Great react guys! Such an interesting point of view! I really hope you two do more Ren soon! Another like “dear god” if your up for it is “Eden” which is RENs take on creation!
I enjoyed the podcast, I respect your frame of reference. Not believing in something is our right as human beings just as much as believing is our right. REN is very talented.
Another Renegade has landed! Subbed! ❤🔥 I am an ex JW who shares very similar programming and the struggle to figure out what 'we' believe away from the programming. Grateful that you are out here sharing your stories.
Ren is definitely someone who thought (had to think) about life and death, god, religion and philosophy. He is a very smart, well-read and humble person. Wise beyond his years.
I’ve been out of Mormonism for almost 25 years. I watch a lot of reaction videos, and Hi Ren is one of my go tos. I relate to it more along health, mental health, and creativity lines. Fun to see a video containing so many cross-sections of my interests. It is absolutely fair to call what the did to us “manipulation,” and in fact, I consider conditioning to be a stronger word, which also applies, because, while you can be manipulated by someone you’ve just met to give up money or a password and never see them again, conditioning runs way deep into your cells to cause an instant emotional reaction before you even have time to think about it. Conditioning builds upon our natural reactions to trauma over long term. The flinch response. (I’ve written quite a lot about this.) Conditioning can take quite a long time of steady work to unpack. Wish I could have seen Deb’s face more during the reaction! Hope to see more.
Oh girl I sobbed at that part! 😭😭 I left the church in 2015 after having my third child. This song SCREAMED to that internal conflict for sure! I was 1000% in, was a relief society president, played the piano for sacrament, almost went on a mission, ended up marrying a non Mormon who went to church with me every weekend bc he supported me because he loves me. When I went through the Temple without him, he had to write a letter of support and the stake president cried bc it was a simple sentence “I love my wife unconditionally and support her in literally anything, it’s simple, that’s marriage.” I’ve never publicly spoke of this bc my family/extended family are still deeply rooted and prominent in our community. My experience with this song is that I felt the hope side of me yearning to live fully into me and not trying to get approval from anybody bc my legacy as a nurse, caring for the community, is what I want. But then there’s the other side mocking me. Essentially the church saying don’t be feeble and just go with the world. Interesting which character spoke to the same experience. I just started therapy bc I CANNOT get the voice creating turmoil out of my head. The idea that me living authentically into me, is “satan playing on my biggest strengths to expose my biggest weaknesses.” I left the church bc I would NOT subject my kids to that double standard and feeling guilty for living fully into their lives. And you’re a project until you get your husband to convert and get your family to the temple. Always working to be better… it’s exhausting. And ironically I feel closer to God now than before. Thank you to the both of you for being vulnerable, unapologetically. Thank you Renegades for creating a space to share and feel safe to do so. This is truly my first time sharing publicly. Thank you REN.
I’m also a former Mormon (and also have ADHD, if I understood one of your shorts correctly). I discovered this song about a month and a half ago and it’s hard to describe how it has affected me. Like Deb, I noticed some religious language, but it wasn’t a turn-off because it seems like Ren is using that language metaphorically to describe the condition of being human beings (even more clear by the end) rather than external beings or forces that the church always insisted are literal. One thing that struck me on the first watch is the way Ren describes being 17 and shouting out that he would defeat the forces of evil and then that he “suffered the consequences”. In the church I only heard (quite simplistically) that consequences are suffered for our misdeeds, so it stuck me as odd to hear those words applied to wanting to defeat the forces of evil - clearly a righteous desire. I guess the world isn’t so black and white after all. This beautiful performance has really given me a lot to think about and consider, and has given me more meaningful language to use to describe all sorts of things - especially the duality of the human condition. So far I’ve only watched you two watch and then talk about Hi Ren. I’ll keep going now. I’m excited to see how Deb reacts to the next two songs! Ren is so talented and that talent is so multi-faceted!
If you haven't already, you might enjoy Seven Sins. It's a masterpiece covering how Ren felt discarded by "God" while going through his health struggles.
Thank you for watching and commenting! Ren’s ability to capture the complexity of the human experience is incredible, and I love how his music challenges many of the oversimplified narratives we were given over the years.
There is life before hi ren and life afterwards, after being on anti depressants for 20 odd years this young man has given me the courage and fortitude to come of all medication , he truly is a gift to humanity 🇬🇧
Hey guys, loved this and looking forward to seeing more! Going by this short introduction to you both, i think you would also get a huge amount of connection with the song BAGGAGE that Ren did with Chris Webby. Please check it out x
Thanks for reacting to this true GENIUS It would've be nice to see both your faces reacting as you watched. Liked & subscribed in anticipation of you reacting to more Ren Cheers 🍻😀
Thanks! I totally agree. I did another guest video that's in the editing phase right now that also has the issue of only recording one face at a time but, after that, I'm hopeful we'll have that fixed going forward.
Love your reactions and thanks for sharing your stories. That’s what I loved finding Ren seeing comments and his community made me feel not as alone. My ordeal is with mental illness struggles my whole life and no one else around me did. So felt very alone everytime leaving house had to put that fake smile on kept in a jar by the door. It’s wonderful to see rawness in people and emotions we go thru that no one talks about. We need real people so I love how you speak on that. We should be able to talk about real things grow and learn. Just loved your stories. Wish you both well also. One more thing, I love the name of your channel much love and peace ❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you, truly! Wanting to helping others not feel so alone or isolated is one of the reasons I've wanted to get this channel going, so it's really encouraging to see it already starting to resonate.
I truly appreciate and empathize with your perspectives. I made the break over 40 years ago And went through many of the same struggles as exhibited in the song and in your review, it just gets better and better
Glad I clicked on...and listened after the music. I know Ren's music well. Honestly, I skipped through much of the beginning because I've heard it and didn't see much dialogue (not a critique..just the facts lol). Funny how things present themselves...just as we need them. And now you're on to "Dear God". Thank you. New sub.
@@painfreebeauty for me, it simply depends on the song. Having no interruptions is frankly boring but interrupting during a guitar solo is rude hahaha... I usually watch reactions to videos I'm already familiar with so... you'll get your groove. No matter what you do there will be complaints 🤦 looking forward to more reactions from the channel 😎
Ren is a genius and so unique. Chalk outlines live and Dear God are just a couple of special songs that Ren has made that are worth reacting to…he’s made many and all completely different. Enjoy your journey following Ren. An artist of his calibre has been a long time coming. Great reaction 👏👏
I just saw your Hi Ren reaction, and put this journal entry of Ren's as my comment to that reaction. ~~~~~~jAN 01, 202~~rEN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Up until I was 9 years old, I would intermittently hear a voice in my head that was not my own. The voice was distinctly different to mine, and always negative. It would self criticize or urge me to do things I knew to be morally wrong. The most peculiar thing about the voice was that it took no effort on my behalf to produce. My own thoughts always felt like there was a process that required effort to bring them to the forefront of my mind, this voice appeared as though it was spoken by another. The sentences felt predetermined like they had already been constructed. I remember very vividly at 9 years old, becoming very frustrated with the voice. I stood in my back yard, internally screaming at the voice to be silent again and again, and it did. In a flash there was silence, to the point where my head felt like an empty room. I wasn't used to the quiet and that voice never returned. It almost felt lonely in my head. When I got older I had intermittent bouts with auditory hallucinations where I would hear perfect symphonies, usually at night when drifting off to sleep. They were so clear that they sounded like they were emanating from a radio in the corner of my room. I knew they weren't there, but for some reason they never came with the feeling of fear. I also recall sitting on a bus at the age of 15, and hearing the sound of a crowded room, with about 100 voices chattering away, I was the only person apart from the driver on the bus. These experiences were always very brief, and few and far between. My last hallucination was during an intense bout of psychosis in 2015, and was my first visual hallucination. I was walking down a pavement after jumping out my mums car in a crossroads in a moment of frustration and distress with my condition. I was trying to run from myself. What appeared to be a homeless man with a dark complexion approached me, and asked me what was wrong. I explained that I had been sick most my life, and I wasn't sure I had the strength to continue. He looked at me, and smiled and told me 'everything is going to be okay in the end Ren.' I had not told him my name. There was something so overpoweringly sincere about this very simple message, which brought with it an overwhelming feeling of inner peace, and in a flash, he vanished. My rational brain always linked these experiences to what the doctors have told me, that there are parts of my brain compromised by the autoimmunity in my body. That the myelin sheaths surrounding the complex electrical system that conduct my thoughts were damaged and compromised, causing these lucid experiences that I knew did not exist inside the physical world. The part of me that edges away from logical and rational thought always attributed these thoughts to some kind of otherworldly intervention, that made my thoughts the battleground of some spiritual tug of war. For a long time I never really acknowledged this part of myself, for with it brought the danger and stigma of sounding like a crazy person. I decided with my latest release, to the best of my ability, to capture and express this chess match of thought. Hi Ren comes out in just over 24 hours. I can't wait for you all to hear it.
