Pop Artist Reacts to Ren x Chinchilla - Chalk Outlines & How To Be Me 

Love your reactions! 😊For a different Ren singing, Back on 74 /Message in a Bottle is something else. Amazing vibes and composition by Ren, with a surprise written by Ren in the middle. A live performance as well!

FRED AGAIN MASHUP!!!❤

Ren's been busking since he was a kid, so he's a master of live performance. Chinchilla, who isn't a busker, created her on stage persona (fingernails, etc.) as a coping mechanism for stage fright. One night, Ren took Chinchilla out busking to help her get more comfortable live. There are some videos of that, "Ren x Chinchilla - One Dance / Drunk in love ( Drake / Beyoncé cover )" and "CHINCHILLA x Ren - Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye) Live". They aren't the cleanest sounding, but you might feel a connection to the performances. You'll also see that Ren uses a lot of live-looping during his busking. Along those lines, you absolutely have to check out Ren's first viral video 5 years ago (12 million views to date) - his busking duet with longtime friend, Sam Tompkins - "Ren & Sam Tompkins - Earned it /Mans World / Falling". I remember being blown away by it when I first saw it, but Ren dropped off my radar again until "Hi Ren". You may even see it and say "Oh! THAT guy was Ren!". Sam has some great songs too. It seems that Ren is part of an extremely talented circle (behind the camera too), so just keep going down the rabbit hole and enjoy. As someone who remembers the rise of "The Seattle Sound" taking over the music scene, I almost feel like I'm witnessing the rise of "The Brighton Sound".

I'm SO glad you did the second one! After "Chalk Outlines" I was dying to see what you made of "How To Be Me" and didn't wanna wait...

The end of "how to be me" is about his closest friend who committed suicide, you should listen to "freckled angels" and "for joe" for some more context! be prepared for tears though

How To Be Me is my favorite duet between these two.

Hi again Liya, thanks for the shout out for the Thank You I left last Ren reaction❤. Love the suggestions left in the comments for Back On 74/Message In a Bottle by Jungle and The Police. Ren's arrangement & merging of these two songs is brilliant not to mention the original rap he wrote bridging the 2 of them. Another live acoustic track from Ren that I hope you consider listing to, is his Fred Again Mash-up. Ren arranges and performs this live and it's 🤯. If you're not familiar with Fred Again he's a UK artist who's an EDM producer and musician. Ren takes 5 of his most popular EDM tracks merges and transforms them into a soulful acoustic melody with sooo much ❤. Much love from Canada 😘. Cheers luv🥂.

You’ll want to check out Chinchilla’s Fingers Live for Hunger TV. Her singing style is so unique and so powerful. I guarantee you’ll be impressed

I can’t wait to hear the new track they recorded together when stuff starts dropping from his new album. Also if you haven’t heard chinchillas (live)fingers, 1:5 (live) or capslock (visualizer) yet, omg

The best musical “siblings”. Ren has called her his sister from another mister and a female version of himself due to their similar approach to music. For me I think it shows in the fact that they both have that something special that draws you in and demands attention. To see it fully for Chinchilla, check out her live version of Fingers. Chalk Outlines always reminds me that one of the (many) things that makes Ren so great is his ability to know exactly when to be complex, keep it simple, or even use silence to get his message across. He isn’t flexing his guitar skills in this, just playing exactly what is needed with that beautiful guitar tone. And my favourite line in this is so simple, totally devoid of all the clever metaphors that he is so good at using, but it hits soooo hard: “I’m scared of being okay cause all things change”. I think anyone who has been through any struggles can relate to that feeling of not trusting that anything good will last. You can’t just enjoy it because you’re busy worrying about how long it will last and the feeling that will come when it’s gone. And then good days just make the darkness feel so much worse because you remember the light that’s gone… Ren is so special. He keeps being so relatable that it reminds us that we’re not alone. And we will always make room for more RENegades down the Ren rabbit hole cause we all need his light in the darkness 🐰🕳️ If you want more emotional singing from Ren, please check out one of my personal favourites: Crutch feat. Bibi. It’s an older song from before he was finally correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease and was written after a breakdown following multiple emergency trips to the hospital. It is heart wrenching and beautiful. And very different from everything else in his catalogue. EDIT: oh totally forgot (ADHD and 5am 😅) to say something! As for the ending of How To Be Me, if you want to hear more about that, do yourself a favour and react to the following in order of release: Freckled Angels -> Suic!de -> For Joe. It makes the last performance extra special 🖤

