘What kind of sound do I want people to define me by?’ and ‘What is my artist image?’” Eventually, the 25-year-old began to discover her identity – both as a singer and as a person – through music. “I’m learning to go with the flow and simply write whatever I enjoy writing and playing, rather than worrying too much about how other people might perceive my music,” she says.

You released your debut EP, Something to Hide, last year. What was it like to create it?

It was both daunting and exhilarating. There’s always a huge pressure placed on anything described as a “debut”, so I struggled with some insecurity with regards to questions like, “What kind of sound do I want people to define me by?”, “Do these songs match my artist image?”, and “What is my artist image?”. The period from writing all the way to releasing the EP was about one and a half years long, and in that time I would say that I worked through those struggles, worked with some amazing people, and I’m very happy with the way the EP turned out.

What was the underlying message or theme behind Something to Hide?

I named the EP Something to Hide because I felt like I was being the most honest I had ever been in my songwriting in these tracks. There are thematic similarities between the songs, of course, for example, 'U.F.O.' and 'The Whole World Shook Alive' both discuss my despondence regarding the climate emergency and inequality in the world, but in very different ways. 'You Haunt Me' and 'Off My Mind' grapples with the spectrum of love and loss, while in 'Leaving Anyway', I question whether I’m happy with the choices I had made in my life thus far.

How would you say your music has evolved over the years?

I’ve learned to let go a lot more and trust myself through the process. Especially with my new music that I will be releasing later this year, I’m learning to go with the flow and simply write whatever I enjoy writing and playing, rather than worrying too much about how other people might perceive my music. I would say I’m moving away from the pop-rock sound in Something to Hide, and I’m starting to find a sweet spot between the inspirations I have from both my childhood and adulthood!

What is your mission as an artist?

I hope to use my music as a platform to create an equal and sustainable environment around me. I firmly believe in the value of respecting people and their differences, so as idealistic as it might sound – as a cisgender Chinese woman in Singapore – I’m happy to use whatever privilege I have to champion social equality and strive for a better world for everyone.