Meet Claire Reneé | R&B/Soul Artist and Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Reneé and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career because the performing arts are something I thoroughly enjoy and got so much training in as a kid. I couldn’t imagine myself not being an artist or what my life would be like without using my creativity. I studied at The Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey/PPAS and then studied music in college. I’ve always been a shy and introverted person. Expressing myself on stage, through song or movement, has always felt like the best way to get what I had to say across. I am a multifaceted person, and I think my art allows me to express different talents and sides to me naturally.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art comes from my experiences, inspirations, and influences. It sounds like jazz, R&B, pop, and hip-hop because that’s mostly what I was raised on. I have danced since age four and didn’t necessarily see myself as a singer/songwriter until I transitioned from High School to college. I danced professionally and thought being a dancer was my only journey. As I started to write and hone my talent for singing and writing, I began to see myself as a complete artist and wanted to work towards sharing all of my abilities, not just one.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished as an artist thus far. I’ve had the chance to release an album in Japan and do amazing live shows, and I’m still reaching new ears and hearts every day. I have to and have had to work hard to put myself and my art out there. It’s very humbling. I’ve overcome many challenges as an artist and realized there will always be new ones. I think what gets me through is consistency, investment, discernment, and constant faith in myself and what I have to share. So many people don’t give things time and expect validation, stardom, and all the vanity metrics that instantly come with being an artist. For most of us, it doesn’t happen that way, and I realized this early and didn’t want that to be a chip I carried around on my shoulder. I’ve learned so much about the music business through trial and error and learned many lessons along the way. I’ve also settled into the idea that as an artist, you must be honest about what it is you want from your career. Being dishonest and wanting what you see others have will not be a good experience for you or your team and will make the journey that much harder.

I want the world to know I’m just a human figuring out life like everyone else. I share what I know and feel, hoping that someone can relate or understand that they aren’t alone. I believe in truth and honesty and try to reflect that in how I maneuver on social media. I’m also quite silly and don’t always take everything in life so seriously. I’ve been told I’m wise, but sometimes I think that makes some perceive that I don’t joke around and laugh at things. I’m a Gemini who wants to live in flow as much as possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This itinerary wouldn’t be strictly LA, but most would be in LA County. I would take my friend on a hike if they are into it. Los Angeles has so many beautiful trails that lead to amazing views. Possibly a hike to Griffith Observatory could be a good start. I would also take them to Thai Town, Chinatown, Ktown, and Little Tokyo. These areas have delicious restaurants and are just fantastic to stroll around. You can’t be on the West Coast without a beach day, so a trip to Malibu for a beach day would be nice, and I would treat them to some seafood from “Neptune’s Net.” I love Santa Barbara. That would be a day trip filled with wine tasting, visiting gardens, beach strolls, and taking in the unique architecture of Downtown Santa Barbara. I love our museums in LA, so a trip to MOCA, The Broad, or LACMA is a must. If there is time, a trip to Joshua Tree on the weekend is always healing. The desert is a quiet and healing space for me, and I think Joshua Tree is always an incredible experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out Sam Hoffman. This is a musician I met when I first moved to LA in 2016, and he has been a friend, producer, and all-around stand-up person since I’ve known him. I think he adds color to many different artists’ song productions and live shows, and I hope he knows how appreciated he is. He is a stellar guitar player, and you can catch him playing live or producing with amazing artists like Durand Bernarr, Mereba, Karina Pasian, and others!

Website: www.clairereneemusic.com

Instagram: @artisterenee

Twitter: @artisterenee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairereneemusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtisteRenee

Image Credits
Rachel Summer and Ali Huxman