When Chinchilla and Ren sing together about these songs, they're 100% devoted with all the passion to their messages because they both relate with the topic literally so their sincerity is genuine

Ren - Sick Boi His struggle with his health and battle with the health services

I think you would *really* enjoy the song "Crutch" sung by Ren featuring Bibi. I'm pretty sure she was his girlfriend at the time. It is relatively short as I recall, but it is an amazing and emotionally powerful video/song/performance that you really must see. He wrote/performed it in the middle of his illness. It expresses some of his mental struggle and his feelings of insecurity regarding his body.

Thank you for your genuine heartfelt reaction. "Chalk Outlines" touches me deeply no matter how many times I watch this video or hear this song. Ren has been able to express through his songs what I have been unsuccessfully trying to communicate to others regarding my mental, emotional, and physical struggles. Given Ren's medical history, I interpret this song to address mental illness diagnoses, and prescription psychotropics, which leave you emotionally dead (hence, the chalk outlines around your dead self). Even on a relatively good day when you might not want to take your pills, you take them "just in case," and you never truly enjoy "being ok because all things change," i.e., your well-being is usually short-lived and followed by another bout with depression. In her opening line, Chinchilla even mentions the antidepressant (SSRI) "Sertraline" and references serotonin. I can attest to this from personal experience. Regarding "How to Be Me," Ren's best friend, Joe Hughes, committed su*c*de on the 27th of December 2010 by jumping off the Menai Bridge, a large suspension bridge connecting the mainland to the Isle of Anglesey where Ren and Joe lived. Ren alluded to it in one of his songs, stating that he lost his best friend before he was 25. The pain of this loss is evident in a few of his songs. "How to Be Me," "Freckled Angels," "Su!cIde," and his latest release, “For Joe,” are specifically dedicated to Joe. Ren posted some background on his relationship with Joe and the tragic death. Ren explained that he got a call from his friend Ella around 3 am saying that Joe was on the Menai Bridge, He’d been on the phone with her in tears saying goodbye. He told her to tell everyone he loved them. Ren went out on foot attempting to get to Joe while trying to reach him on the phone. Just minutes before Ren got to the bridge, his friend's cell phone went out of service. The Coast Guard started a search to no avail. Ren, friends, and volunteers unsuccessfully searched the shoreline for ten days; Joe’s body was never recovered. Ren’s and Chinchilla’s live performance of "Chalk Outlines" is still my favorite song, partly because I can relate to it more given my daily struggles. I would recommend you also check out Ren's other collaboration with Chinchilla, their busking sessions in Brighton, performing “Sexual Healing” (Marvin Gaye cover) and “One Dance / Drunk in love” (Drake/Beyoncé cover). The latter two are of a much more joyful nature. Looking forward to more Ren reactions from you. God bless.

You'll hear talk of beds in a few of Ren's songs. Beds have played a large role in Ren's life. Particularly since he was bedridden for the best part of 7 years!

Loved the back to back reactions!

The back story of how to be me is brutal. Part of the whole "Freckled Angels" story line.

Ren and Chinchilla also have 2 busking videos together. Their One Dance/Drunk In Love (Drake/Beyonce cover) is on Ren's channel (I'm pretty sure) and their Sexual Healing busting busking video is on Chinchilla's channel (I could have that backwards.)

This rendition of Chalk Outlines is the best version of them all

I am so glad that you did both of these songs in one, because they truly are heavy songs about deep dark emotional topics, but Ren & Chinchilla together just makes it that much more dramatic!! I can identify with each track personally as I too am suffering from serious health issues. I've cried to these songs so many times, there's just no tears left, but I love them singing together. They refer one another to their "musical soulmates" and I'm grateful for them

Another great reaction, loved how you pointed out how great their voices are when they use their “small” voices as well. That was very well put. Looking forward to more, keep em coming!