Thank you for sharing and really good reaction. Welcome to the wonderful world of REN, our lyrical genius and beautiful soul. Subbed for more Ren and your stories ❤
Hello fellow ex-mormons! I really enjoyed your reaction and insights. When I saw Hi Ren, I didn't specifically relate it to leaving mormonism (probably because it's been 3 decades and I don't think about it much), but I definitely understand your perspective, and your thoughts on it were really insightful. I relate to Ren more because of my chronic health issues, and just as a music fan in general. I love his diversity. You are really going to enjoy your journey into Ren's music. He does so many different things, and they are all fantastic. He will surprise you every time. I'm looking forward to seeing more from you in the future.
Not sure about ‘most Europeans’ 41% of Europeans consider themselves Roman Catholic 10% Eastern Orthodox, 9% Protestant and non believer/agnostic are about 27%
Im a huge Ren fan and love all the different reactions, they teach me a lot...thats the power of Ren...seen 100's of reactions and enjoyed them all and quite unique as ive yet to see one that doesnt like Ren ❤
Interesting video I enjoyed your conversation Can relate to you both in some ways . Discovered Hi Ren January 2023 love his music and very welcoming and loving community Not a fan of the current western church as a whole after 35 years in various exmples of it. But have spiritual experiences and always interested in peoples own pov's and experiences ❤
C for captions. Num pad 0 for restarting, 1 for 10% of video, etc. Left or right arrow to jump 5 sec. And the left side of the screen has a few pixels of dead space in which your mouse will not interact while in full screen, great for clicking out of menus and preventing small movements from activating the UI, getting in the habit of leaving your mouse there will improve your experience greatly.
Found Ren 2 years ago and Tom MacDonald 4 years ago. Changed my music listening forever! Never liked/listened to rap before. I'm 90% soul/funk, no rap. Both guys are 100% no fluff. I don't always agree with everything they sing/say/think, but respect their independence, enormous talent, work ethics, quality and honesty. Standing up for good in their respective ways. I'm 57, 👴🏼 active "mormon" since childhood. We're all on a journey. I don't recognize "the Church" and "the Mormons" and the pressure some "ex-mormons" describe. But we are all different, have met different members/ leaders. Maybe the "culture" is a bigger problem than the teachings? (For some.) I like what Ren said in Hi Ren. What separates us from God and demons is that we're in between the dark and the light. Contant struggle. While demons are always in the dark - angels and God constantly in the light. Well, well... Moving on. Let's stand up for what is good whichever road we travel. And as Pres. Monson said (or quoted?): "Always be yourself. But be your best self." 😇👍🏼 Good luck w/ your channel. It's actually great to introduce guests to Ren like this. ✨👍🏼✨
❤❤❤ Subbed for more Ren. 😊😊😊 Great video. Thank you for your honesty and stories. I was raised catholic but never was confirmed because I started seeing the hypocracy as a child and questioning too much. I am Agnostic like Ren. It suits me. Happy New Year & wish you both all the best in this next stage of your lives.
My understanding of his spiritual journey. He was notraised religious. He is from Wales and Christianity is taught in school. He has talked about being spiritually curious/searching in his early 20's. after he got sick.
Such a wonderful reaction and discussion. Your experiences with the Mormon organization gave a really interesting context, as well. Even though Ren isn't particularly religious himself, he likes using religious tropes & terms, and I've seen many reactors say that Ren's music has validated either their specific faith or their rejection of specific faith. Your experiences are valid and deserve to be aired. Thank you for sharing. And welcome to the Renegades. We sometimes joke about our fandom being a "cult", but we don't have any secret holy underwear. :) Also, tiny editing note: many folks enjoy seeing all reactors' faces as these lyrics hit you, so if it's possible to arrange it so we can see you both in diff bubbles while the video plays, that'd be awesome. I personally like more pauses mid-video as you go through a song (esp for story songs like Jenny/Screech or the Money Games), but many others prefer fewer mid-song breaks, so please do whatever feels right for you.
Welcome to the music/art that is Ren. I hope you guys keep reacting. Both of you are beautiful souls. React to Ren's "Eden" ... to find out his true connection with religion.
You can't put him in one category or that he is like someone. He is like everyone but on a higher level of creativity. He is already one of the best creatives our lives have ever listened to.
Loved your reaction. A lot of rens music has some religious symbolism. I would recommend Lost all Faith and Seven Sins. For other Ren songs there are many, from the music bangers like Losing It, to Rap flows like Genesis and Hunger, the heartbreaking S**cide, The philosophical Money Game trilogy and Money Ties, ending up in the story of Ren in Sick Boy and Troubles. There is a whole world to explore. Welcome in. It's fun here.
Thanks for all the recommendations. I haven't yet seen Losing It, Money Ties, or Troubles, but am looking forward to reacting to them soon (and also introducing Deb and others to the others you've mentioned, which are all great).
Remember, faith and religion are two different things. Good on you for growing beyond the institution. Sharing your journey is therapeutic for you and to those who you are sharing it with. Ren is sharing and helping you to grow deeper and to heal.
Can you do war pigs, back on 74, Money Game and Chalk Lines with Chinchilla if you get a moment...Ren has a huge range and im sure you both with love the rabbit hole that is Ren ...you 2 are good people ❤
Your 'conditioning' comment really hit me. I'm an ex JW so I get the conditioning issue and the discomfort of leaving something that was so all-encompassing. Subscribed!
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. Honestly, I just hadn't tested things out enough to know that Google Meet would only capture and provide one face at a time in the recording of our session. I had another session a few days after this one where I thought I had fixed the issue (but hadn't). We're going to try recording another one this week, though, and I'm hopeful that we'll have that piece of it fixed.
I have been staying away from Hi Ren reactions because I didn't want to get burnt out, but as soon as I saw the title, I had to watch. It is so interesting to me to see how the world looks from the eyes of those who had a religious background. I was raised in a household where there was no religion, and free thinking was encouraged. I was free to explore religion, and as a young teen, I tried church but could see so much hypocrisy that I couldn't justify going. My Dad would say God but not in a religious way if that makes sense. He also allowed talk of aliens and energies as long as it didn't interfere in peoples lives or hurt anyone. Im so torn on if I missed out on the security of religion or not, but then again, I have nothing to unravel around, god, I guess. Anyway, great reaction.. I subbed and can't wait for more. Will it be you showing her? Have you seen a lot of Ren? ❤
Love it. Thanks so much! I'm familiar with the songs on his Sick Boi album, the Money Game series, Jenny & Screetch, and a handful of his earlier works, but have been trying to save a lot of his other stuff for this channel, so I'm super excited to be getting the ball rolling! I'm happy to report that Deb will absolutely be returning for more episodes, as well as a few other guests here and there. Thanks for the support!
Thanks for a great reaction 👍❤ And welcome to the world of Ren. A roller coaster ride through emotions, wisdom, musical genius and genres. Ren Eryn Gill is a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He sings, raps and writes his songs, lyrics and video scripts himself. He was born in Wales in 1990. He moved to Brighton in 2013 and did a lot of busking. He studied music performance at Bath Spa University. In 2009 he became seriously ill and had difficulty attending lectures. In 2010, he was signed to Sony Records. However, as his health continued to deteriorate, he had to terminate the contract. Today he is an independent artist. In October 2023, his album "Sick Boi" was number one in the British album charts. Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to him suffering from psychosis. It was not until seven years later end of 2015 that a doctor in Belgium finally diagnosed him with autoimmunity and Lyme disease, which led to brain, organ and joint damage as well as PTSD. After stem cell therapy in the United States, his health improved considerably. However, he continues to suffer from his illnesses. In early 2023, he went to Canada for about a year and a half for treatment. In July 2024 he came back to the UK to play hist first concert after five years (look for The Secret Garden Party). At the end of September 2024, Ren posted that the treatment for Lyme disease co-infection Bartonella had not worked. Eight months of grueling treatment with various antibiotics had not led to success. Then the symptoms of Bartonella came back and even worse, during a video shoot he got an autoimmune flare and experienced severe pain so he had to be taken to the emergency room. He lost vision in one eye for three days. He started recovering in the UK, went back to Canada for further treatment in October 2024. A few weeks later he returned to the UK. The treatments in Canada were too much for his body to cope with. He is doing a bit better and tries natural remedies including an oxygen chamber. Nonetheless he released the title track of his new album Slaughter House in November 2024. In December 2024 he posted that he is reattempting to film Vincents tale. The first time was the shoot he ended up in hospital. On his RenMakesStuff channel you can find an autobiographical reading about his story in eight chapters. From the end of his best friend Joe, over becoming ill, getting and losing the contract with Sony, via his odyssey through various diagnosis and attempts of treatments to becoming at least better after his stem cell treatment. Absolutely worth watching. You will understand his songs even better afterwards and they become even more intense. Very personal and emotional videos. His song Troubles is a kind of condensation of these readings.
Loved this❤. 😂Ren continually struggles with what his beliefs are, he has called himself agnostic although he has recently said that belief in a "God", or higher power so to speak is a choice and it's one he'd like to choose. (paraphrasing). 😊💜 💙 ❤️
To give you some idea of how broad the Ren fanbase is, I' a 71 yr old Scotsman and there are many hundreds, if not thousands, of others my age who consider themselves to be RENegades. Ren is without any doubt whatsoever, the most important artist to have graced our eyes and ears for a generation.
