On her debut EP Under the Bleachers, The Artist Ren paints whimsical coming-of-age tales against a backdrop of indie-pop.
The Artist Ren has released her debut EP Under the Bleachers. A six-track collection of indie pop bangers and soft-rock gems, the project opens with single sleepstuff.
In between fuzzy guitar strums and subtle percussion, the Californian musician sings of inescapable insomnia with catchy melodic hooks.
The song’s lyrics around sleepless nights and “all the things I can’t control” belie what is an otherwise-blissful tune, with just the right amount of punk-rock flair and a vocal delivery so airy it might touch the clouds.
The Artist Ren switches tempos for second track meowmeowmeow, which veers into dream-pop territory to masterful effect.
Complete with spoken-word adlibs and punchy finger-click percussion, the track sees The Artist Ren paint vivid images of cheek-kisses and front door meet-cutes, which is not to say the song is overly-sentimental.
In between cutesy doo-wop melodies (which you’ll no-doubt be humming for days), the singer yearns to be “put back in order,” showcasing her BENEE-like flair for upturning a track’s sound with subversive lyricism.
Elsewhere, on .mp3, The Artist Ren tries her hand at slow-tempo balladry, evoking vocals reminiscent of Billie Eilish for a simmering guitar-flecked groove.
“Won’t you just leave me here alone,” she croons atop spacey synths, “I’m doing fine here on my own.” Floating by with the leisurely ease of daydream, .mp3 marks Under The Bleachers’ most stirring entry yet, complete with a philosophical outro as Ren whispers: “when’s tomorrow happening?”.
On The Circus, Ren harmonises angelically between the scratchy strum of ukulele strings. Drawing inspiration from its title, The Circus later introduces the kind of twinkling piano keys you’d hear when you open a music jewellery box.
When complimented by Ren’s delicate delivery and the subtle, dizzying whirr of synths, the track takes on the spellbinding tone of a lullaby, again juxtaposed by the otherwise-sombre lyrics around feeling exploited.
Speeding up proceedings on Not the Clones!, Ren reacquainted herself with soft-rock stylings like thunderous drums and a grungier vocal range.
Adding extra intrigue, the track makes use of sci-fi synths à la Stranger Things, but it’s Ren’s punkish attitude that truly shines. “You’re the one who created all this mess,” she declares against the screech of electric guitar — and with such conviction, you can’t help but believe her.
Under the Bleaches closes with Radio Nurse, a welcome return to form that features earwormy maracas and shimmering guitar sequences.
It’s a worthy culmination of Ren’s seamless combination of indie-rock and dream-pop, and more than solidifies her place within the broader pop landscape.
Listen to The Artist Ren’s debut EP Under the Bleachers below.