❤ “for Joe” and “suicide” jump to mind after this as these two are so emotional as well. But maybe that’s too much emotion. If these bring tears to your eyes those definitely will. ❤

More Ren songs for you to react to: > "Humble" and "Ocean", both with Eden Nash > "Dominoes" and "Suicide", both will pull your hearts strings to the fullest > "Money Game" trilogy > "Back on 74/Message In A Bottle", "An Englishman In New York", "Bongo Bong"; all covers, the last 2 with his band The Big Push

So glad I found your channel, you're great. Just like you said the emotions in the Chalk Outlines part is unbelievable, just staring into each others eyes and executing that song perfectly. I saw some interview with Chinchilla where she said he's her artistic twin or something along those lines, and how she was terrified but Ren made her comfortable busking when they did the street performances, which she said she enjoyed more than playing shows. They have such a magical connection musically.

Treat yourself to Ren in an upbeat fantastic, beautiful collaboration on a cover of Bongo Bong with him in The Big Push.

Told ya... he can Sing Sing!! Of course Chinchilla is a Beast herself!! He always picks the Perfect complimentary duo partners!! Myself... I think you and Ren would be awesome as well! PS... You Nailed your latest drop too... can't wait for the new one!

They’ve done their videos as live continuous takes, which means they were starting at each other like that for a very long time 😂😂

Ren Hi Ren hit my hard when i was dealing with major health issues myself. That guy got me thru more than he would ever know. Love that you get to experience him.

Now to see him in a Band setting... Englishman in New York, Back on 74/Message in a bottle retake, or Especially!!!! I Shot the Sheriff/Road to Zion/Hip Hop (that particular version!)

Love to hear professional opinions on Ren's songs, the way you pick up the theme of the song with a change of tone or pitch is amazing! Let it be is a dedication to his friend Joe Hughes who committed suicide some years back, his songs Freckled Angels, Suicide and For Joe are all tributes to his friend, also as a singer I think you'd like his 2 collabs with an artist called Eden; Humble and Ocean. My fav's are Ready for you, Heretic, Diazapam, Fire, Seven Sins and Losing it. Looking forward to more reactions!

A two for one! Love it. Keep going with Ren you'll be amazed by his talent.

Their voices are like superstar butter, he's got that salted sugar butter with the grit and she's got that unsalted melted smooth sugar butter but she can also bring the grit when she wants and he brings the smoothie mixer too at times and how they place it all is alien level perfection of artistry

Hi Liya! I'm back for some more Ren and now CHINCHILLA! Woot! Can't wait to see your new vid premiering in a couple days! Sending lots of positive energy and grateful vibes! 🙏🏼

They're exquisite together 👌 A master performance by Chinchilla is her 'Fingers' Live video...unbelievably good 🔥

I love watching reactions to this most powerful song by someone who obviously completely gets how incredible this is and how supremely talented they are. The ' I can't breath ' part the second time round blows my mind and is pure passion and heart and soul and tragedy. Wonderful reaction ❤

Good to see a knowledgeable musician seeing the technical aspects of what they react to.

Great reaction. Thank you! For Ren, definitely 'Back on 74/Message in a Bottle'. For Chinchilla, "Fingers' Live for Hunger TV is a must. Mind-blowing vocals. Together, Chinchilla's first-ever busking singing 'Sexual Healing' with Ren. Also, Ren's band The Big Push has a wonderful catalog. Looking forward to checking out your own songs! New subscriber 🙋‍♀️💖

You are going to cry that kinda what happens with Ren. It hits you in feels. Glad you are doing this. Totally check out the official video for Sick Boi when it back up.

Ren said chinchilla is like his counterpart. Like his sister in music I’d say. They work so hard. They make beautiful music together! Beautiful music solo as well. Absolutely music together. You should check out there busking video together! It was chinchillas first street performance! It’s absolutely amazing!

Love the reaction!!! Ren is otherworldly to be totally honest. Mix in Chinchilla, a cocktail that is thoroughly intoxicating in the best possible way. WOW!

