The first track I heard by the London based Indian artist Renao was 'Pressure', which I instantly saved as audio like I do with all great artists I come across on Instagram. The track had me with its the first two lines but Renao’s voice was what really caught my attention. He reminded me of The Weekend but with a softer, more lo-fi vibe. Renao's music is very contemporary pop although its sultry, synth-laden textures with deeply introspective lyricism has scream moody R&B. The artist describes his music as the lovechild of Harry Styles and Frank Ocean and and we think he hit the nail on its head with this one.
Renao’s journey began in Bangalore as Rahul Prasad, who before going into music was always meant to be a badminton star, quickly rising through the sport’s professional ranks in India with Olympic ambitions. But an Avicii concert turned him towards music and changed the course of his life. So Rahul switched the court for the console and moved to the UK to study music production in Leeds. Despite having grown up in an English-speaking household and being immersed in a range of musical influences, it was in the UK that he found the freedom to fully embrace his creative identity. This period of self-discovery allowed him to navigate the complexities of cultural representation and artistic authenticity, eventually leading to a significant shift in his musical approach and public . Rahul gained confidence under a vocal coach, and enthralled by the DIY mentality of groups like Brockhampton, he started sharing clips of his own work alongside cover songs on Soundcloud and Instagram.
His debut EP, 'A Space Between Orange & Blue', dove into the complexities of his globalized identity. The EP, split into two color-coded parts, explored the artist’s journey from idolizing Western culture to embracing his South Asian roots, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities faced by artists from marginalized backgrounds navigating the global creative landscape
Seven years after leaving the country, the artist comes home this August with a concert named after his Instagram broadcast channel, 'In The Circle'. After performances in London and LA, the artist is coming to Mumbai on August 15. In The Circle is a free interactive release party where fans have a chance to meet Renao, receive merch, interact with sound installations, and hear Renao’s new singles performed live ahead of their release. If you're in Mumbai, you should definitely come check out this truly one-of-a-kind homegrown artist.
Follow Renao here.
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