Rence – Presence

By starrymag | December 6, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I’d describe my sound as refreshing – honest, genuine and with a little bit of everything. I exist in a new class of musicians that don’t abide by any specific genre, rather that exist only in the current culture. And because my music is totally a product of my life, it – like life – can be beautifully all over the place.

Overall it is hard to pin down. I swing from this to that on purpose – I make what I can with what I have. Listen and let me know what you think.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I’d say my big top four influences are T-Pain, Sade, Michael Jackson & John Mayer because of the pioneers they were/are on top of their music itself.

But to be fair, I am as much influenced by Billie Eilish as I am by J. Cole. We live in a beautiful time where artists are able to draw from such a wide array of influences because so many who are succeeding have so much to offer, not just one specific sound or feeling. That is exactly where I want to live – I’m not here to recreate what has been done, only to move forward.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Space For You”

A) “Space For You” is about gathering the courage to move past something that holds you back from who or where you need to be. I chose a relationship because that was how I experienced it, but it is really applicable in any situation that you slowly realize you must escape. Overall, it is about having the courage and determination to move forward and better yourself.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) You put so much of yourself into someone or something and when you finally reach the realization that you’re better than that, or you’ve grown past it, you exist in a limbo of wanting to move forward but still feeling as connected to that as ever. I think we all experience this in one form or another and that is what hits home. And it’s catchy.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) My song writing process is living and experiencing the world and then letting that flow out of me. Sometimes lyrics seem like they come out of nowhere. Sometimes the production comes first. It can really take any form. This has to do with my philosophy of “when it’s right, it’s right, I’ll know it and move on.” “Space for You” began with the melody for the entire verse/pre-chorus structure, “Ways to Go” (off the upcoming Presence EP) began with a kick-snare and bass progression. I think I’d be doing myself and my listeners a disservice by not allowing creativity to flow from anywhere because that’s exactly where it comes from.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I only got to where I am through putting my head down and doing whatever needed to be done (musically and otherwise) and I believe my artistic vision needs to remain at the forefront of everything I do. In order to preserve that, I love doing stuff on my own. Keeping my fingers at least connected to everything I do ensures my final product will reflect me. From building a studio and bringing in artists back home in Seattle to moving to New York and beginning to release my own music (all the way up until “Pink”), I did most things myself (from producing, to writing, to recording, to mixing, to art design, etc.). The budding reputation those songs brought me, alongside all New York has to offer, expanded my horizons indefinitely. Presence is the actualization of me finding these new opportunities (to work with amazing producers, writers, mixers, creatives) and executing them at my best.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Rence performance?

A full experience. I am not in the business of providing ticket-buyers with similar or worse versions of what they hear at home – if I was, why buy a ticket? As someone who worked many jobs (some simultaneously) to make my career possible, I truly understand the value of hard-earned money and know that spending X amount of it on a ticket comes with an expectation that the performer will give you your money’s worth – so I plan to do just that. My band and I have been meticulously rehearsing all of my new material, while still leaving opportunities for improvisation and real participation all around.

 

Q) What songs off your Presence EP are you looking forward to performing live?

A) Truly all of them. As my options for collaboration expanded, I worked to create music that you can listen to, live to, move to and feel to. All of that lends itself extremely well to the live show, which I am so excited to bring to the world starting around February of next year.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

A) I think I want people to take away the idea that you can do anything you want to, if you put your head down, work hard, and really believe in the power of yourself. I created these four songs under the sole premise that I would follow where they led me and not ask too many questions. By this I mean I worked on them actively trying to forget anything that would limit my sheer creativity and pure passion – no thoughts about genre, or expectations (from myself or others), just great music. I often fall back into one of my favorite quotes from Suzan-Lori Parks when thinking about my creative process: “As a writer know that your work flows from the river of your spirit…Get out of the way.”  I would be so happy if people could listen to the songs and apply that same message to whatever part of their life needs it the most.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I think Billie Eilish and I could create something that changes the world (or maybe just changes the music world).

Oh, but I see so many amazing collaborations in the near future. In good time.

 

Q) What album/artist are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) Oh man, so many. The past few days I have been sifting my way through Anderson .Paak’s Oxnard. So many gems. I often say I make music for the careful listener – that they might find new pieces of gold even on the fifth or tenth listen of one of my songs or projects – and I think Anderson does the exact same. It’s these intricacies and purposeful decisions that give a project a real lifespan rather than a few weeks in people’s ears.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I am making music because it’s what keeps me alive. It’s where I find my happiness. I share the music with the world in the hopes that others can find some connection in it as well – whatever they may need. Social media (and what it enables today) is so important because I want to talk to people about how my songs have entered/affected their lives. Music has this incredible power to touch a million people in a million ways and being able to actually talk about it is what makes those million ways noticeable.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) First, thank you. And I really mean that. Second, believe in whatever you are doing and that, if you give to it, the universe has your back.