You cant miss "fred again" mash up and TROUBLES ACOUSTIC! Along with busking with sam are the greatest "singing ren"

YESS!! These two are magic together. I would love more Chinny reactions!!! She has a TON of great songs. If you haven’t done Fingers Live, it needs to be next!

Glad to see you did both songs! Quite the treat! "Fred Mashup" & "Back on 74'" are also amazing songs by Ren.

Great video. Another song that showcases Ren's talent along with Sam Thompkins is Blind Eyed, the MC version.

❤ Thanks for another great reaction! You pointed out some little details in their vocal choices that were new to me. Much appreciated!

I dig your Ren reactions. I'm a Die hard renegade. I love that you did these two songs in the same reaction. Its a first for me I love it! Keep rocking thEse two.artistsl!

That smile you have is all of ours. How good?! ❤❤❤ also really love that you flagged another artist for us all, that was really lovely

These two are so damn good together! Great Reaction!

These are both absolutely beautiful songs, but how to be me is probably my favorite. I just personally resonate with it more. We have all forgotten how to be ourselves at some point 😊💜💜 I would also recommend rens "fred again mashup" for some really nice vocals. Live and one take as well 💜

Lovely reaction. They're both magical, and together they're just something else. By the way, if you want to listen to something that won't make you cry, try his Love Music series, pts 1-4. Just sheer joy in music, and I think you'll love them If you want to hear him rap-rap, try "The Hunger" or "Genesis" And if you want something else with a message that will resonate with you, try "Dominoes" , or the Money Game series

Chinchilla's live performance of 1:5 absolutely blew my head off.

Lovely to see you "feel it." The way I and so many others do. Keep going and I for sure, will keep watching.

Thank you for reacting to Ren and chinchilla they are my favourite artist ❤❤ and I also love your music and your voice is amazing ❤❤

Always engagement for the people who help make Ren more popular. Ren himself has helped people getting copystrike claims go away on his videos because he hates that system. Of course, the fans get more and more and share and buy his music and bug people on the internet to react to him. Everything to bring then young man the fame and recognition he deserves and reaction videos are a part of it. So, thanks for your help and your wonderful emotional reactions. Money game is a good 3-parter but he has so many good live street performances and I can also recommend a very old song "Crutch", where he was still in the middle of the thick of his illness and worked his way through that with the song. Sick Boi, of course deals with the illness and the fucked up health system as well. I found him because I heard of this misdiagnosed artist with lymedisease and I perked up......I have an unidentified autoimmune disease since I was 16 (now 46) an every symptom in the book says its lyme disease, which fits my experience with several lyme disease infections through ticks, even as a child, where my mother (very young, she had me at 17) didn´t know what to do and her boyfriend told her it would go away on its own and since then i have been sickly but at 16 the symptoms got stronger and my body deteriorated more and more. But still, the docs just made a few test, said it´s not lyme disease and send me home. Not trying to find out what it is, nothing, and with my mental illness history nobody takes me seriously anyway or wants to treat that. (DID, Trauma and all the lovely stuff that comes with it) and the therapists don´t wanna touch that case with a ten foot pole. I have been misdiagnosed since I was 16, when I had my first stint in a mental hospital for 1,5 years and got the , at least right psychological diagnosis at 27. Sorry, that was a bit much. Its just that everything made me feel so connected to him and then I heard his music and the sheer talent and creativity in every aspect of his art blows me away everytime......no matter how often I have listened to a song (more a performance piece). He is a modern bard and deserves all the joy and fame and happiness in life. And Chinchilla I hear for letting off steam.......dunno how many times I listened to "Little Girl Gone", she is amazing as well. And another artist I can recommend, completely different field of music, is Aurora........maybe you know her already, then ignore this. She is like a fairie that bestows ethereal music on us with all the human emotion of love and understanding. She is a wonderful, weird little person.

Your reactions are very special and so professional, perfect. And Wow two of the best songs ever in one reaction! Chinchilla's first busking experience in the streets of Brighton UK, doing "One Dance/Drunk In Love (Drake/Beyonce cover) " is beyond special and so natural and raw.