Hello and welcome to the RENiverse. Let me introduce you to... Ren Gill, he is a 34 year old Welsh native (Wales from the United Kingdom, specifically from the Island of Anglesey off the northwestern coast of Wales) and currently resides in Brighton, England (a southern English Channel beach town with an insanely active busking [live street performing] scene). He has been performing since he was 12 years old. He is entirely self-trained. He speaks native Welsh, English, French, and I do believe a bit of Italian, IIRC? He is exceptional at the guitar, piano, and vocalisation. He is a totally independent artist who has no record label to represent him or, more importantly, control him. He is a rapper, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer, a singer-songwriter, a composer, and truly the definition of genre-less. He can do any genre, produce any sound or beat, and he can do it all for nothing. No song is like another, no beat is the same, no way to judge anything based on what each song is. Again, it must be repeated: he is SELF-trained and has had very little formal training for his music or productions. Everything Ren does is intentional. Every aspect of every piece is thoroughly scrutinized, studied, considered, composed, and dismantled before anything comes out and that perfection comes through during recording or filming. He is a Master of live one takes and his team is one of the best in the world, despite how small, even tiny or non-existent, his budgets are. Almost all the money he makes either goes to his ongoing Lyme Disease treatments (of which his medications cost literally thousands of quids/dollars) or to the projects he has in mind. I will state that Ren is not religious. He is spiritually agnostic, though does come from a Catholic background. He considers religion important to at least acknowledge and utilise as part of his imagery because of its representation within humanity. At the age of 19, he contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite he received while on a trip with his friends. He was misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to severe psychosis, for several years until he was properly diagnosed by a Swiss physician. Due to not receiving the appropriate treatment for Lyme Disease within the very short time frame after contraction, the disease has ravaged his body and mind, causing permanent brain damage, severe issues with digestion, sleep, nerves, and various other health problems. It caused him horrendous, chronic, violent pain to the point of being bedridden for years. Music is the reason he has survived. He had originally signed to Sony Records prior to contracting the disease, then when his condition became severe, he lapsed in his ability to complete his contract and both Sony and Ren agreed to end his contract. He has been independent ever since. I'd like to provide some cultural context for this artist from another extremely talented artist: This is what the Irish folk rock artist Sinead O’Connor posted on social media after watching Hi Ren: “Holy motherfuckin SHIT! Someone just showed me this at the weekend. This Archangel from like, twelfth heaven or somewhere, has only gone and made the entire history of songwriting and performing look like a three year old's birthday party at Burger King. Every song and or artist in history even Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, NWA, Ice Cube, and even Bob Dylan, is officially relegated to class B. As are every actor in history or legend: living or dead, male or female. We all are now defunct." Posted on May 17th, 2023, 2 months before self-deletion in July 2023. Another massive compliment to Ren was when Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most creative minds of the last 200 years, finally saw Money Game Part 3 and stated on Instagram: "@RenMakesMusic is one of the most unique songwriters and storytellers I've seen in recent times. Hope to see this album at number one -ALW" Several other massive creatives have expressed their appreciation, experiences, and joy for Ren's music: Tom Hardy (major hollywood actor and one of Ren's favorite actors), Robbie Williams (fellow musician and Brit), Simon Jones (fellow musician and bassist for the Verve), Russell Crowe (major hollywood actor and an impassioned activist like Ren), Amanda Palmer (major hollywood actress). I recommend watching Sick Boi, Troubles, and the 'Chapters' from his RenMakesStuff (BTS channel for Ren) for a much deeper comprehension of his journey. Hi Ren was recorded live in the basement of an apartment building in Brighton, England. It was literally a crew of five people, cost 50 quid (~$62) to make, and the audio is entirely one take. The video is spliced across four one takes. It is recorded live with a lavalier lapel microphone, a portable guitar amp and recording device, three cameras, and Ren's laptop. He rehearsed this piece literally thousands of times before he even recorded the music video to provide certainty that he would get the guitar notes perfectly and his delivery as perfect as possible. This piece is a very personal one for Ren and was the first time in his musicianship to properly acknowledge his ailment, his journey, and his issues musically. He has hinted at it in all of his previous works prior to it, but this was the first time it was out in the open, purposefully. The 'Pig' from the beginning is an essential symbol in the RENiverse and appears in many, if not most, of his other music videos and media. It represents the corrupted and abused systems of the world that take and take and take and never give back to the people they are supposed to support: medicine, music, finances, trade, commerce, government, etc… There are actually four characters in this piece: the yodeller at the beginning and end (representing a call to aspirations), self (the calm and soft one on the 'right'), doubt (the 'evil' one on the 'left'), and hope (the one in the 'centre' near the end of the piece). The written poetry at the end of the piece is a very simplified summary of his real journey and represents his most primary belief system. Hi Ren is a continuation of Sick Boi, which is recorded live (though not a one take) in the same basement a few weeks prior to Hi Ren. It was also produced for practically no money and it represents his feelings on commoditization, greed, the healthcare industry, and the music industry in a generalised yet very specific manner. Hi Ren has received multiple nominations or wins for awards, has over 40 million views, and he has several million followers worldwide. He has other videos and songs with multiple awards, especially Money Game Part 3 of the Money Game trilogy, which has won several dozen awards. Ren had the #1 Album (Sick Boi) in the UK in 2024 and reached the Billboard Top 200, beating out Drake and Rick Astley, two of the biggest names in music, for nearly 3 weeks straight with virtually no airplay or any of the traditional methods of commercialised music. Just through sheer community and streaming, Ren beat out two of his inspirations in his home country. That's incredibly impressive. A fellow RENegade really summed up the experience of Ren in a, imo, perfect way. From KMac70-Rex on UA-cam: "You are among the special ones whose life has been profoundly changed-there's no going back. While many reactors recognize Ren as a remarkable artist, for some, he’s just one of many they react to before moving on. But for others, Ren's music resonates on a much deeper, profoundly intimate level. His songs feel like conversations with a close friend-raw, honest, and cathartic. It’s this rare ability to touch the core of human experience that makes his artistry so impactful. Ren's willingness to bare his soul fosters an authentic connection, allowing us to relate to his music on a deeply personal level. Through his lyrics, he captures the nuances of life in ways that make us feel seen, understood, and, most importantly, not alone." There is life before Ren and then there is life after Ren. Welcome to your life after Ren. Have fun! Welcome to the RENegades and the RENiverse. Much peace and love to you. ^^
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thorough and passionate introduction to Ren and the RENiverse! Your comment is a treasure trove of insight, and I can feel the deep appreciation and respect you have for him and his artistry. Ren’s journey, resilience, and creative genius are truly inspiring, and your breakdown of his life, music, and the symbolism behind his work adds so much depth to my understanding of his art. I’m especially moved by how he uses music to not just survive but thrive despite immense challenges-what a testament to the power of creativity and human spirit. I’m so excited to dive even deeper into his work, including the pieces and chapters you recommended. It’s clear that Ren’s music isn’t just something to listen to-it’s something to feel, reflect on, and connect with. Your comment has helped me and others see the incredible layers of his artistry, and I’m grateful for that. Thank you for such a warm welcome to the RENiverse! I look forward to exploring more and continuing this journey with a growing appreciation for what makes Ren so uniquely brilliant!
@@respondinkind It is my pleasure. This is why I put these breakdowns in all videos, not just Hi Ren. I want people to truly grasp the depth of character, conviction, authenticity, pain, and expression that he brings to each work. His dedication to his music is so thoughtfully and completely expressed even in the most 'meh' of his songs and even seasoned veterans of commercial music can't say that. I mean if you get the ultimate compliment from TWO of the greatest musicians of the last 80 years... that says a LOT about you as an artist. I look forward to seeing you dive deeper into his discography to see more of his brilliance. Much peace and love to you. ^^
Not sure if you have seen Eden by Ren. This is his real belief work, thought through by a very intelligent person. Dear God, which you played is a shorter popular version... Eden explains belief logically, starts slow and all of a sudden you realise how deep he has thoughtthis through. I like your guys dynamic, subbed and watching.
I have not seen Eden yet; I appreciate the suggestion. Looking forward to watching and reacting to that one for sure. Thanks so much for the recommendation and the sub!
I see the Holy Ghost as the conscience and the "light of Christ" as our guide back to the path of righteousness. As humans, we continue wandering blindly off the path. It's that conscience that urges us (me) to pick my head up and search for that guiding light (Christ) and try to get back on the righteous path. I was brought up Presbyterian but now attend a Baptist Cowboy Church. I've known many Mormons since I've skied in Utah virtually my whole life. For a religion that I disagree with some fundamental positions and teachings, I will say, after seeing the show The Book of Mormon, it was refreshing and heartening to see Mormon's embracing the comedy and controversy of that show and handing out The Book of Mormon after the show. At least they weren't trying to shame or behead us for going to the show! I've also seen the underground repository. That aspect does give me pause. Anyway, glad the Spirit has lead you to search for that Guiding Light again. Humans were born and live in sin. Sure, if we wander blindly, we might pass the road of riotousness from time to time but it is that light that encourages and enables us to remain on and find our way back to that path.
