Hello reader,
How are you today?
Today, we’re excited to talk about another artist who is making great music: Louisville-based pop singer-songwriter Terra Renae. Renae has developed a knack lately for creating impactful and catchy pop songs, with lyrics that touch on themes such as hard work and persistence, and family and community.
A press release summed up the ups and downs she’s going through on her journey to this point:
“Terra’s life was shaped by tragedy, losing her father when she was just seven years old on Christmas Day. Raised by her Filipino mother, who immigrated to the U.S., Terra was encouraged from a young age to pursue her musical dreams.”
“Early years spent in choirs, school plays, and competitive auditions laid the foundation for what would become her music career. But after suffering a vocal strain during a pivotal audition in Los Angeles, Terra’s confidence took a hit, leading her to put her musical ambitions on hold and focus on academics and modeling. Over time, she completed a doctoral degree and honed the perseverance and discipline that would later power her music career.”
A return to L.A. in 2022 had more positive results, as she had a chance meeting with GRAMMY Award-winning veteran singer-songwriter Macy Gray, who instantly gravitated towards the younger singer’s talent.
According to a press release, Gray recognized her “raw talent and unique energy” and “took her under her wing, offering mentorship that would reshape Terra’s career.”
With Macy’s strong support and guidance, Renae found the confidence she needed to put all her full focus into music. They teamed up to record Renae’s recently released debut album, All I Have, with Gray executive producing the release. Her debut has already amassed over 300 thousand streams and earned her spotlights with Live Nation’s Ones to Watch and Music Connection’s Hot 100 Unsigned Artists. Between July 25 and August 4, Renae will be going on her first-ever U.S. tour in support of Gray (you can find full dates below).
Gray has also connected her with top-tier producers and songwriters such as Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, OneRepublic). She’s currently working on her sophomore album with collaborators such as Epic Mazur (Crazy Town), Lauren Christy (Avril Lavigne, Dua Lipa), and Sam Short.
Renae is keeping the momentum up in the interim, releasing a handful of singles. That includes the new song “Ignite Me,” which was released in May. We’re stoked to put the spotlight on the song and feel it’s a great introduction to Renae’s music if you’re previously unfamiliar. It’s a powerful anthem that’s powered by Renae’s inspiring and commanding lyrics and vocals, and an incredibly catchy and danceable beat. The song finishes on a high note, with Renae confidently stating, “How you like me now?”
Of the song, Renae says:
“’Ignite Me’ has taken on a whole new meaning since touring with Macy Gray. After performing it across 10 countries in Europe and now bringing it to U.S. stages, it’s surreal to sing a song she vocally produced while opening for her every night. What started as a personal anthem has become a shared experience with audiences around the world. Singing it live, with Macy right there, feels like bringing the story full circle, it’s been nothing short of magical.”
Here’s some more magic, in the form of latest single “Best Revenge”:
Also, here’s a TikTok video of Renae and Gray to hype you up for their tour:
@terrarenae what a dream it was to tour with Macy Gray… who came?? #macygray #touring #livemusic ♬ Best Revenge – Terra Renae
We can’t wait to see the further magic she creates in the studio and live stage.
You can follow and listen to Terra Renae at the links below:
Facebook: facebook.com/terrarenaemusic
Instagram: instagram.com/terra.renae
TikTok: tiktok.com/@terrarenae
YouTube: youtube.com/@terrarenae
Spotify: Terra Renae on Spotify
Her Linktree: linktr.ee/terrarenaemusic
You can catch Terra Renae on her U.S. tour with Macy Gray at the dates below:
Friday, July 25th – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
Tuesday, July 29th – Ramova Theatre – Chicago, IL
Wednesday, July 30th – Canton Palace Theatre – Canton, OH
Friday, August 1st – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
Saturday, August 2nd – The Caverns – Pelham, TN
Sunday, August 3rd – The Ludlow Garage – Cincinnati, OH
Monday, August 4th – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
Joshua is co-founder of Scummy Water Tower. He’s freelanced for a variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including: Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, Guitar World, MTV News, Grammy.com, Chicago Magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, MKE Lifestyle, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, A.V. Club, SPIN, Alternative Press, Under the Radar, Paste, PopMatters, American Songwriter, and Relix. You can email him at josh@scummywatertower.com.
