By Alex A. Kecskes
RE N MARTI N EZ Formerly Ren Farren talks about her art and soul
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inger-songwriter and actress Ren Martinez (formerly Ren Farren) is the youngest daughter of singer Leslie Ren and actor ‘A’ Ren (“Longmire”). Ren’s performing roots run deep and she is now taking the music world by storm with her captivating vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and electrifying performances. Her distinctive blend of music fuses poetic lyricism and captivating pop sensibilities. Ren has released two EPs and multiple singles that reflect her evolution as an artist. Recently collaborating with producer and close friend Madison Scheckel, known as Wolfy. Ren is on the brink of unveiling her upcoming record. Ren sang before she could talk and embraced acting from the age of six, participating in local plays. She graduated from the Popular Music Performance program at the University of Southern California where she honed her songwriting and vocal skills. During her college years, Ren discovered contemporary artists spanning pop, hip-hop, rock, and country genres. This
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unique blend of classic influences and contemporary training has given her a sound that bridges the gap between introspective storytelling and captivating melodies. She has since released albums like Good Girl and Where I am Wild, with hit singles like Uncool, Lose the Night, See Me Through, and Crier. Her music is currently available on Spotify, Soundcloud, and iTunes. Ren has performed at Madame Siam in Hollywood and created a moving tribute to Joni Mitchell at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble alongside Jean Claudes. She continues to grace the city’s stages with her soulful performances. Her tracks have been featured on television shows like Hacks, New Girl, Friends from College, Single Parents, and The Young and the Restless, solidifying her status as a versatile artist with a sound that resonates far and wide. Ren’s impact isn’t confined to the studio alone. She’s also making waves in the acting world, engaging in voiceover work, and recently performing in a Sam Shepard play.
Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Every artist is driven by something to succeed creatively. What drove you to become a recording artist? Ren Martinez: I just love to sing. Since I was a little kid, it’s been such a huge part of the person I’ve become. I grew up with so much music in my house. But there wasn’t a specific moment when I decided to become a singer/songwriter. It’s just always what I did. I grew up in the 90s and the early 2000s. I was obsessed with music and musicians. I saw what they were doing with their lives and I knew then that it would make me happy. I knew that singing, performing on stage, writing music, and being an artist—there was just nothing else I wanted to do. So it’s an innate part of me. It’s hard to say where that motivation came from, but when I started writing songs in earnest—when I was finishing high school and starting college—it all started to take shape for me. I realized that if I could hone that skill, it would make this dream so much more fulfilling.