Ah, a new newbie to Ren! Greetings. 70yrs old here in USA Many here will suggest Ren music to you. I would like to suggest his 8 chapters (on the YT channel named RenMakesStuff). His "Thank you to 1 million subscribers and definition of succes" video from his YT channel RenMakesMusic. There are also many interviews between himself and Reactors, Mental Heath providers, Reporters, and Others. Renegades will flock to watch your reaction to those as well as Anything else Ren posts. Do not focus just on his new music. We will arrive to watch you react to songs and videos he created at age 19, with equal joy as what he will be dropping next week or next month or what ever future date he alerts us to. I would also encourage you to check out both bands he was in "Trick the Fox" and "The Big Push" and all the collabs he has done past, present and future. Also: Chinchilla, Romain, Gorran, Prof, Viktus Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins and many other artists we have met through Ren. The Reniverse is very large!
Such a treasure trove, for sure! Thank you, so much, for the support, encouragement, and recommendations. I've purposefully resisted watching his RenMakesStuff chapters so that I could react to them once I got this channel up and running, so I'm really looking forward to checking those out. Same with Trick the Fox, The Big Push, and others. I hadn't yet heard of Gorran, Prof, Viktus, or Chris Webby, but you've piqued my interest!
I'm mostly familiar with the songs on the Sick Boi album, then oustide of that: Money Game series, Jenny & Screech, For Joe, and a handful of his earlier works, but have been trying to avoid hearing much else in anticipation of doing this channel so I had some stuff to blind react to. Definitely excited to jump in more fully!
Didn't quite work on the first try, did it? If the camera could only show one reactor, perhaps it should have been on the person who hadn't seen it before? Well, I'm sure the next ones will fix this.
You got that right - definitely still on the learning curve! I would have loved to get Deb’s video during the songs. I could see both of us during the session, but learned too late that Google Meet captures the host by default, and only keeps video of the guest when they’re speaking. Totally kicking myself for not testing it out more beforehand. What’s worse is I thought I had the settings fixed for the second one shortly thereafter but, sadly, same thing 🤦🏻♂️. I’m learning and making adjustments for future ones, though. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment-it means a lot!
For a successful reaction video you should be the equal size as the video you are reacting to and previewing the song at the very beginning is not liked according to the forums the biggest mistake or failure to capitalize is not having both reactors on screen The stats show 2 reactors or more is clicked before a single reactor channel though I'm guessing this might be a lack of tech know-how issue you are yet to work out
@pollyg562 Lack of tech know-how indeed! Hoping to have the kinks worked out on that aspect soon (There's another guest reaction in the editing process that has the same issue, but hopefully after that it will be fixed). Thanks for the feedback!
Oh girl I sobbed at that part! 😭😭 I left the church in 2015 after having my third child. This song SCREAMED to that internal conflict for sure! I was 1000% in, was a relief society president, played the piano for sacrament, almost went on a mission, ended up marrying a non Mormon who went to church with me every weekend bc he supported me because he loves me. When I went through the Temple without him, he had to write a letter of support and the stake president cried bc it was a simple sentence “I love my wife unconditionally and support her in literally anything, it’s simple, that’s marriage.” I’ve never publicly spoke of this bc my family/extended family are still deeply rooted and prominent in our community. My experience with this song is that I felt the hope side of me yearning to live fully into me and not trying to get approval from anybody bc my legacy as a nurse, caring for the community, is what I want. But then there’s the other side mocking me. Essentially the church saying don’t be feeble and just go with the world. Interesting which character spoke to the same experience. I just started therapy bc I CANNOT get the voice creating turmoil out of my head. The idea that me living authentically into me, is “satan playing on my biggest strengths to expose my biggest weaknesses.” I left the church bc I would NOT subject my kids to that double standard and feeling guilty for living fully into their lives. And you’re a project until you get your husband to convert and get your family to the temple. Always working to be better… it’s exhausting. And ironically I feel closer to God now than before. Thank you to the both of you for being vulnerable, unapologetically. Thank you Renegades for creating a space to share and feel safe to do so. This is truly my first time sharing publicly. Thank you REN.
Laura! Thank you so much for sharing. It's amazing to hear all of these stories. It's a journey for all of us, and we struggle in our own very personal, and different ways. Keep in touch, you are not alone.
The editing is fantastic! Thank you so much for having me. It was a really good time and it introduced me to a fantastic artist!
@@painfreebeauty Thank you, Deb! It was great having you on; I really enjoyed the conversation and would love to sync up for another one soon.
@@respondinkindI am sure RENegades would like to see another video with you two. 😊
@@majbratI would be honored 💕
Great react guys! Such an interesting point of view! I really hope you two do more Ren soon! Another like “dear god” if your up for it is “Eden” which is RENs take on creation!
@@michaelwalsh7359I’m down.
Renegades: I swear we aren't a cult, just a book club.
Yes, yes a book club. Hmmmm may we suggest you read Animal farm.
@@debrashrider4062 Have you watched Animal Flow?
It is because of Ren that I did read Animal Farm!! 1000%😂 not the first thing his music made me look up😜
@@bentracey4939 best book club ever!
@@TR1P0DL1F3 Indeed I have! Its why I Suggested it. LOL
On another note, I also want to say: Thank You both for your willingness to be vulnerable. I'm really looking forward to following this channel!
Thank you so much!
@@yilomina2047 so very welcome 💕
I enjoyed the podcast, I respect your frame of reference. Not believing in something is our right as human beings just as much as believing is our right. REN is very talented.
Absolutely, Jeff; Thanks so much for the support and thoughtful perspective. I appreciate and reciprocate the respect.
Another Renegade has landed! Subbed! ❤🔥
I am an ex JW who shares very similar programming and the struggle to figure out what 'we' believe away from the programming. Grateful that you are out here sharing your stories.
I'm an ex JW as well. Hang in there. There are many of us and I promise it gets easier.
100%! For as much as active Mormons and JW’s try to distance themselves from each other, I now see so much in common between the two.
Welcome to the world of Ren, buckle up! New Renegade subscriber here! Enjoy the rabbit hole
Awesome, thank you!
I’m buckling up and I think I’m going to enjoy the ride!
Ren is definitely someone who thought (had to think) about life and death, god, religion and philosophy. He is a very smart, well-read and humble person. Wise beyond his years.
Great first reaction, hope you continue to share your trip down the Ren rabbit hole❤❤❤ subbed!!!
"Someone just blew my mind and validated my whole life" ... yep, that sums Ren up perfectly! New sub for more Ren 🙂
@@yilomina2047 Thank you!
REN is an amazing artist, and I hope you dive into his catalog. Some very thought provoking material, topics you just don’t hear about. ❤
We are filming more, stay tuned.
I’ve been out of Mormonism for almost 25 years. I watch a lot of reaction videos, and Hi Ren is one of my go tos. I relate to it more along health, mental health, and creativity lines. Fun to see a video containing so many cross-sections of my interests. It is absolutely fair to call what the did to us “manipulation,” and in fact, I consider conditioning to be a stronger word, which also applies, because, while you can be manipulated by someone you’ve just met to give up money or a password and never see them again, conditioning runs way deep into your cells to cause an instant emotional reaction before you even have time to think about it. Conditioning builds upon our natural reactions to trauma over long term. The flinch response. (I’ve written quite a lot about this.) Conditioning can take quite a long time of steady work to unpack.
Wish I could have seen Deb’s face more during the reaction! Hope to see more.
Oh girl I sobbed at that part! 😭😭 I left the church in 2015 after having my third child. This song SCREAMED to that internal conflict for sure! I was 1000% in, was a relief society president, played the piano for sacrament, almost went on a mission, ended up marrying a non Mormon who went to church with me every weekend bc he supported me because he loves me. When I went through the Temple without him, he had to write a letter of support and the stake president cried bc it was a simple sentence “I love my wife unconditionally and support her in literally anything, it’s simple, that’s marriage.”
I’ve never publicly spoke of this bc my family/extended family are still deeply rooted and prominent in our community.
My experience with this song is that I felt the hope side of me yearning to live fully into me and not trying to get approval from anybody bc my legacy as a nurse, caring for the community, is what I want. But then there’s the other side mocking me. Essentially the church saying don’t be feeble and just go with the world. Interesting which character spoke to the same experience. I just started therapy bc I CANNOT get the voice creating turmoil out of my head. The idea that me living authentically into me, is “satan playing on my biggest strengths to expose my biggest weaknesses.” I left the church bc I would NOT subject my kids to that double standard and feeling guilty for living fully into their lives. And you’re a project until you get your husband to convert and get your family to the temple. Always working to be better… it’s exhausting. And ironically I feel closer to God now than before.
Thank you to the both of you for being vulnerable, unapologetically.
Thank you Renegades for creating a space to share and feel safe to do so. This is truly my first time sharing publicly.
Thank you REN.
I’m also a former Mormon (and also have ADHD, if I understood one of your shorts correctly). I discovered this song about a month and a half ago and it’s hard to describe how it has affected me. Like Deb, I noticed some religious language, but it wasn’t a turn-off because it seems like Ren is using that language metaphorically to describe the condition of being human beings (even more clear by the end) rather than external beings or forces that the church always insisted are literal.
