OurStage

November 21, 2009 (WPVI) -- Our featured Tuned In artist this week is Lydia Rene'. She is a talented local singer songwriter. Her music is filled with many elements from genres that inspired her at an early age. Lydia was our "viewers' choice" this month. Her music video "Mine Addiction" was the most played clip on the "Share Your Band" section of our website. We caught up with her at The Blinkin Lincoln in Roxborough. Here is her biography: On the road to discovering her many talents Lydia Rene' has chosen to follow the trail of an authentic love for music mapped out by her parents singer/pianist and music teacher Donald Scott and Certified Life Coach and music lover Katya Scott. These two are credited with exposing Lydia Rene' to a myriad of music genre's such as classical, jazz, gospel and rock very early in her life. There were many times her parents would ask her out of the blue who does that sound like and Lydia Rene' would respond in kind, "Stevie Wonder or Glady's Knight" and she would of course, be right. But wait, there's more, she is a classically trained pianist, was a member of the jazz band in high school as a pianist, a drummer and xylophone player in the marching band as well a member of the drum line at the competition level. With that kind of early musical lineage, musicianship and instrumentation along with her innate gifting; it is no wonder she is so prolific at what she does and prepared to blaze a trail of her own. There was a time early on in the careers of performing artist that the industry wanted you to be specific in your genre and your niche. It was not acceptable, fashionable or politically correct to write, play, arrange, orchestrate, produce and sing, but thanks to other trailblazers I'm pleased to say not only are these skills and abilities admired, but they are sought after and highly valued. Lydia Rene' is one who is able to do it all, do it well and is well prepared to demonstrate it. No wonder her tracks throb with an undeniable R&B groove and syncopated percussion that catches you off guard rather nicely, yet still has that classically trained flare of precise orchestration with tasty musical interludes and outrageous lyrics. Add to all that her own distinct rhythmic phrasing that draws you in and makes you want to hear every word, just to see how she delivers it. In 50 Years... Lydia would like to be known for: 1) Tasty relevant lyrics about timeless issues 2) A creator of memorable moments; and 3) An ageless sound that doesn't date itself Lydia Rene has found her sweet spot in music and is beginning to stir her pot of goodness. Interestingly enough, I don't think she really knows just how tasty she is, but she's certainly ready to find out as she invites us to join her face to face in a dish of her best-orchestrated and arranged musical cuisine. Please enjoy the performance video from her show at The Blinkin Lincoln You are now Tuned In to Lydia Rene' On the web- www.myspace.com/lydia_rene www.imeem.com/lydiarene More on the venue- www.blinkinlincoln.com (Copyright ©2009 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

It’s an impressive feat for a seemingly timid woman with an electric piano to win the attention of a bar full of college students on a Friday night. The headliner for the College Union Board’s (CUB’s) female Singer/Songwriter Night at the Rathskeller pulled it off with a smile. In spite of the sleepless night before her performance she spent waiting on the delivery of her newest EP, “Unsaid,” singer/songwriter Shannon Corey embraced Friday night’s Rat crowd with a bright burst of energy and excitement. Her 90-minute set rang with lyrical sincerity and all the sounds of a thoughtful mind at work. Corey attended to an eager audience with her catalog of intelligent original works and a cross-section of rock and pop covers. “Winter,” a song featured on MTV’s “The Real World,” projected a pictorial message of sympathy and understanding. Her lyrics, set in the form of a thought-provoking parallel, depicted the inner struggles of a friend in the context of shifting seasons. Her playful nature onstage, however, belied the more serious attitude of some of her songs. Corey prefaced one of her best compositions with an anecdote about dressing her little brother like a girl. But the songwriter dressed “I Miss Home,” in funny-turned-serious lyricism, Through her arching piano progressions, Corey meditated on her decision to leave her childhood home in Rhode Island for the artistic gateways of New York City. Corey, a classical pianist since she was 3 years old, powered her lyrics with smart and shining keyboard structures. Her high-flying persona blended a musical theater background with a variety of influences in popular music. She performed an array of cover songs including a flawless rendition of Ingrid Michaelson’s sharp-swinging “Breakable,” and well-done, stripped-down versions of songs by Cold War Kids, Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon. For the rock covers, friend and album artist Sean Carmichael accompanied Corey on acoustic guitar. Later, Corey gave The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” a creative twist. The “S.O.S” refrain sounded more like a transmission of confidence than a song of desperation. Both her covers and originals were intimate but comprehensive and demonstrated the transformative power of attitude and technical creativity. New Jersey artist Lydia Rene, who opened for Corey, presented similar characteristics in a different style —rooted in R&B and infused with indie sensitivities. Rene, with her fabulous hair and musical dexterity, split the difference between soul queen and independent singer/songwriter. Her warm, deeper-end vocal tones became agile and crisp and sometimes abrupt when the song required it. In “Stressin’ Me,” she confronted her problems with good humor, a cheerful scolding: “I won’t enter your crazy with you / ’cause craziness is not how I do.” “In Love” and “Demise” rounded out Rene’s set with a profound happy-sad duality. The first, with its melodic refrain stood in deep contrast to the second. On “Demise,” a song Rene said she composed in about 30 seconds, she dropped the repetition in favor of delicate turns and lyrics that reflected urgent, sober thoughts. For both performers, the keyboard added fundamental meaning to the songs. Rene’s chords were soft but atypical. Her rhythms and progressions hinted at subversion, whether that implied someone else’s betrayal or her own rebellion against constraints. A shared taste for minimalistic depth made Corey and Rene apt local partners. Though different in sound and style, both women brought a universal sincerity to the stage. -By Matt Huston

Most young, aspiring singers struggle with finding the right producers, songs, band members, etc. to help build their unique sound. When I discovered the music of Lydia Rene, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this singer/songwriter/musician pens her own material--from the lyrics to the band arrangements. In her words, she's striving to become the "female Quincy Jones" of her time. Her debut album, My Love is My Life, is a jazzy introduction to the world of this classically trained pianist whose deep alto voice fits beautifully amidst the live instrumentation. Lydia's "Medley" instructs us on how to save ourselves through self-appreciation: "I have to embrace myself, for my mental health." "In Love" takes us on that all too familiar journey of romance that often results in total emotional surrender. Her heavy lyrics are lifted with precision piano melodies and soulful rhythms making Lydia's compositions a joyful experience. Be sure to give her a listen below and check the live performance video after the bounce.

