Renee Cologne Coverlings Interview

Electronic, Orchestral Pop

Renee Cologne has just released her fourth record, Coverlings. As the title suggests, the album is a collection of cover songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's by bands, artists and songwriters that she loved growing up and that influenced her.

Interview with Renee Cologne

Question: What inspired you to create Coverlings?

Renee Cologne: I didn't set out to do a cover record. In fact, I never thought I would do a cover record, as songwriting is sort of my thing. But I was driving down the road listening to a radio program called "Fresh Air" hosted by Terry Gross. She was interviewing a man, I didn't know who it was, but he was telling some funny stories about sex, drugs, rock & roll and life in the Hollywood Hills in the 1970's – he sounded like a real character! Terry then asked him if he would play a song – it was then that Jimmy Webb sat down at the piano and launched into "Wichita Lineman". The hair on the back of my neck stood up, I pulled over to listen. I just felt this burning need to sing the song – I went home that afternoon and started my version of "Wichita Lineman". One song led to another . . . I was halfway through the record before I realised I was making one!


Question: How did you decide which songs you were going to cover for Coverlings?

Renee Cologne: I like to say that the songs picked me, and that really is true. I had a long list of songs, bands, artists I loved, there were many songs I started or even completed that didn't make it onto the record, they just didn't feel right or didn't play well with the other songs. There were also songs that I really wanted to include that when it came down to it, I just couldn't touch – Halleluiah by Jeff Buckley (written by Leonard Cohen) was one of those.


Question: Which song on Coverlings holds the most memories, for you?

Renee Cologne: Oh boy, that's like asking a parent which kid is their favorite! They ALL have some special connection or hold a strong memory to have wound up in the collection.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Renee Cologne: Again, tough to pick – but at the moment, perhaps "Landslide". Live, I start the song by looping my vocals and then manipulate them with a hands-free gestural midi controller. For me it's the best of both worlds meeting – singing, organic, and human, combined with the cutting edge of what technology, electronics can do.

Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Renee Cologne: I absolutely adore recording – I'm happiest with my horn-rimmed glasses on working all day in the studio on one sound. But live performance is the completion of a circle – the sharing of what has been created with other humans. That's very powerful. Plus, I love to sing ;)


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Renee Cologne: London Grammar, The Japanese House and Bulgarian Women's Choirs.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Renee Cologne: It wouldn't have been my choice to go into the music "industry", but unfortunately, it is a necessary evil if one wants to create music and put it into the world. Although that's true less and less, given the current state of affairs: of being able to release music via social media, digital distribution, sharing platforms. But as far as inspiration, I would say many of the artists that inspired me to do a record like "Coverlings" originally inspired me to do music – the Carpenters, The Police, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell and Jane Siberry.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Renee Cologne: In fashion: it would've been Alexander McQueen, Dance: Pilobolis or Momix, Multi-media: Cirque du Soleil; Music – I tend to be wanting to work with other producers, DJ's, film guys – like Olafur Arnalds, Guy Sigsworth and Si Green (Bonobo). But I'm a big believer in organic happenings – things happen when and as they are meant to.


Question: What's a typical day like?
Renee Cologne: I wake up early and meditate. Make coffee, get my kids up and off to school. Then I usually go running. Home – emailing and business stuff. Finally, horn-rimmed glasses go on and I start in on music – working on the live show, reading about/trying out new gear. My other love is interior design, and I have my own business – so often late in the afternoon I'll work on whatever design projects I have going on.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Renee Cologne: It's incredibly rewarding to complete a "cycle": starting with nothing but thin air, feeling the crackle of inspiration coursing through one's nerves, writing a song, finding "the way in" recording it, giving it life, preparing to share it with others via a recorded medium and then finally, live. My favourite part is that I get to do it at all.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Renee Cologne: www.reneecologne.com
www.facebook.com/reneecolognemusic
@rcologne1
www.twitter.com/reneecologne
www.youtube.com/rcologne1
Spotify


Interview by Brooke Hunter