One thing that struck me on the first watch is the way Ren describes being 17 and shouting out that he would defeat the forces of evil and then that he “suffered the consequences”. In the church I only heard (quite simplistically) that consequences are suffered for our misdeeds, so it stuck me as odd to hear those words applied to wanting to defeat the forces of evil - clearly a righteous desire.
I guess the world isn’t so black and white after all. This beautiful performance has really given me a lot to think about and consider, and has given me more meaningful language to use to describe all sorts of things - especially the duality of the human condition.
So far I’ve only watched you two watch and then talk about Hi Ren. I’ll keep going now. I’m excited to see how Deb reacts to the next two songs! Ren is so talented and that talent is so multi-faceted!
If you haven't already, you might enjoy Seven Sins. It's a masterpiece covering how Ren felt discarded by "God" while going through his health struggles.
Thank you for watching and commenting! Ren’s ability to capture the complexity of the human experience is incredible, and I love how his music challenges many of the oversimplified narratives we were given over the years.
One of my favorites!
@@SteveTrottier let’s do some more Brady!
There is life before hi ren and life afterwards, after being on anti depressants for 20 odd years this young man has given me the courage and fortitude to come of all medication , he truly is a gift to humanity 🇬🇧
@@garysherwin3316 🙌🏻
your story made me shudder! Wonderful! Thx for sharing))
Hey guys, loved this and looking forward to seeing more! Going by this short introduction to you both, i think you would also get a huge amount of connection with the song BAGGAGE that Ren did with Chris Webby. Please check it out x
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t seen that one yet but will definitely check it out.
Thanks for reacting to this true GENIUS
It would've be nice to see both your faces reacting as you watched.
Liked & subscribed in anticipation of you reacting to more Ren
Cheers 🍻😀
Thanks! I totally agree. I did another guest video that's in the editing phase right now that also has the issue of only recording one face at a time but, after that, I'm hopeful we'll have that fixed going forward.
Love your reactions and thanks for sharing your stories. That’s what I loved finding Ren seeing comments and his community made me feel not as alone. My ordeal is with mental illness struggles my whole life and no one else around me did. So felt very alone everytime leaving house had to put that fake smile on kept in a jar by the door. It’s wonderful to see rawness in people and emotions we go thru that no one talks about. We need real people so I love how you speak on that. We should be able to talk about real things grow and learn. Just loved your stories. Wish you both well also. One more thing, I love the name of your channel much love and peace ❤❤❤❤❤
@@aleciapalmisano5923 thank you for your validation. It’s scary being raw and real, but it’s so needed in this world.
@ ❤️🫶
Thank you, truly! Wanting to helping others not feel so alone or isolated is one of the reasons I've wanted to get this channel going, so it's really encouraging to see it already starting to resonate.
You guys caught my attention!! I want to experience more of you, so I had to subscribe!!
Nice job!! 😊 BTW, I also am a Renegade!
Thank you so much for the encouragement!
I truly appreciate and empathize with your perspectives. I made the break over 40 years ago And went through many of the same struggles as exhibited in the song and in your review, it just gets better and better
@@ldlisonbee solidarity. It DOES get better!
Hey there y'all, I really enjoyed the insight into your perspective of Rens song Hi Ren. I would love to see more reactions from y'all 💛
@@MysteryWillow.2013 Thanks! Definitely more to come.
Fellow ex Mormon and Ren (Renagade) fan here. You will find a treasure trove of good music in the Ren catalogue of goodness.
@@donhill3130 Heck yeah! 🙌🏻
Ditto
Glad I clicked on...and listened after the music. I know Ren's music well. Honestly, I skipped through much of the beginning because I've heard it and didn't see much dialogue (not a critique..just the facts lol). Funny how things present themselves...just as we need them. And now you're on to "Dear God". Thank you. New sub.
@@Lulabee2024 thanks for watching and your feedback. Would it be better to pause more frequently or would that be too distracting?
@@painfreebeauty for me, it simply depends on the song. Having no interruptions is frankly boring but interrupting during a guitar solo is rude hahaha... I usually watch reactions to videos I'm already familiar with so... you'll get your groove. No matter what you do there will be complaints 🤦 looking forward to more reactions from the channel 😎
Ren is a genius and so unique. Chalk outlines live and Dear God are just a couple of special songs that Ren has made that are worth reacting to…he’s made many and all completely different. Enjoy your journey following Ren. An artist of his calibre has been a long time coming. Great reaction 👏👏
Thank you. Chalk Outlines is definitely in the queue!
Thank you both so much for sharing.
It does help. Cheers
@@katespellxx9529 you are welcome 💕
I just saw your Hi Ren reaction, and put this journal entry of Ren's as my comment to that reaction.
~~~~~~jAN 01, 202~~rEN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Up until I was 9 years old, I would intermittently hear a voice in my head that was not my own. The voice was distinctly different to mine, and always negative. It would self criticize or urge me to do things I knew to be morally wrong. The most peculiar thing about the voice was that it took no effort on my behalf to produce. My own thoughts always felt like there was a process that required effort to bring them to the forefront of my mind, this voice appeared as though it was spoken by another. The sentences felt predetermined like they had already been constructed.
I remember very vividly at 9 years old, becoming very frustrated with the voice. I stood in my back yard, internally screaming at the voice to be silent again and again, and it did. In a flash there was silence, to the point where my head felt like an empty room. I wasn't used to the quiet and that voice never returned. It almost felt lonely in my head.
When I got older I had intermittent bouts with auditory hallucinations where I would hear perfect symphonies, usually at night when drifting off to sleep. They were so clear that they sounded like they were emanating from a radio in the corner of my room. I knew they weren't there, but for some reason they never came with the feeling of fear. I also recall sitting on a bus at the age of 15, and hearing the sound of a crowded room, with about 100 voices chattering away, I was the only person apart from the driver on the bus.
These experiences were always very brief, and few and far between.
My last hallucination was during an intense bout of psychosis in 2015, and was my first visual hallucination. I was walking down a pavement after jumping out my mums car in a crossroads in a moment of frustration and distress with my condition. I was trying to run from myself. What appeared to be a homeless man with a dark complexion approached me, and asked me what was wrong. I explained that I had been sick most my life, and I wasn't sure I had the strength to continue. He looked at me, and smiled and told me 'everything is going to be okay in the end Ren.' I had not told him my name. There was something so overpoweringly sincere about this very simple message, which brought with it an overwhelming feeling of inner peace, and in a flash, he vanished.
My rational brain always linked these experiences to what the doctors have told me, that there are parts of my brain compromised by the autoimmunity in my body. That the myelin sheaths surrounding the complex electrical system that conduct my thoughts were damaged and compromised, causing these lucid experiences that I knew did not exist inside the physical world.
The part of me that edges away from logical and rational thought always attributed these thoughts to some kind of otherworldly intervention, that made my thoughts the battleground of some spiritual tug of war.
For a long time I never really acknowledged this part of myself, for with it brought the danger and stigma of sounding like a crazy person.
I decided with my latest release, to the best of my ability, to capture and express this chess match of thought.
Hi Ren comes out in just over 24 hours.
I can't wait for you all to hear it.
I’m not a Mormon but I came upon this video because of Ren. I found you guys incredibly refreshing and relatable. I subscribed. Keep it up!!!
Thank you!
Welcome to one of the most amazing artist to come along this generation,so enjoy this musical journey like no other❤❤appreciate you❤❤
Totally agree. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing and really good reaction. Welcome to the wonderful world of REN, our lyrical genius and beautiful soul. Subbed for more Ren and your stories ❤
@@SandraP3796 Thanks so much!
Thank you for your reaction. Subscribed for more Ren :)
Thank you!
24 minutes in before I realized only 34 subs. Fascinating conversation
@@arklilbro Thank you!
Subbed hoping you’ll do more Ren. You’ll work out the kinks as you go along 😉
Thank you. Yes; absolutely more Ren in the pipeline!
Hello fellow ex-mormons! I really enjoyed your reaction and insights. When I saw Hi Ren, I didn't specifically relate it to leaving mormonism (probably because it's been 3 decades and I don't think about it much), but I definitely understand your perspective, and your thoughts on it were really insightful. I relate to Ren more because of my chronic health issues, and just as a music fan in general. I love his diversity. You are really going to enjoy your journey into Ren's music. He does so many different things, and they are all fantastic. He will surprise you every time. I'm looking forward to seeing more from you in the future.
@@sharoncarlisle9453 hello! Thank you for the exmo love 💕
Yes! Thank you!
Hi Deb! Welcome to the wonderful world of Ren.Hi! RiK. Keep Reacting!
@@davidberesford7009 will do and thank you!
Ren is agnostic. Most Europeans are. The U.S. has the highest level of religiosity in the developed world.
It’s why we have oafman trump in power…right wing Christian evangelists..there’s no hate like Christian love!
Not sure about ‘most Europeans’ 41% of Europeans consider themselves Roman Catholic 10% Eastern Orthodox, 9% Protestant and non believer/agnostic are about 27%
@ I guess what I meant is church-going religious, not religious identity. Only about 22% of Europeans are practicing.
