Ren is a multitalented Welsh musician with a huge following around the world. He’s a rapper and singer with real presence and a musician/producer with skills to burn in the studio. Ren initially went viral in 2022 with the autobiographical song “Hi Ren,” which he followed up with numerous singles, EPs, and album releases. Along with his great music and devoted fan base, Ren is famous for his bravery in fighting Lyme disease. After years of being misdiagnosed with depression and chronic fatigue, he’s finally getting the help he needs to tackle this debilitating condition.
Let’s take a look at Ren’s life story and music releases, including some of his recent collaborations. In a world full of hurt, Ren keeps pushing forward to find beauty in the strangest of places.
Early life story
Ren Eryn Gill was born in Bangor, UK in 1990, before moving to Dwyran on the nearby island of Anglesey. This is the heartland of Wales and the only corner of the country where people speak the native language. Ren’s childhood was surrounded by music, from traditional Welsh tunes to American rock, reggae, and hip-hop. His father gave him a guitar at the age of 10, and before long, he was playing tracks by Jimi Hendrix and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In his teenage years, the young artist started making beats and learning about audio technology. Ren started experimenting with lyrics and song structures, inspired equally by musicians like Eminem and Kurt Cobain and filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick. When high school ended, Ren moved to Bath to study Music Performance at Bath Spa University. There he started a band called Trick the Fox, where he learned the ins and outs of writing, recording, and touring.
First record contract
With his life now saturated in music, Ren was ready to turn his passion into a career. He didn’t have to wait long, with music producer Eric Appapoulay signing Trick the Fox in 2010. It was a classic discovery story—the producer heard Ren singing one of his songs while busking with the band. The boys now had a recording contract, and they moved to London to start working on their debut album. Early work took place at Sanctuary studio, with Ren producing the record alongside fellow band members Charlie Fowler and Tom Frampton. While some of this early work was posted online, Ren became very sick before the album was completed.
Health challenges
Working in a fancy London studio with his mates by his side, Ren was starting to realize his musical dreams. Life is rarely that simple, however, as the young musician’s world was about to come crashing down. While recording the debut album, Ren became very sick and had to stop work immediately. Suffering physical pain and feeling dissociated, he returned to his mother’s home in Wales to get some rest. These symptoms were scary and confusing for the young man, who was sometimes bedridden for 23 hours a day. While he was unable to continue his music career with Trick the Fox, Ren kept writing and moved to Brighton in 2013.
The next few years would prove incredibly difficult for Ren. Not only was he dealing with immense physical and mental health challenges, but he was also repeatedly misdiagnosed. He saw doctors up and down the UK and was told he had depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. None of these diagnoses rang true for the struggling artist, who kept searching to find out what was wrong.
It took until 2015 for Ren to be correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease, after leaving the UK and seeing a doctor in Belgium. This disease has impacted Ren’s health in many ways, leading to neurological problems and ongoing autoimmune issues. The diagnosis gave clarity to the young man, and it marked the end of a difficult chapter. According to Ren, “Years before I was diagnosed correctly with autoimmunity, Lyme disease, and brain damage, I was misdiagnosed as bipolar and spent years bouncing back and forth between therapists and trialing different antidepressants all the while getting worse and worse.”
Career back on track
While he was sick in the UK, Ren kept writing and recording music. He couldn’t leave his bedroom at times, but his creative spark never left him. After being diagnosed with Lyme disease, he started to release music under his own name. His debut single, “Jessica,” and debut album, Freckled Angels, came out in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The album was dedicated to one of his friends who had died by suicide.
Ren needed stem cell treatment for his condition, which improved his symptoms but led to ongoing autoimmune issues, brain damage, and PTSD. He kept fighting in private and public throughout this period, and amazingly, he still found time to be creative. Ren’s real breakout moment happened in December 2022, when he self-released the amazing autobiographical number “Hi Ren.” This heartfelt song became viral immediately. “Hi Ren” highlights the artist’s unique strength and restless spirit, and it proved to be the perfect career springboard.
Music releases and collaborations
Ren has released lots of amazing music over recent years, including the Violet’s Tale EP in 2022, the Sick Boi album in 2023, and the non-album singles “Mackay,” “KUJO BEAT DOWN,” and “Money Ties” from 2024. He’s also worked on some exciting collaborations, including these three standout tracks:
Baggage – Chris Webby featuring Ren
This is one of Ren’s latest collaborations, released in 2024 on Chris Webby’s Last Wednesday studio album. This is a great partnership, with Webby’s deep, textural voice working perfectly with Ren’s intimate rap verses. As he talks about being “down on my luck, vacant, faded, and brain dead,” you can feel his pain but also his strength. For a truly special moment in the video, the guitarist at the end of the track is Chris Webby’s dad playing a 12-string gifted by his son.
Chalk Outlines – Ren featuring Chinchilla
This is probably Ren’s most successful collaboration, as he joins forces with the wonderful Chinchilla. Her beautiful voice is the perfect accompaniment to his raw and uncompromising lyrics, and the result is a triumph. This song is about Ren’s experience with antidepressants, where he floats around feeling “like a chalk outline.” He says the “new habit” gives him a “great big smile,” but underneath it all, the emptiness remains. This is a powerful message, and it’s given wings by the beautiful voices of Ren and Chinchilla.
What Does Your Love Look Like? – Token featuring Ren
On this track, Token and Ren deliver a powerful take on the complexities of love and relationships. Like pretty much everything Ren is involved with, this track is incredibly deep and emotionally resonant. The lyrics have a raw vulnerability, as both men speak honestly about love and how it can go wrong. The video of this track sees the two men sitting on the floor, presenting a much-needed masterclass in masculine vulnerability.
If you like raw music full of great storytelling and real emotion, you should definitely check out Ren. From his intimate solo releases to his collaborations with like-minded artists, he is one of the most captivating and authentic voices in modern music. Ren’s health has declined over recent months due to complications with his autoimmunity. We wish him and his family all the best as he draws from the deep pool of strength showcased by his music.