I caught up with London-based singer-songwriter renzo who has just released his third single 'How'd You Feel?', a collaborative track with One Eye. In this conversation, I asked renzo about the recording process behind his latest single and the inspiration behind the lyrics. We also discuss his musical influences and renzo recommends some songs from his favourite artists.
Hi renzo, how are you?
I’m okay thank you! Up and down following the release, it’s been a rollercoaster but feeling good.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Yeah hello, I’m renzo, I’m from West London and I enjoy trying to make cool sounds and stuff with my producer One Eye. I was classically trained from quite a young age but I love hip hop, IDM and contemporary electronic and rnb music. I like neon lights, old cars, synths and flaming hot cheetos. Life is absurd but that's okay there's lots of fun to be had.
What made you decide to pursue a career in music?
It’s just something I think I was always meant to do even if I’m no good at it haha. I’ve been singing full time and playing instruments since I was 8 years old and I’ve always leaned to a more creative sensibility so I think it was always going to be what I wanted to do with my life. Will let you know how it goes though.
If you could describe your music in three words what would they be?
Weird, Confessional, Groovy
Tell us a bit about the recording process behind the track and your collaboration with One Eye?
The recording process was really chill actually we had a lot of fun with it. We finished the instrumental and recorded the vocals out in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Sussex which really helped the creative process. Being able to go shoot arrows in the woods and do whatever to clear our heads between takes definitely helped our work rate. Working with One Eye is sick, we have worked together on most of my music and we both have very similar tastes so end up coming up with something we both like when we’re in the studio. He’s extremely important to the process, couldn’t do it without him.
Did you face any challenges during the recording/writing process?
Yeah a few but nothing too frustrating, we enjoyed the challenge. We had a week back in August we spent in the country and it all seemed to just fall into place. Went on a mad hike at the beginning of the week which definitely helped clear our heads for the rest of the week. We were wondering what to work out for the middle 8 melodically so had to try a few things with a few different iterations, but then I tried using my higher register and that’s what we ended up using on the track. Getting everything to sit right in the mix was a challenge as well and I had to really push my voice but I'm proud of what we accomplished in the end.
You have described this song as trying to ‘get away from that critical voice and the dissociation that goes with that, but at the end of the day accepting that it will always be there no matter what’. Did you write this song based on your experiences of being an independent artist, or was this a theme that you chose to explore?
Not particularly about being an independent artist but I guess it does fit into that. It was a theme I wanted to do because it's something I get quite a bit, and was definitely something I thought would be right for the song. Everyone knows what doubting yourself is like and I just wanted to see if I could try and articulate that feeling and the voice in your head in some way.
You take inspiration from artists like Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator and Gorillaz. How would you say that your music stylistically incorporates those influences?
I can only dream of being on a similar level to these artists but I do take massive inspiration from them. Frank Ocean's vocal delivery and ability is truly amazing and I’m always trying to push my voice to try and achieve a similar impact to what he does in his music, maybe I’ll get there one day. Tyler’s progressive structures and beats are the main inspiration I take from his music but I love his sample use and how he writes vocal harmonies as well. Also the aesthetic he achieves with the instruments he uses and how his songs progress is something that blows my mind every time. And with Gorillaz, just the mash up of genres that Damon Albarn is able to craft into amazing songs is what I take from them. 'Demon Days' was one of the main albums I listened to growing up and it has really stayed with me, I still love it so much. His choice of instruments is something else and often I’m not really sure what genre a particular Gorillaz song is most of the time and I find that sometimes with my music, so I think that’s where that comes from.
Could you recommend some of your favourite songs to our readers?
Would love to! These are a few of my fav songs atm:
Jordan Rakei - Midnight Mischief (Tom Misch Remix)
Boards of Canada - In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country
Tyler the Creator - Massa
Tyler the Creator - Safari
Talk Talk - I Believe In You
Flying Lotus - Your Day Off
Souls of Mischief - 93 Til' Infinity
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Gorillaz - Tomorrow Comes Today
What is the best advice you have received?
My Dad told me 'don't let your brain sabotage your intuition' recently which I like a lot.
What advice would you give to an artist who may be experiencing self-doubt when it comes to creating their music?
I doubt everything I do and I personally don’t think there’s any getting around it to be honest, but you can learn to deal with it. You just need to remember that the opinion you almost want to hear last is your own because you have no frame of reference or outside perspective from yourself. So listening to other people's positive opinions/encouragement and believing them is the way to do it I think. That’s how I seem to manage anyway.
Check out renzo's latest single 'How'd You Feel?' in the link above or hear the song in full on my Spotify Featured Artists Playlist (link in bio).
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