I THINK I'M OBSESSED

Okay so I just have to scream about how friggin awesome this guy is. I know @ablaze has posted about him but I'm going to rave myself now, okay, coz it's my kinda JAM. And just when I'm like - that's the most freaking genius thing I've seen in ages, I watch another clip and go - whooooaaa - I think I kinda LOVE this guy. Plus, it's going to be super, super freaking hard to stop at three for #threetunetuesday y'all, so if I don't, forgive me. I'm in a Ren rabbit hole and I ain't coming out. In fact I haven't listened to an artist for a long time the way I'm absolutely binging Ren.

Ren's story is both hopeful and tragic, having spent most of his 20's rotting in his bed with Lyme Disease, though he didn't know it. Our girl on Hive @goldenoakfarm would know all about this although I don't think she'll dig the music. He's currently undergoing some full on treatment in Canada including daily IV drips and surgery to hopefully fix his immune system. A lot of his songs are about his mental health and illness including depression and psychosis - truly powerful stuff.

Ren says he honours, in a lot of his songs, the artists and songs that influenced him or that he loved. I guess it's why I totally get this song as Bittersweet Symphony was so huge when it came out and kinda embedded itself in my psych. Jamie loved it because it's set in Brighton to (like quite a few of his clips are) and he spent his entire 20's there until he had to leave or die (long story). It echoes the famous film clip of the Verve's song. But if you don't know it or are only going to listen to one song here, go listen to the third one, Chalk Outline. I can't get it out of my head.

And then, I mean Ren honouring the Beastie Boys? I'm not sure if you know about my love affair with the Beasties.

I can't get over Chincilla's crazy ass nails in this clip, but I found their duets incredibly moving. There's so much heart in this performance it kinda hurt my own. And if you liked this one, go check out the other one with her, which is just as haunting and powerful. What a duo.

And here's him performing it solo (not four songs, just one song twice, ya feel me?)

Sometimes it's the comments on Youtube that show you how affecting music can be. Don't you just love this one from a Swiss gynaeo? Priceless.

There's a whole heap of live stuff too on Youtube from his street performances in Brighton and playing with other musicians, from covers of The Who, Sting, Cyndi Lauper and more. They're awesome, but it's his original stuff that really floats my boat.

I have donated to his Go Fund Me - poor guy's music career is just staying to take off (think about this - he was just discovered by Sony in his early 20's but was dropped when he got ill, putting a massive pause on his career) and he's still trying to fix himself. Here's the Go Fund Me if you can spare a dime for this remarkable musician. I can't think of many people that deserve it more for all he gives back. Legend.