AK Renny has risen as a trailblazing artist in the bass house scene. Following her latest single, “Fade Away” with UK’s Corrupt, Stage Hoppers had the absolute best time sitting down with her for an interview. From her initial step into the realm of music, to her unique blend of rap, house and bass music, and her future releases and performances, we cover it all with AK Renny.
Can you share your journey so far and what initially brought you into the music scene?
AK Renny: “Yeah, absolutely. I started this project around 2021, towards the end of 2020, during the pandemic. I’ve always had a passion for rap music, and in college, I got into EDM from going to frat parties and being introduced to house music. I’d never really journeyed into that genre before. And honestly, the pandemic gave people a big opportunity to find themselves, take a break from normal life, and discover what they truly wanted. I took a job that pushed me to my limits, and it made me realize that if I could give my all to a job I didn’t love, why not give my all to something I’m passionate about? So that kinda turned a gear in my head. I bought a board, did a free trial on Ableton, and started playing around with it. As time went on, I realized this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. This is my calling. I feel music has always been my calling, but it was about finding my place and direction in it.”
Was there a specific moment that solidified in your mind that you could do this as a career?
“Yeah, absolutely. The first year or two of my career was when I realized, like wow, I could actually go somewhere with this. So, when Dr. Fresch had the Twitch streams, I was working at Nordstrom and would have the stream on my phone while trying to help customers. Cause you submitted music, but you had no idea if or when your song would get played, and mine always seemed to play last. But I kept submitting music, and Dr. Fresch kept picking them for his radio station on Insomniac. Then, he and his team reached out, saying they really liked my music and believed in my project. That built a fire in me, and I think that shows in the releases I’ve been putting out. They’ve supported me heavily ever since, and I’m very grateful for them.”
Are there any artists that have impacted your development as an artist and sound?
“I feel like a lot of people reflect what they were first introduced to in the genre. My first introduction was around 2017 or 2018 when G-House was very pivotal. Dr. Fresch, Night Bass, AC Slater, and Nostalgix have been extremely impactful.”
“NightBass has always been one of my favorite labels, and AC Slater. I feel like they create such a unique space where if you hear a sound you’re like, oh, that’s Night Bass. Also, I’ve told Nostalgix many times that I wouldn’t be where I am, even mentally as an artist, without her. She taught me the power of writing things down and having goals, which is vital for an artist. Sound-wise, if we really want to get into it, like Kid Cudi, and I’ve always been a huge Kanye West fan because of his music production and sampling. These influences help me incorporate hip-hop roots as I progress with my production.”
One of the aspects you touched upon earlier in hip-hop is the storytelling aspect. What inspirations do you draw on for incorporating your own vocals and storytelling in your music?
“Definitely. Sometimes it’ll just magically happen, But before I write, I often look through the lyrics of artists I look up to, especially based on the track I’m working on. Artists like J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, and Kid Cudi have made a big impact on me. I’ll sometimes take a phrase that resonates with me and either reword it or use it as a starting point for my own writing.”
What can fans anticipate from your upcoming releases in 2024?
“This year, I’ve played around, switched genres and didn’t stay in one lane. I have a vocal collaboration with HEYZ, who’s been absolutely killing it, coming out on June 7th on Bassrush. I’ve been playing around with Tech House releases, but I plan to establish more of my solo production. Last year was about collaborations, which I love, but this year is about establishing my individual self as a project.”
What do you hope to achieve by expanding your musical style and growing your audience in these new venues and festivals?
“Honestly, I like music that moves me emotionally, whether it’s joy or sadness. For my sets, I want to bring an energetic piece that makes people feel something. I don’t want to just play random tracks; I want to give people music that moves me. it’s about giving people a performance and not just giving people like a random set I’m pulling out my ass. I want everything I put out to have meaning and emotion, making it a performance piece rather than something random.”
AK Renny
If you had to pick three words to describe a set of yours for an audience that’s never seen it before, what would those three words be?
“Energetic, passionate, and magnetizing.”
For our fellow stage hoppers and festival-goers, what is your favorite festival or show that you’ve attended?
“Hulaween, period. It’s indescribable. There’s a different energy, and it’s one of those festivals where someone could be walking by your set and find their next favorite artist. There’s just like passion and pure energy. It’s like a family.”
Do you have a favorite guilty pleasure EDM song?
“Probably anything by Zero. He has a song called “Mother Nature,” and if I heard it, I would go insane. Any of his songs would make me freak out.”
If you had to pick an artist or group for a dream collaboration, who would it be with?
“Probably Dr. Fresch. He’s the one that ignited the fire in me. He gave me my first real feedback and got me into this. I’ll always be a fan of his.”
Connect with AK Renny
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