Today we’d like to introduce you to Ranen.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was raised in a house with a lot of music so I had a deep love of it from an early age. I started learning guitar when I was nine and studied with a great teacher for years. I was playing in a rock band and writing my own music by the time I was twelve or thirteen. I went to college at CSUN in the Music program and studied classical guitar and music business. I was a Co-Executive Producer of the student run record label and we were given a budget and the opportunity to sign a band and promote them for a year. That was a good learning experience. At the same time, I’d started producing and shifted to writing R&B and Hip-Hop music. I won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest during this time and was awarded some high-end equipment that helped me put together a top-notch studio where I write and produce today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, the road has been tumultuous as all hell but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Music is a tough business and you face a lot of rejection but I know I have to persevere to achieve my goals. You have to develop a thick skin and believe that, if you work hard enough, good things will come from it.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m both an artist and a producer. I go through periods where I produce for other artists more and times I focus on my own music. I’m a prolific writer and have been a Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition the last four years running. I generally write R&B songs but also work with a lot of hip-hop artists so a lot of my songs include features from rapper friends of mine. In turn, I produce for a lot of hip-hop artists.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was intensely passionate about music and sports. I played football and basketball for years but music really took over in my high school years. I was always a little bit mischievous but sports and music kept me focused and on track. After high school, my focus shifted entirely towards music and I haven’t looked back since.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ranen.the.alien
- Facebook: Ranen
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