Im a huge Ren fan and love all the different reactions, they teach me a lot...thats the power of Ren...seen 100's of reactions and enjoyed them all and quite unique as ive yet to see one that doesnt like Ren ❤
Same! 😊
Interesting video I enjoyed your conversation
Can relate to you both in some ways . Discovered Hi Ren January 2023 love his music and very welcoming and loving community
Not a fan of the current western church as a whole after 35 years in various exmples of it. But have spiritual experiences and always interested in peoples own pov's and experiences ❤
C for captions. Num pad 0 for restarting, 1 for 10% of video, etc. Left or right arrow to jump 5 sec. And the left side of the screen has a few pixels of dead space in which your mouse will not interact while in full screen, great for clicking out of menus and preventing small movements from activating the UI, getting in the habit of leaving your mouse there will improve your experience greatly.
@@twistedpixel756 not me thinking you’re giving the god code to contra. 🙃
Found Ren 2 years ago and Tom MacDonald 4 years ago. Changed my music listening forever!
Never liked/listened to rap before. I'm 90% soul/funk, no rap. Both guys are 100% no fluff. I don't always agree with everything they sing/say/think, but respect their independence, enormous talent, work ethics, quality and honesty. Standing up for good in their respective ways.
I'm 57, 👴🏼 active "mormon" since childhood. We're all on a journey. I don't recognize "the Church" and "the Mormons" and the pressure some "ex-mormons" describe.
But we are all different, have met different members/ leaders. Maybe the "culture" is a bigger problem than the teachings? (For some.)
I like what Ren said in Hi Ren. What separates us from God and demons is that we're in between the dark and the light. Contant struggle. While demons are always in the dark - angels and God constantly in the light.
Well, well... Moving on. Let's stand up for what is good whichever road we travel. And as Pres. Monson said (or quoted?): "Always be yourself. But be your best self." 😇👍🏼
Good luck w/ your channel. It's actually great to introduce guests to Ren like this. ✨👍🏼✨
We just love good Art/music!!Renagade❤❤❤
❤❤❤
Subbed for more Ren. 😊😊😊
Great video. Thank you for your honesty and stories.
I was raised catholic but never was confirmed because I started seeing the hypocracy as a child and questioning too much. I am Agnostic like Ren. It suits me.
Happy New Year & wish you both all the best in this next stage of your lives.
@@majbrat thank you!
Thanks!
Great reaction, thank you ❤
@@agatopol 🙏🏻
We're definitly just a Book Club and all the members are buying an island to live on and "read books"
My understanding of his spiritual journey. He was notraised religious. He is from Wales and Christianity is taught in school. He has talked about being spiritually curious/searching in his early 20's. after he got sick.
Thanks for the added context!
WTH?? lol I DID NOT EXPECT THIS!! lol Nice!
@@Lulabee2024 oh, I’m glad you like it 🙃😂💕
Such a wonderful reaction and discussion. Your experiences with the Mormon organization gave a really interesting context, as well. Even though Ren isn't particularly religious himself, he likes using religious tropes & terms, and I've seen many reactors say that Ren's music has validated either their specific faith or their rejection of specific faith. Your experiences are valid and deserve to be aired. Thank you for sharing.
And welcome to the Renegades. We sometimes joke about our fandom being a "cult", but we don't have any secret holy underwear. :)
Also, tiny editing note: many folks enjoy seeing all reactors' faces as these lyrics hit you, so if it's possible to arrange it so we can see you both in diff bubbles while the video plays, that'd be awesome.
I personally like more pauses mid-video as you go through a song (esp for story songs like Jenny/Screech or the Money Games), but many others prefer fewer mid-song breaks, so please do whatever feels right for you.
I also shared this with one of the Ren FB groups, so hopefully you'll have a flood of viewers coming soon.
@@Joe-Dadjokes thank you so much for you validation and feedback!
@@Joe-Dadjokes Absolutely. Thanks for the feedback!
Ren's music changes people.
For real! I can attest
Excellent reaction guys! 😉❤️
Thank you so much!
Welcome to the music/art that is Ren. I hope you guys keep reacting. Both of you are beautiful souls. React to Ren's "Eden" ... to find out his true connection with religion.
Thanks so much. That means a ton. We'll check out Eden, soon, for sure!
You can't put him in one category or that he is like someone. He is like everyone but on a higher level of creativity. He is already one of the best creatives our lives have ever listened to.
@@cherylmack1260 Agreed!
Loved your reaction. A lot of rens music has some religious symbolism. I would recommend Lost all Faith and Seven Sins. For other Ren songs there are many, from the music bangers like Losing It, to Rap flows like Genesis and Hunger, the heartbreaking S**cide, The philosophical Money Game trilogy and Money Ties, ending up in the story of Ren in Sick Boy and Troubles. There is a whole world to explore. Welcome in. It's fun here.
Thanks for all the recommendations. I haven't yet seen Losing It, Money Ties, or Troubles, but am looking forward to reacting to them soon (and also introducing Deb and others to the others you've mentioned, which are all great).
Remember, faith and religion are two different things. Good on you for growing beyond the institution. Sharing your journey is therapeutic for you and to those who you are sharing it with. Ren is sharing and helping you to grow deeper and to heal.
@@MangoSurferDude so very true 💕
@@MangoSurferDude Thank you so much! You’ve hit on one of the big reasons for starting this channel.
Enjoyable reaction guys. Dominoes is another thought provoking track and How to be Me another worth watching.
@@1tommymulligan Thank you!
Thank you for your heartfelt reaction. Welcome to Ren & his music.
Renegade reporting for duty 🫡
❤️🌊⛵
A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships
@@Nix_P Thank you so much. A rising tide, indeed!
Renegade has landed. Here for ya ❤
Thanks! It's an honor to be counted among you!
You can always be open here. Its appreciated!
Thank you for the warm welcome!
There is life before Hi Ren, and life after Hi Ren. Welcome to the RENiverse.
Thanks! Couldn’t agree more!
❤❤❤
16:54 funny that you reference to a Shelf. Ren himself sings about being put on a higher Shelf in his Song "Genesis" (Relax, he's using metaphors^^)
@@Tearnofear ohhh!
Can you do war pigs, back on 74, Money Game and Chalk Lines with Chinchilla if you get a moment...Ren has a huge range and im sure you both with love the rabbit hole that is Ren ...you 2 are good people ❤
@@glastonbury4304 aw thank you 💕
@glastonbury4304 Thanks so much. That means a lot! I've added your recomendations to the list!
@respondinkind ...thank you and have a fantastic prosperous fun packed 2025 🎸🎶🥂
@ you as well!
Thank you ❤
Your 'conditioning' comment really hit me. I'm an ex JW so I get the conditioning issue and the discomfort of leaving something that was so all-encompassing. Subscribed!
@@oceanlover650 you’re not alone.
Thanks so much! It's definitely a journey
Even if awkward two different views, I find you two interesting, will e watching
How come we couldn't see both of you during the reactions? I didn't like that. But I loved the rest of your reactions! Thanks for sharing Ren.
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. Honestly, I just hadn't tested things out enough to know that Google Meet would only capture and provide one face at a time in the recording of our session. I had another session a few days after this one where I thought I had fixed the issue (but hadn't). We're going to try recording another one this week, though, and I'm hopeful that we'll have that piece of it fixed.
I must say I'm disappointed that we couldnt see her face through the whole video.
@@darryldavidson4824 I’m sure Brady will fix that! This is the first go around.
@darryldavidson4824 You and me both!
I have been staying away from Hi Ren reactions because I didn't want to get burnt out, but as soon as I saw the title, I had to watch. It is so interesting to me to see how the world looks from the eyes of those who had a religious background. I was raised in a household where there was no religion, and free thinking was encouraged. I was free to explore religion, and as a young teen, I tried church but could see so much hypocrisy that I couldn't justify going. My Dad would say God but not in a religious way if that makes sense. He also allowed talk of aliens and energies as long as it didn't interfere in peoples lives or hurt anyone. Im so torn on if I missed out on the security of religion or not, but then again, I have nothing to unravel around, god, I guess. Anyway, great reaction.. I subbed and can't wait for more. Will it be you showing her? Have you seen a lot of Ren? ❤
@@sanoraray this is how I’m trying to raise my children. Bravo to your parents!
@painfreebeauty I'm 48, so my parents were ahead of their time for sure.
Love it. Thanks so much! I'm familiar with the songs on his Sick Boi album, the Money Game series, Jenny & Screetch, and a handful of his earlier works, but have been trying to save a lot of his other stuff for this channel, so I'm super excited to be getting the ball rolling! I'm happy to report that Deb will absolutely be returning for more episodes, as well as a few other guests here and there. Thanks for the support!
Thanks for a great reaction 👍❤
And welcome to the world of Ren. A roller coaster ride through emotions, wisdom, musical genius and genres.
Ren Eryn Gill is a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He sings, raps and writes his songs, lyrics and video scripts himself. He was born in Wales in 1990. He moved to Brighton in 2013 and did a lot of busking. He studied music performance at Bath Spa University. In 2009 he became seriously ill and had difficulty attending lectures. In 2010, he was signed to Sony Records. However, as his health continued to deteriorate, he had to terminate the contract. Today he is an independent artist. In October 2023, his album "Sick Boi" was number one in the British album charts.
