After a brutal accident left Ren Harvieu wheelchair bound, medics worried the young singer/songwriter’s vocal chords may have also been damaged. Opening her mouth to sing for the first time since the trauma; pure, unaffected tones poured out….
Euphoric, enamored and overwhelmed by her miraculous melodiousness, the gift of song means everything to this twenty-one-year old, green-eyed brunette. Growing-up in a musical household, her father toured local pubs singing Irish folksongs for a living, whilst Ren would watch on, lapping up the action. Now signed to Island Records, Ren is a lucky longlister for BBC’s ‘Sound of 2012′ and her debut single ‘Through The Night‘ has been much-lauded by music industry heavyweights. Having toured the country this year, supporting Glasvegas, James Morrison and Elbow, Ren’s voice is charged with emotion, raw with vulnerability and accomplished in dexterity. Beautifully innocent but with an edge of quiet, unassuming confidence, Ren Harvieuu should be filed alongside newcomers Birdy and Delilah. Young, free and soon to release her second single, the next few months will see this songbird take full flight. i-D online took five to find out how she has kept herself grounded and to pop i-N session.
