IMPACT 0318: A PASSION FOR MUSIC: STORIES THROUGH SONG

Rene Ann Wong, also known as RENE, is a 26-year-old independent pop-rock songwriter and musician from Singapore. Meaningful and relatable lyrics, rich vocals, and catchy guitar lines are what create her signature sound. She is the winner of the Open Call for Season 1 of The Great Singapore Replay in 2017 and also participated in Season 2 of TGSR in 2020!

I write words and sing tunes! My primary instruments are vocals and guitars, and I’ve been releasing original music since April 2018. I released my debut EP “Something To Hide” in April 2021, a collection of five tracks that blend genres of pop, rock, punk, and indie – the music that has inspired and continues to inspire me as an artist. My songwriting aims to reflect themes such as societal commentary, self-reflection, and personal relationships.

I’ve always loved listening to and performing music as a kid. I started performing live, mostly in school, and uploading cover videos when I was 14 and started writing my own music when I was 18. I’d say that makes me a little late to the game, based on how young so many musicians are now, but the original music community in Singapore is awesome and supportive so it doesn’t really matter! I enjoy writing and performing music so my pure love for the art is honestly what motivates me to keep doing it.

One big challenge I’ve faced is the idea of separating my identity as RENE the artist and my identity as Rene the person. I’ve struggled with drawing the line between the two because my artist identity IS a performance at the end of the day, but I’m a solo artist who goes by my own name, so it’s obviously important to be genuine as well. Over time, I’ve made the decision to meld my own personality into my artist image because aside from doing music, I also strive to make change in the spheres I’m particularly interested in – things like equality, climate, gender, and labour issues – and I wish to use my music is a platform to fight for the things I believe in!

Don’t be afraid to pursue the things you’ve always wanted to, even if you think you may be too inexperienced for them. We sometimes set unattainable expectations for ourselves but there’s always room to grow and learn. Don’t be afraid to share your passions with the people around you!