Following on from a string of impactful singles throughout the last few years, New York-based artist Shane Rennison is now looking to cement his vibrant legacy to date with his vibrant debut album 'Irrational'.
Continuing more of that bright and shimmering indie-pop aesthetic he has been garnering since he first emerged, this new eleven-track collection makes for a wondrous addition to his ever-evolving catalogue. Filled with rich and shining textures, a breezy atmosphere, and his own captivating vocals at the helm, 'Irrational' continues to cement him as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and influences over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I ever played was the trombone in the school band but I definitely wouldn’t say I loved it. In fact, I originally chose the trumpet but they said they had too many of those already. So it was between the trombone and the french horn. Nothing against the french horn but that was an easy decision for me. The first instrument I fell in love with was the piano. I bought a guitar and a piano right at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I found the guitar really difficult to grasp at first but the piano felt so natural to play. I was hooked from the first notes I hit.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was into a lot of different music as a kid. My dad is a classic rocker from the ‘70s so I always had a love for that music. Bands like KISS, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater. And then for some reason, even at a young age, I loved jazz. In fact the first record I ever purchased on my own was Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. Then as I got older, I fell in love with pop rock music. Bands like Matchbox Twenty, Three Doors Down, Green Day. This was during a very impressionable stage in my life so this style of music greatly influenced my current sound.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Going back to what I said previously, the first record I purchased on my own was Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. But I do remember finding a bunch of my dad’s old vinyls and taking a few for myself when I was young. One of those records was the classic Van Halen record Women & Children First.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
To be honest I don’t really think that way when I hear other people’s music. I just appreciate whatever inspired them to create it on their own.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
To me it’s all about creating the space to create. That means I’m comfortable and without stress or worry. Sometimes that means I have to take care of a laundry list of things before I can sit down and feel free & loose enough to create but that’s the work of an artist. Once I create that space for myself, I can sit down with an instrument and just follow wherever the universe guides me.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of lo-fi hip-hop. I’ve always been a fan of hip-hop and this evolution of it is very avant-garde. I feel its application can really help people focus on tasks and stimulate great ideas while also allowing the artist to experiment sonically within the context of instrumental music.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Namely, which artists my brand is most closely related to. I feel like opening for artists like Livingston and Dayglow would be most realistic but of course I’d love to open for bands like Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit & Harry Styles. Those are often the artists I say my music is a blend of.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Just the freedom of doing your own work. There’s something truly special about being busy with work that you yourself choose to do. At the end of the day, there’s no one telling you to pick up an instrument, write a song, produce the song, release the song, promote the song, and so on and so forth. Yet we as artists feel compelled to do this work. It’s very metaphysical but it’s something I’m truly grateful for. All my life I prayed for the opportunity to work for myself. Now, I have that and I don’t take it lightly.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Probably the financial balancing, especially as an independent. People often ask me what it means to be an independent artist and I blankly say “it means I pay for everything myself”. It really is a challenge to understand your expenses as you create and try to create balance for yourself. Sometimes I’ll overspend on one project and then that greatly impacts what I can do for my next project. Therein lays the challenge.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best advice I received as a musician is to not have a backup plan. Just be an artist for the sake of being an artist. When you have a plan A, plan B, plan C, you’re never going to survive the inevitable ups and downs that come from being a musician. All the great ones say, greatness comes from never giving up. Just keep going, keep building and eventually you’ll create a life for yourself that you never thought possible.
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Shane Rennison's debut album 'Irrational' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.