Dina Renée: 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.
Interview conducted on April 24, 2021
By Dan Locke
Her original plan was to release this song with a lineup 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 musician’s main source of income. As many know, streams do not support an artist’s career and are under a penny per stream. She had to get extremely creative making her studio apartment in Hollywood into a Barbie-style photoshoot spot. She started getting bookings through Peerspace and was able to make a consistent income which gave her the freedom to work on the music while supporting herself. Since then, she’s been working on new music and still renting out her studio apartment.
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 pick your stage 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 “every time” 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 afterward 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.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“empty” and “dance floor,” I wrote these songs and tried to record them myself but I’d probably be embarrassed for people to hear them now.
What is the process of writing your music?
It’s very spur of the moment. I think the best songs are written when you aren’t trying too hard and just in an unconscious zone just coming up with what feels right for whatever it is you’re going through.
Tell me about your single “Can’t Let You Go”?
It’s a song I wrote about being hopeless in love and not giving up on someone when I know I should. It’s pretty much the story of my life having faith that someone will change because I love them but then getting let down because people sadly don’t change most of the time. It’s a realization I have to face and then slap myself for letting that person in again. The song was originally written on the piano a few years ago and then when we produced it, we used a completely different key. I love how it came out as more of a dance track.
What was our original release date?
March 24
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I honestly hate how there is not a lot of income in the numbers of streams these days. It is so hard as an indie artist being able to afford putting out music. I really wish Spotify could pay artists more.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
It’s such an amazing platform and I’m so thankful it exists for independent artists but I do know the major labels with millions are definitely able to monopolize the system where an indie artist just doesn’t have much of a shot getting on the same playlists. Also, what they pay for streaming has Of course gone down versus 4 years ago. I just hope they can make it a little more fair for independent artists. There are so many amazing indie artists out there just waiting to be discovered that the world needs to hear.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Some of my favorite chords are # notes.
Digital vs. vinyl?
There’s a richness in vinyl that digital will never have.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
“Head over feet” Alanis Morissette – it was my first cd I ever bought and that song is still my favorite of hers. That album changed my life I remember it was the first time I ever saw a music video streaming on the Internet on AOL. I remember thinking wow this is everything. I don’t have to watch vh1 or MTV all day to see it. I’ve always been obsessed with music videos
Tell me about Daisie Harloe Diana, who you are the stage mom for?
Daisie is my Pomeranian dog. She’s 1 years old and is so sweet but also has extreme anxiety. I have to take her everywhere but she’s definitely my child because she loves photos and loves fashion. She literally poses for the camera
Tell me about your acting career?
I have acted ever since I moved to la. I always wanted to be an actress since I was 6. I took a break for a bit to focus on music but I’m excited to start acting again.
Tell me about your new short film “Rebecca Chads”?
That was a really fun role. I loved playing this insane waitress that was very adamant on her customers not ordering meat. The weirder/ more insane role the better for me. I didn’t even feel like I was acting haha
Tell me about the DSN Drunk Shopping Network?
I premiered my comedy music video for “hey hipster can I wear your hat” on it a few years ago.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I really hope not. La has been extremely different but I’ve been to Austin and Nashville during this time and their live music has definitely bit been killed.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I have been re decorating my home- doing photoshoots, writing songs
How was it to create “Only Human Live Acoustic”?
It was awesome going to Chase Bell’s studio and working with my guitarist Bryan Gill is always amazing. It was such a great experience I’m hoping to record with Chase Bell in the future. He’s incredibly talented
You have a fanbase independently with 200k followers. How is it to work with major branding
I love working with different companies and brands that I love and inspiring people to try products I love as well.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I cook a lot of meals at home. I’m obsessed with hello fresh delivery meals
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Cooking I had no clue how to cook before quarantine
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook? Wow that’s really sad I didn’t know about that. I honestly do most concerts on Instagram live. Maybe people will start using Youtube more.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
I think interacting with your fans through Instagram and Facebook is very important
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Yes, for sure especially in Los Angeles. I can name about 15 venues that pretty much make you bring a certain amount of people to play.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I would much rather go in person but that sounds pretty cool I’d love to try it.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues? I hope so!
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. RELIEF RESOURCES. Have you applied for it yet?
I did but I didn’t get anything. Maybe I’ll apply again.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Honestly, I still do these things along with the music but I love styling, doing hair and makeup and taking photos of people
What is your happy place?
Being on stage in the zone singing my music
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
No, I don’t think I would sell it. I think most artists truly regretted selling when they did because their music was worth so much more today.
You have over million streams.
Thank you for recognizing that that is still so surreal to me!