Lydia René (Myspace) creates real, grown folks R&B music, the type that we rarely hear nowadays unless your privy to the ever-growing indie/underground scene (and if your reading this I guess you are). She is one of those artists who actually make me feel sorry for those stuck in the commercial radio/MTV rut … they are missing out on so much. Lydia was brought up listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder and was heavily influenced my her music-teacher father and music-loving mother from an early age. She is a classically trained pianist, was a member of her school jazz band (playing piano) and also played drums and xylophone in the marching band so it should come as no surprise that not only does she sing on My Love Is My Life, she also wrote the songs, played keyboard, arranged the songs and had a hand in production too. As well as the excellent writing and vocals present on the album, the fact that it is recorded live with an audience adds a touch of authenticity or realness to the album. You can sit back, relax and almost imagine you were present when the recording took place. The songs themselves deal with those staples of soul music, namely love and relationships, however the interesting arrangements combined with the jazzy soulfulness of her voice ensure that the material sounds fresh and interesting. You can take a listen to a couple of tracks below and purchase via iTunes.

Lydia Rene is a upcoming artist, writer and producer in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. She has a love of music, that she inherited from her parents, who have surrounded her in the warmth of music. Her earthy and powerful voice, also has a softness that comes across very well. It has a quality that seems it’s yielding to an innocence that emanates from her lyrics. She has the range, and the skill to sing and write in a variety of genres. So, she won’t be labeled as only one type of performer. To help round out her voice, she has been classically trained to play the piano. Lydia Rene also plays the bass drums and xylophone. She has picked a great band to compliment her vocal and writing talents. Her band is made up of Donald Scott on piano. Bass guitar is John Dingle (JD). Then on guitar is Oscar Strange. Followed by Joseph Dingle on drums and on keyboards is Greg Bowens. She released her debut album “My Love Is My Life” last October, that’s available on iTunes for $9.90. I just started listening to the album, and right off the first song, I love it. She has sultry deepness to her voice that draws you in, and envelops you. There are ten songs to give you a great idea of her talent. When I finish the album, I’ll post my review. I think that Lydia Rene is a perfect example of the indie Soul artist that we are seeing more of today. She is putting her talents, promotion, and career in the hands of someone who knows best….herself. This is a very good time to be a fan of music. The fan gets access to such great talent, without the filtering that larger record companies do. Here are two live performances from her Blue Light Session last year. It was put on by her recording company Blue Light Digital Sound. They are “That Song” and “Such A Fool“. Oh, if you are in the Philly area, and want to check her out, she is performing tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Blinkin Lincoln “Tuned In 6ABC” Recording, on October 28th.

Interview with Jersey's own Lydia Rene... Hometown: Mount Holly, New Jersey Birth date: September 2, 1986 For more info on Lydia Rene, visit: www.myspace.com/luvablebeat and www.imeem.com/lydiarene (to hear her album)

The latest in Blue Light Sessions, We had Lydia Rene' come in and they just about brought the house down. With firey vocals and an amazing back up band Lydia gave a great performance.

Live Interview an Performing 2 songs along with Jill Scott's Background Singer V.!

In this edition we have a plethora of marinated, hot soul and progressive hip hop from Jersey to Japan and all points in between with jams from Tank, Lorett Fleur and Boyz II Men (oh yeah!). Find out how some good, morning love can increase your overall health and learn why some love those paternal pet names (e.g, daddy, big poppa, papi, etc.). I had to pull in some extra perspective for this one ;) Discover the beautiful sounds of our very special guest, Miss Lydia Rene, as she talks to us about becoming the female version of Quincy Jones with her incredible composing, songwriting and performing talents. Her album “My Love is My Life” is changing the game one soulful note at a time. She’s definitely someone to add to your playlist, so make it so…alright??? Yes, it’s still hot and – just like the heat – we won’t stop. Celebrate the weekend as the most magnificent days of our lives are still ahead of us. Until next time. . . Click here to download or use the player below. ~The Playlist~ Little Brother – Watch Me (instrumental) Marsha Ambrosius – Get You Rite (instrumental) Lorett Fleur – Slam [Yann Kesz Remix] Tanya Morgan – She’s Gone [aka Without You] feat. Phonte + Brittany Bosco Tona – Hold Back The Big La – Pins and Needles (instrumental) Wanya Morris – Special Yuki Koyanagi – I Don’t Want to Think About It feat. Shawn Stockman Boyz II Men – Morning Love (instrumental) Boyz II Men – Living in the Past The Big La – Minnie Beat (instrumental) Tank – Make Up Sex Liquid Spirits – 4Everyday feat. Phonte Lydia Rene – In Love DJ Day – Can You Feel Me (instrumental) LL Cool J – Hey Lover feat. Boyz II Men (instrumental) Lydia Rene – Medley J Dilla – As Serious As Your Life (instrumental) Lydia Rene – Stressin’ Me Raoul Midon – Pick Somebody Up Hi Tek – Respiration (instrumental) Uncle Sam – You Make Me Feel Like EB Productions – Never Say Goodbye Tribute (instrumental)