Ren was initially misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to him suffering from psychosis. It was not until seven years later end of 2015 that a doctor in Belgium finally diagnosed him with autoimmunity and Lyme disease, which led to brain, organ and joint damage as well as PTSD. After stem cell therapy in the United States, his health improved considerably. However, he continues to suffer from his illnesses. In early 2023, he went to Canada for about a year and a half for treatment. In July 2024 he came back to the UK to play hist first concert after five years (look for The Secret Garden Party).
At the end of September 2024, Ren posted that the treatment for Lyme disease co-infection Bartonella had not worked. Eight months of grueling treatment with various antibiotics had not led to success. Then the symptoms of Bartonella came back and even worse, during a video shoot he got an autoimmune flare and experienced severe pain so he had to be taken to the emergency room. He lost vision in one eye for three days. He started recovering in the UK, went back to Canada for further treatment in October 2024. A few weeks later he returned to the UK. The treatments in Canada were too much for his body to cope with. He is doing a bit better and tries natural remedies including an oxygen chamber. Nonetheless he released the title track of his new album Slaughter House in November 2024. In December 2024 he posted that he is reattempting to film Vincents tale. The first time was the shoot he ended up in hospital.
On his RenMakesStuff channel you can find an autobiographical reading about his story in eight chapters. From the end of his best friend Joe, over becoming ill, getting and losing the contract with Sony, via his odyssey through various diagnosis and attempts of treatments to becoming at least better after his stem cell treatment. Absolutely worth watching. You will understand his songs even better afterwards and they become even more intense. Very personal and emotional videos.
His song Troubles is a kind of condensation of these readings.
@@Dr.Brummel he’s welsh! So am I. Thanks for the info 💕
@@painfreebeauty Oh, what a coincidence. You're welcome, it was a pleasure. 😀
Thank you so much. Appreciate the insights and warm welcome!
Loved this❤. 😂Ren continually struggles with what his beliefs are, he has called himself agnostic although he has recently said that belief in a "God", or higher power so to speak is a choice and it's one he'd like to choose. (paraphrasing). 😊💜 💙 ❤️
Thank you!
I am just curious as to what made you leave after such a long time period and what gave you the gusto to proceed?
@@RhettClark-r3y this is a great question. I’ll see if I can address this somehow in a video.
His name is Ren Gill and his father is on youtube but I haven't seen anything by his mother. All I know of her is she was a piano teacher.
@@cherylmack1260 Thank you for the added context!
To give you some idea of how broad the Ren fanbase is, I' a 71 yr old Scotsman and there are many hundreds, if not thousands, of others my age who consider themselves to be RENegades. Ren is without any doubt whatsoever, the most important artist to have graced our eyes and ears for a generation.
@@AlSnoopsReid this is amazing! I have Scottish ancestry, welcome!
@@AlSnoopsReid Indeed!
Yup,50 yo icelandic VERY cynical icu nurse here and he's renewed my faith in humanity
Always good to find new Renegades
Honored to be counted among you!
He's Agnostic by the way. He's said so himself.
It is a classical guitar with nylon strings
Hello and welcome to the RENiverse.
Let me introduce you to... Ren Gill, he is a 34 year old Welsh native (Wales from the United Kingdom, specifically from the Island of Anglesey off the northwestern coast of Wales) and currently resides in Brighton, England (a southern English Channel beach town with an insanely active busking [live street performing] scene). He has been performing since he was 12 years old.
He is entirely self-trained. He speaks native Welsh, English, French, and I do believe a bit of Italian, IIRC? He is exceptional at the guitar, piano, and vocalisation. He is a totally independent artist who has no record label to represent him or, more importantly, control him. He is a rapper, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer, a singer-songwriter, a composer, and truly the definition of genre-less. He can do any genre, produce any sound or beat, and he can do it all for nothing. No song is like another, no beat is the same, no way to judge anything based on what each song is. Again, it must be repeated: he is SELF-trained and has had very little formal training for his music or productions.
Everything Ren does is intentional. Every aspect of every piece is thoroughly scrutinized, studied, considered, composed, and dismantled before anything comes out and that perfection comes through during recording or filming. He is a Master of live one takes and his team is one of the best in the world, despite how small, even tiny or non-existent, his budgets are.
Almost all the money he makes either goes to his ongoing Lyme Disease treatments (of which his medications cost literally thousands of quids/dollars) or to the projects he has in mind.
I will state that Ren is not religious. He is spiritually agnostic, though does come from a Catholic background. He considers religion important to at least acknowledge and utilise as part of his imagery because of its representation within humanity.
At the age of 19, he contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite he received while on a trip with his friends. He was misdiagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome, which led to severe psychosis, for several years until he was properly diagnosed by a Swiss physician. Due to not receiving the appropriate treatment for Lyme Disease within the very short time frame after contraction, the disease has ravaged his body and mind, causing permanent brain damage, severe issues with digestion, sleep, nerves, and various other health problems. It caused him horrendous, chronic, violent pain to the point of being bedridden for years. Music is the reason he has survived.
He had originally signed to Sony Records prior to contracting the disease, then when his condition became severe, he lapsed in his ability to complete his contract and both Sony and Ren agreed to end his contract. He has been independent ever since.
I'd like to provide some cultural context for this artist from another extremely talented artist:
This is what the Irish folk rock artist Sinead O’Connor posted on social media after watching Hi Ren: “Holy motherfuckin SHIT! Someone just showed me this at the weekend. This Archangel from like, twelfth heaven or somewhere, has only gone and made the entire history of songwriting and performing look like a three year old's birthday party at Burger King.
Every song and or artist in history even Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, NWA, Ice Cube, and even Bob Dylan, is officially relegated to class B. As are every actor in history or legend: living or dead, male or female. We all are now defunct." Posted on May 17th, 2023, 2 months before self-deletion in July 2023.
Another massive compliment to Ren was when Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most creative minds of the last 200 years, finally saw Money Game Part 3 and stated on Instagram: "@RenMakesMusic is one of the most unique songwriters and storytellers I've seen in recent times. Hope to see this album at number one -ALW"
Several other massive creatives have expressed their appreciation, experiences, and joy for Ren's music: Tom Hardy (major hollywood actor and one of Ren's favorite actors), Robbie Williams (fellow musician and Brit), Simon Jones (fellow musician and bassist for the Verve), Russell Crowe (major hollywood actor and an impassioned activist like Ren), Amanda Palmer (major hollywood actress).
I recommend watching Sick Boi, Troubles, and the 'Chapters' from his RenMakesStuff (BTS channel for Ren) for a much deeper comprehension of his journey.
Hi Ren was recorded live in the basement of an apartment building in Brighton, England. It was literally a crew of five people, cost 50 quid (~$62) to make, and the audio is entirely one take. The video is spliced across four one takes. It is recorded live with a lavalier lapel microphone, a portable guitar amp and recording device, three cameras, and Ren's laptop. He rehearsed this piece literally thousands of times before he even recorded the music video to provide certainty that he would get the guitar notes perfectly and his delivery as perfect as possible.
This piece is a very personal one for Ren and was the first time in his musicianship to properly acknowledge his ailment, his journey, and his issues musically. He has hinted at it in all of his previous works prior to it, but this was the first time it was out in the open, purposefully.
The 'Pig' from the beginning is an essential symbol in the RENiverse and appears in many, if not most, of his other music videos and media. It represents the corrupted and abused systems of the world that take and take and take and never give back to the people they are supposed to support: medicine, music, finances, trade, commerce, government, etc…
There are actually four characters in this piece: the yodeller at the beginning and end (representing a call to aspirations), self (the calm and soft one on the 'right'), doubt (the 'evil' one on the 'left'), and hope (the one in the 'centre' near the end of the piece).
The written poetry at the end of the piece is a very simplified summary of his real journey and represents his most primary belief system.
Hi Ren is a continuation of Sick Boi, which is recorded live (though not a one take) in the same basement a few weeks prior to Hi Ren. It was also produced for practically no money and it represents his feelings on commoditization, greed, the healthcare industry, and the music industry in a generalised yet very specific manner.
Hi Ren has received multiple nominations or wins for awards, has over 40 million views, and he has several million followers worldwide. He has other videos and songs with multiple awards, especially Money Game Part 3 of the Money Game trilogy, which has won several dozen awards.
Ren had the #1 Album (Sick Boi) in the UK in 2024 and reached the Billboard Top 200, beating out Drake and Rick Astley, two of the biggest names in music, for nearly 3 weeks straight with virtually no airplay or any of the traditional methods of commercialised music. Just through sheer community and streaming, Ren beat out two of his inspirations in his home country. That's incredibly impressive.
A fellow RENegade really summed up the experience of Ren in a, imo, perfect way. From KMac70-Rex on UA-cam:
"You are among the special ones whose life has been profoundly changed-there's no going back. While many reactors recognize Ren as a remarkable artist, for some, he’s just one of many they react to before moving on. But for others, Ren's music resonates on a much deeper, profoundly intimate level.
