Dina Renée
Interview conducted on April 02, 2021
By Dan Locke
Dina Renee is a pop artist and songwriter originally from Knoxville, TN now living in Los Angeles, CA. Can’t Let You Go is her first single of 2021. Her original plan was to release this song with a line up of singles throughout 2020 until the pandemic hit. This put her in a position of trying to make ends meet without live shows which is a musicians main source of income. As many know, streams do not support an artist’s career and are under a penny per stream
What is your upbringing?
I was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and grew up there until after college. I grew up in a middle class family with my dad working in tv and my mom was a stay at home mother. I loved music since I was very young as my dad, sister, and brother all were musicians so music was always in my house.
How did you discover music?
I remember being 3 years old and I was very shy but would take my dad’s Sony recording headphones and listen to music on a Walkman or CD player all day long. I also loved to watch music videos and was obsessed with Mariah Carey. She was the first singer I remember that made me want to be a singer myself.
How did you start to write music?
I started writing music when I was 8 or 9. I remember deciding I needed to start writing songs if I was going to “get discovered” but I was also in Tennessee so the chances of that happening were pretty slim. Ha!
You don’t play guitar why do you own 2?
Haha I actually can play 4 chords so far doesn’t that count? I am trying to learn but piano has always been my instrument. One day I hope my pink guitar can inspire me to keep trying.
How did you get your bands name?
Dina Renee – Renee is my middle name my real last name is siedschlag and I just don’t have time for that last name anymore. It had a nice run.
Describe your music.
My music is very pop. My influences growing up were definitely the spice girls, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake. Pop has always been my heart and soul and I hope my songs can tell a story that inspires listeners.
What was your first performance at like?
My first performance was in high school. I sang “everytime” by Britney Spears in the talent show. I dreamt of being a singer my whole life and I was too shy to sing my real voice but I knew my senior year it was time to face my fears. I was so scared because I had never performed live before or sang in front of anyone. We had over 2,000 people in the auditorium and I’ll never forget my sister saying afterwards that she felt like I was the best singer that night. She said “you didn’t hit one note off key.” She was always the person I looked up to the most so for her to say that to me meant so much. That performance until this day was always the one that meant the most.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
I am with ascap!
What makes a good songwriter?
Someone who is empathetic and is constantly feeling every emotion of others and just taking in life with an open heart constantly I think can be an extraordinary songwriter. I think it’s also important to pay attention to the little things that happen around you and let that be your inspiration. I could be out with friends and something that happens could inspire a melody or idea and I’ll write it down and go back to it later but that melody or lyric that comes to you when you’re not trying is sometimes the most magical.
