Columbus Dispatch article featuring ReneeDion published 12/15/2011
STYLE »alternative soul
WEBSITE » www.reneedionisdope.com
CONCERT »8 p.m. Friday, Suite 143, 343 S. Front St.
ADMISSION »$10 at the door
Upon her move back to Columbus after years of performances in several urban centers, and on the heels of a bad breakup, Renee Dion found the initial adjustment tough.
“I got abnormally complacent here in my outlook on music,” said the 30-year-old Youngstown native, who attended Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, then Columbia College Chicago.
“There are a lot of people here not taking advantage of the city and what it has to offer.
“I discovered so many great places in the Short North and all over, and it reminded me of living in Chicago. That woke me up musically.”
The freestyle vocalist will embrace a hometown crowd on Friday.
Q You recorded a neo-soul cover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. How did you approach it?
A I was terrified! I didn’t want to put it out. I did, like, 100 takes — no exaggeration. I became a perfectionist.
I was hoping I wouldn’t be slandered by the blogs, but there was a small fraction of me that thought it was dope.
Q How would you describe your music?
A It sounds like Chicago, Atlanta, L.A., Columbus and a broken heart. Those are places I’ve lived. But there is this alone feeling; everything is going on around you, but it is just you. All the busyness stopped here, and I had to deal with my broken heart.
I’ve always written from a place of wanting and needing. I find that everyone can relate.
Q How did you start writing?
A My parents recognized that I didn’t have an outlet. My mom was a teacher, so she gave me a journal and told me to write how I feel.
As time went on, my mom would sneak a look and tell me, “You know, this is poetry; you know, this is a song.”
Q Your website is at http://www.reneedionisdope. com. What quality of yours is most dope?
A I will write a song about you, and you won’t even know it.
— Kevin Joy
donnamarbury.com 