His songs feel like conversations with a close friend-raw, honest, and cathartic. It’s this rare ability to touch the core of human experience that makes his artistry so impactful. Ren's willingness to bare his soul fosters an authentic connection, allowing us to relate to his music on a deeply personal level. Through his lyrics, he captures the nuances of life in ways that make us feel seen, understood, and, most importantly, not alone."
There is life before Ren and then there is life after Ren. Welcome to your life after Ren.
Have fun! Welcome to the RENegades and the RENiverse. Much peace and love to you. ^^
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thorough and passionate introduction to Ren and the RENiverse! Your comment is a treasure trove of insight, and I can feel the deep appreciation and respect you have for him and his artistry.
Ren’s journey, resilience, and creative genius are truly inspiring, and your breakdown of his life, music, and the symbolism behind his work adds so much depth to my understanding of his art. I’m especially moved by how he uses music to not just survive but thrive despite immense challenges-what a testament to the power of creativity and human spirit.
I’m so excited to dive even deeper into his work, including the pieces and chapters you recommended. It’s clear that Ren’s music isn’t just something to listen to-it’s something to feel, reflect on, and connect with. Your comment has helped me and others see the incredible layers of his artistry, and I’m grateful for that.
Thank you for such a warm welcome to the RENiverse! I look forward to exploring more and continuing this journey with a growing appreciation for what makes Ren so uniquely brilliant!
@@respondinkind It is my pleasure. This is why I put these breakdowns in all videos, not just Hi Ren. I want people to truly grasp the depth of character, conviction, authenticity, pain, and expression that he brings to each work. His dedication to his music is so thoughtfully and completely expressed even in the most 'meh' of his songs and even seasoned veterans of commercial music can't say that.
I mean if you get the ultimate compliment from TWO of the greatest musicians of the last 80 years... that says a LOT about you as an artist.
I look forward to seeing you dive deeper into his discography to see more of his brilliance.
Much peace and love to you. ^^
It would make us happier if you were to have an insert of your guest onscreen while the song is being performed so we could see their reaction too.
Absolutely agree! I hope to have the kinks worked out on that aspect soon.
Welcome to the Renegades, where every feeling is welcome. Come and share with us!!
I verry much appreciate the warm welcome!
Not sure if you have seen Eden by Ren. This is his real belief work, thought through by a very intelligent person.
Dear God, which you played is a shorter popular version... Eden explains belief logically, starts slow and all of a sudden you realise how deep he has thoughtthis through.
I like your guys dynamic, subbed and watching.
I have not seen Eden yet; I appreciate the suggestion. Looking forward to watching and reacting to that one for sure. Thanks so much for the recommendation and the sub!
I see the Holy Ghost as the conscience and the "light of Christ" as our guide back to the path of righteousness. As humans, we continue wandering blindly off the path. It's that conscience that urges us (me) to pick my head up and search for that guiding light (Christ) and try to get back on the righteous path. I was brought up Presbyterian but now attend a Baptist Cowboy Church. I've known many Mormons since I've skied in Utah virtually my whole life. For a religion that I disagree with some fundamental positions and teachings, I will say, after seeing the show The Book of Mormon, it was refreshing and heartening to see Mormon's embracing the comedy and controversy of that show and handing out The Book of Mormon after the show. At least they weren't trying to shame or behead us for going to the show! I've also seen the underground repository. That aspect does give me pause.
Anyway, glad the Spirit has lead you to search for that Guiding Light again. Humans were born and live in sin. Sure, if we wander blindly, we might pass the road of riotousness from time to time but it is that light that encourages and enables us to remain on and find our way back to that path.
❤
Ah, a new newbie to Ren! Greetings.
70yrs old here in USA
Many here will suggest Ren music to you. I would like to suggest his 8 chapters (on the YT channel named RenMakesStuff). His "Thank you to 1 million subscribers and definition of succes" video from his YT channel RenMakesMusic. There are also many interviews between himself and Reactors, Mental Heath providers, Reporters, and Others.
Renegades will flock to watch your reaction to those as well as Anything else Ren posts.
Do not focus just on his new music. We will arrive to watch you react to songs and videos he created at age 19, with equal joy as what he will be dropping next week or next month or what ever future date he alerts us to.
I would also encourage you to check out both bands he was in "Trick the Fox" and "The Big Push" and all the collabs he has done past, present and future.
Also: Chinchilla, Romain, Gorran, Prof, Viktus Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins and many other artists we have met through Ren.
The Reniverse is very large!
@@debrashrider4062 this is such an amazing community! Thank you for watching 💕
@painfreebeauty My Pleasure
Such a treasure trove, for sure! Thank you, so much, for the support, encouragement, and recommendations. I've purposefully resisted watching his RenMakesStuff chapters so that I could react to them once I got this channel up and running, so I'm really looking forward to checking those out. Same with Trick the Fox, The Big Push, and others. I hadn't yet heard of Gorran, Prof, Viktus, or Chris Webby, but you've piqued my interest!
You should try his track Eden.
Omg, new sub. U have no idea what u have done. Renegades r coming. New sub. Please fall into the rabbit home. It is an amazing ride❤❤❤❤ new sub❤
Thanks so much! Super excited for it!
👍
I have heard from other reactors with ADHD that Ren is ADHD proof. Enjoy your journey.
@@davidlarson4050 Thanks!
@@davidlarson4050 it’s crazy how easily I can follow along. Massive adhd here.
How many Ren songs have you seen already? Just curious
I'm mostly familiar with the songs on the Sick Boi album, then oustide of that: Money Game series, Jenny & Screech, For Joe, and a handful of his earlier works, but have been trying to avoid hearing much else in anticipation of doing this channel so I had some stuff to blind react to. Definitely excited to jump in more fully!
@@respondinkindenjoy. Good luck with the channel. I subbed
SUBBED for more Ren
Thank you; truly
❣️🦇❣️🦇❣️🦇❣️🦇❣️
Didn't quite work on the first try, did it? If the camera could only show one reactor, perhaps it should have been on the person who hadn't seen it before? Well, I'm sure the next ones will fix this.
You got that right - definitely still on the learning curve! I would have loved to get Deb’s video during the songs. I could see both of us during the session, but learned too late that Google Meet captures the host by default, and only keeps video of the guest when they’re speaking. Totally kicking myself for not testing it out more beforehand. What’s worse is I thought I had the settings fixed for the second one shortly thereafter but, sadly, same thing 🤦🏻♂️. I’m learning and making adjustments for future ones, though. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment-it means a lot!
@@respondinkind Keep going. I'm sure you'll get it all dialed in soon.
watch your subb count go up pretty fast ......enjoy
Thanks!
@@respondinkind was i lying? lol
For a successful reaction video you should be the equal size as the video you are reacting to and previewing the song at the very beginning is not liked according to the forums the biggest mistake or failure to capitalize is not having both reactors on screen The stats show 2 reactors or more is clicked before a single reactor channel though I'm guessing this might be a lack of tech know-how issue you are yet to work out
@pollyg562 Lack of tech know-how indeed! Hoping to have the kinks worked out on that aspect soon (There's another guest reaction in the editing process that has the same issue, but hopefully after that it will be fixed). Thanks for the feedback!
Another ex-mormon over here😅
@@BrunoBarata78 hello! 💕💕
@painfreebeauty 11 +- years free. But they had me for 17. 😤 Glad to see you finding Ren, hope to see more of it and your take on his music.
@ they had me for 35 years 😱 Solidarity friend.
Thanks for the support!
Oh girl I sobbed at that part! 😭😭 I left the church in 2015 after having my third child. This song SCREAMED to that internal conflict for sure! I was 1000% in, was a relief society president, played the piano for sacrament, almost went on a mission, ended up marrying a non Mormon who went to church with me every weekend bc he supported me because he loves me. When I went through the Temple without him, he had to write a letter of support and the stake president cried bc it was a simple sentence “I love my wife unconditionally and support her in literally anything, it’s simple, that’s marriage.”
I’ve never publicly spoke of this bc my family/extended family are still deeply rooted and prominent in our community.
My experience with this song is that I felt the hope side of me yearning to live fully into me and not trying to get approval from anybody bc my legacy as a nurse, caring for the community, is what I want. But then there’s the other side mocking me. Essentially the church saying don’t be feeble and just go with the world. Interesting which character spoke to the same experience. I just started therapy bc I CANNOT get the voice creating turmoil out of my head. The idea that me living authentically into me, is “satan playing on my biggest strengths to expose my biggest weaknesses.” I left the church bc I would NOT subject my kids to that double standard and feeling guilty for living fully into their lives. And you’re a project until you get your husband to convert and get your family to the temple. Always working to be better… it’s exhausting. And ironically I feel closer to God now than before.
Thank you to the both of you for being vulnerable, unapologetically.
Thank you Renegades for creating a space to share and feel safe to do so. This is truly my first time sharing publicly.
Thank you REN.
Laura! Thank you so much for sharing. It's amazing to hear all of these stories. It's a journey for all of us, and we struggle in our own very personal, and different ways. Keep in touch, you are not alone.