Ren Martinez

I hope we’ll walk together always.

I hope they feel seen in the honest moments, I hope they get carried away by the fantasies and feel catharsis for their pain. I hope I’ve created something that people can return to again and again, I hope this record can feel like a friend. I’m in this for the long haul, and I feel such a true kinship with anyone who’s on this road with me so early on in my journey.

When all is said and done, what do you hope folks walk away with after giving many-a spin to your upcoming record?

Beast Bait, one of his lesser-known plays, and we were certainly walking on some rarely-trodden ground. But I was led by Cecilia Fairchild, who is a brilliant playwright herself and also had a lot of experience with Shepard’s work, having directed and acted in Cowboy Mouth and Fool for Love. She’s become one of my best friends, and we’ve brought many of her pieces to life, and we’ll do so much more together. Sam’s work, as well as Cecilia’s, reminds me of how you experience art as an adolescent, like everything is fresh and thrilling and there are no rules and all is weird and raw and possible.

That play was actually preceded by a 3-month Sam Shepard workshop I did, which was much more in the realm of the avant-garde than any other theater I’d done before. A group of us from that workshop, including Darrell Larson, who actually worked with Sam, got together to put on Back Bog home this love of stories, of communal art, performing on stage and basically crying all the time. I’m easily moved. I wouldn’t have it any other way! and 2005, no matter the rating! I still tease my parents for taking me to see that R-Rated Jack Nicholson movie About Schmidt in theaters when I was 9. There was some nude hot tub scene with him and Kathy Bates that was a formative memory for me, let me tell you. But it all really did just drive

You recently exercised your considerable acting chops in a Sam Shepard play. Shepard was and is regarded as one of the premiere playwrights. How did you approach his material which can sometimes be a little tricky (i.e. see ‘Silent Tongue’)?

I think it’s something that was definitely passed down. It’s in my bones. My parents both sing, and my dad is an actor as well, my brother is an incredible singer and piano player and my sister is a lovely singer and actress. There was always so much music and warmth in our household, and my parents loved going to the movies. We didn’t have a ton of extra money, and it all went to the movie theater in Agoura Hills—I think I saw every movie that came out between like 1999

How instrumental were your parents in inspiring your dual love of acting and music?

I am on the alert!! But truly, I would love nothing more than to get to sing for a role. Hair doesn’t need to align. Is there anything better than a music movie?? I think no.

I mean…that’s the absolute dream! Any time rumors float around about a new biopic of a female singer with huge hair to spend my young adulthood working with him. We’ve both worked so hard on this for so long, and I think we’re both going to be able to take a big breath out when it finally gets to be heard.

My two favorite artists are Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell. They’re like mom and dad to me. My parents laid that foundation for me, and I am so so grateful to them. But I’m inspired by so many artists, across genre and decade: Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Fountains of Wayne, Kacey Musgraves, Robyn, Bruce Springsteen, Elliott Smith, SZA, Bon Iver, Adele, Death Cab, Lauryn Hill — could go on and on and on.

Who inspires you musically?

I’m going to have shows to celebrate single releases, and a larger album release show. I’ll be playing at home in LA, but hope to be able to get on the road soon and perform in different cities.

With an upcoming album set to hit the music scene, what are your touring/performing plans looking like?

I make pop/rock music with a true songwriter’s heart. I’m so comforted by that “Pop/Rock” genre with the little slash in the middle—it reminds me of sifting through CD’s at Amoeba music or buying albums on iTunes. My music is hooky and smart, and very very emotional. I’m trying to get everything down to its most beautiful core, trying to find the moment where you feel a real twinge of your heartstrings, true recognition. For me, all my favorite music is really about storytelling, and that’s what I feel like I am—a storyteller.

For anyone not in the know, how would you describe your musical style?

Brian has produced all of the music I’ve released thus far— we’ve known each other since I was 17, when we started as freshman in USC’s Popular Music Performance Program. It’s been the most important musical collaboration of my life, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together and the way we got to grow together as producer and artist—it’s really poignant. Brian is, to put it simply, a genius. These are my songs, but he imbues them with a huge amount of magic that only he could bring to them. I have been incredibly lucky to get music releases such as Good Girl? How is it different?

For the new album you’ve collaborated with the ever-amazing producer Brian Robert Jones. What was the collaboration process like between the two of you for this new music?

I think that you’ll be able to see some growth in terms of the production and songwriting. I learned a lot in writing and recording my first EPs, and while I’m really proud of my earlier releases, I think there’s a slightly higher degree of finesse here—I know what I’m doing a little bit more! Making full length albums has always been my goal, and I do feel like I get to express myself more completely here than I ever have before. But my whole heart has always been in everything I do, Where I Am Wild, Good Girl, and this newest work. In that way, it feels like I’m building out my catalogue.

Along with being a fantastic musical artist, you’re also an accomplished actress. As an actress/musician are you always keeping an eye out for a role in a film which combines those two loves?