Life & Work with Renee Holiday

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Holiday.

Hi Renee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I really had to take my time with this question because I have been to so many places throughout this journey. Though I’ve been singing for my whole life, there are two moments that really solidified and confirmed my path as an artist. The first one being a live album listening party for one of my projects; that was backed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Leading up to that show, I had performed pretty much everywhere nationally and a few places internationally for festivals and one offs but the show with the Symphony showed me that high-concept performances would be a strong aspect of my performance style. I found out then that I am someone who deeply appreciates the visual aspect almost as much as the sonic aspect of a live show and between the map projection, dancers, full boys choir…It was truly a spiritual moment.

The second moment was at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown. Unaware of how drastically life was about to change for everyone, I made the decision to walk away from my label and the two years of work that I did with my producer at the time. I will spare everyone the traumatic details there but having to unexpectedly start from scratch while also dealing with a global pandemic, a civil rights movement, and managing the waves of emotions that came as a result of these things was discouraging and exhausting to say the least. As we all know, studios were shut down, no one was collaborating in person and as an artist who had never produced themselves in the past, it almost felt like an impossible task to redefine myself with a new sound and as a baby producer. Full transparency, those challenges were so heavy that I almost stopped making music but, I was able to dig deep in a way that I didn’t know I was capable of and with the help from a close childhood friend, I was able to produce myself for the first time. I can say with confidence that the music that I’ve made from that point on is hands down my favorite and that is the verrrrry short version of how I got to where I am right now.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not always a smooth road but there have been plenty of smooth moments. The funny thing is, I wouldn’t do it differently because the path that I am on has shaped me as an artist and as a human. The amount of resilience that I didn’t realize that I had in this little body of mine has impressed the hell out of me and my immediate support system time and time again. What I do know for sure is if I wasn’t passionate about my work and if I didn’t truly believe that this was my calling, I would have jumped ship long ago.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a storyteller by way of song, who’s known for pulling out deep emotions from my listener and taking my audience on a journey. I’m never afraid to reinvent myself and try new things or to think outside of the box with my production and performance style; especially in an era where the safe bet is to do what everyone else is doing…to do what we know works already. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on and to step on stage again!

What makes you happy?
A fresh rainfall after a hot summer…a new crush…baby cheeks…sing-alongs…bare feet in the forest…smiling at strangers…being on stage…hugs from mom…seeing my friends win…moving with intention…a good cry…french kisses…a clean house…romance…thoughtful people…Me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Reneeholiday.com
• Instagram: @rneholiday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rneholiday/
• Twitter: @rneholiday