Being the old codger that I am, I have “get off my lawn” moments. I can’t deal with autotune, for one thing – keeps me from getting into music I might otherwise like.
I just had a conversation with a friend about how growing up on the internet has turned Gen Z into aliens. We don’t get their memes, their references. I tried a couple of songs his teenagers like and it was nails on a chalkboard. To be fair, Dad felt the same way about AC/DC.
Still I believe there is talent in every generation, even that one. I usually find a young artist or band that impresses me. When I do, that gives me hope. The latest of those is Ren, a young musician who just went viral with his song “Hi Ren.”
To be honest, I didn’t quite get it. What even is it? Song? Spoken word poetry? Acoustic hip hop with an English spin? I wasn’t sure if I liked it or hated it.
But there’s something to it. It’s original. Inspired. I think the world has been craving something like that. As he states in the song above, Ren has been sick a lot in his young life (from effects of long misdiagnosed Lyme Disease). He’s been able to channel his suffering into something creative and amazing.
And wouldn’t you know it? As soon as “Hi Ren” went viral, Ren got sick again and will take several months to recover.
In the meantime give his other music a listen and don’t forget him. I’ve subscribe to his YouTube channel and will be going through his other songs.
#Ren, #Music, #Gen Z, #Generation Z, #Hip Hop, #Guitar, #Singer Songwriter, #Troubador
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