Check Out Ren Richards’ Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ren Richards.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
I’m from South Florida originally. I’d always been singing but it was in high school when I joined my first band that the dream of making music began to form. We were a metal band playing shows and writing original songs. This is where I fell in love with songwriting. For over four years, we performed all over south Florida, released an EP, opened for touring acts, and even landed a date on the Vans Warped Tour.

After we dispersed, I taught myself guitar (thank you YouTube) and kept writing. During this period, I began playing with a couple of cover bands in town to continue performing. Through the years of countless cover gigs, I realized songwriting was calling me more than anything. After visiting Nashville, I knew it was the place to hone the craft. In 2018 I made the move to music city and began cowriting and playing rounds all over town. In early 2022, I released my first solo EP called Think Before I Sing. It’s streaming everywhere now!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is a series of ups and downs, there’s no difference when following a dream. It’s felt like a rollercoaster at times, and it’s also felt like a rollercoaster that’s gotten stuck on the way up and you’re waiting for the mechanic to get you back down– so, pretty scary! I’d say, right after my first band broke up, I struggled to find my footing. It was all I had known musically throughout my teenage years, and when it was over, I didn’t know where I saw my dream going, I didn’t know what my options were. When I taught myself guitar and kept writing, it was the best way to cope with the uncertainty, but I was still lost and confused about where to go.

I went through a couple of years like this, working other jobs, and experiencing relationships, but I kept searching for what was next musically. It was shortly after this that a friend posted they were looking for a singer for their cover band. I hopped on that opportunity and it led to the next thing. In my experience, as long as I’ve kept my constant (which is writing and performing my own music), paid attention to the signs, and followed unexpected opportunities, it’s allowed me the strength and belief to navigate those bumps in the road and keep pushing ahead.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m super proud of my most recent release, my EP: Think Before I Sing. This was a project birthed from the pandemic, and also, a very challenging time in my life. When I first moved to Nashville, I’d been doing a lot of co-writing (as most of us do when we first jump in here), and a lot of the writing was for country artists. Although I love my fair share of country music, that’s not my heart and soul musically. I grew up playing metal, listening to rock bands, and listening to female artists like Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, and Avril Lavigne.

During the pandemic, it was the first time in a long time that I was songwriting alone again, and that’s where I got reacquainted with my own voice, stories, and sound. Inspired by the artists that made me want to make music in the very beginning. All three songs on the EP were written by myself, they all have their own identity, and I like to think they give a little insight into what I’m about and what to expect more of in the future.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I enjoy the sense of community here. We have a lot of local businesses like boutiques and restaurants, and on the music side, a lot of historic and iconic venues.

Also, our own independent radio station; Lightning 100, supports and plays local artists consistently. You can feel the love here in that regard, and I’m about it. Nashville is growing a ton, and as a transplant who appreciates many of the original Nashville staples, I hope we can keep the heart of what put this city on the map in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.renrichardsmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renrichardsmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renrichardsmusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/renrichards_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEc_3DxRwB3K8dL__PpSbHA/videos
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Wd8uGoOdo8RphJOapOa34?si=W-cGzuQbRhm__BO6Yq9K6A

Image Credits
Nicole Murphy Photography, Think Before I Sing EP cover: John Brown Photography, and Live performance: Riley Mau Photography