Great reaction again Liya. This performance is incredible, love their harmonies together

I’m enjoying your reactions because you really know about singing and songwriting!! I’ve been listening to REN’s music over and over. The only other artists that I’ve really gotten into like that were the Beatles when I was younger. Keep up the good work- by the way you have a great voice!

Those rounds were impeccable! 😍

Hehe nice selfmade Top you got there. Bit of Punk but Girly :D You did it again, but this time two heavy songs in one 😳The first time i heared Chalk Outlines i got tears all over. Not rly because of the Lyrics but because of the Performance (now that i write that you said exactly the same thing :D ). Second song took me a while to get used to but its astoundingly beautiful! PS. as it seems you're on the dark Route: next could be "For Joe" (thats his Friend he sings about in how to be me) and Fred again mashup

Thank you for your wonderful reactions! I can't wait for when you'll try out her own new 1:5! Looking forward to your upcoming video also!

I love how Ren and Chinchilla compliment each other but also go toe to toe at points. ‘How To Be Me’ get me crying every time. I’d like to see you react to his fun songs ‘What You Want’ and ‘fisher rap/loosing it’. Also to cry with yo watching ‘sick boi’ or be creeped out by ‘animal flow’

Utterly love your reaction! Also, it's a real treat when you sing!!

Awesome Ren Reaction! I look forward to your music video!!

Great shout on Hozier 👌that album is amazing and his song topics and his relatively unknown guest vocalists add a different quality.

Another great Ren reaction from you, really enjoyed the back to back thing as well. You didn't keep us waiting :) Good luck with your next music drops too, I will definitely give them a listen to :)

Ren and Sam Tompkins Earned it/Man's world 😊 awesome reaction ✌️

Great reaction Liya! The fusion of these two incredible artists can create wonderful works. There are strong and poetic phrases, I think you should give it another review. It is difficult to be in the music and the lyrics. Ren knows how to take advantage of his voice and Chinchilla makes your hair stand on end with those high notes. They both perform fabulously well; their facial expressions, their body language... Thanks for reacting.

💙💕Really great reaction and a good idea to do these two live songs together Love their busking One Dance Drunk in Love cover Also love Back on 74 message in a bottle retake Ren singing with different people!

You can just see the joy on your face while reacting. I really love your reactions and can't wait to see more. Ren is my favorite artist and coupled with your perspective it's a perfect match. Love you, Liya❤

Love your Reaction video's! Loved that you did them back to back. The song Suic!de from Ren is also an amazing and sad song. It's a song talking about his experience with that subject. Also the Moneygame trillogy is AMAZING. Love love love love to see more!

2 Reactions in one video?! You spoil us!!! Thank you!! The end of how to be me touches on his friend who unalived himself. I highly recommend For Joe (the live performance)

FUCK yeah :D We get 2in1

These are Both QUALITY ARTIST and deserve to be known the world renowned an I’m glad I found them years ago.🙏👌👌👌👌 Going to the top!👌👌👌👌🫡

WOOHOO!! Two for one! Great reaction. You pick up on so much ❤ I love when Ren sings, "Where is my God, where are are you" with such passion! Looking forward to more!! 🎉

The last part of "How to be me" is about his close friend Joe, who late one night called Ren saying his goodbyes and he was about to jump from a bridge. Ren ran there as fast as he could, but once he got there, there was no sign of Joe. They searched high and low for Joe's body but he was never found. There are several other songs about Joe as well such as "Freckled Angel" (whole album was a fund raiser for Joe's family and to the people who searched high & low for Joe's body) "Su!c!de" & "For Joe"

Have to listen to For Joe. This song was also about his friend Joe, along with the song Freckled angels and Suicide. Those are all songs you need to listen to

Feels like I've been waiting forever for this reaction to drop. Great work, I really enjoyed it!

Both of these songs are so painfully beautiful! Great reaction!

Great! Thank you! 💙

I'm only halfway through your reaction and when you were talking about them together musically beautiful... I am on the edge of my seat excited for you to see How to Be Me. ❤

That's some heavy stuff doing those 2 songs back to back 😂 I totally get what you mean with the hard hitting, clever lines that pull on the old heart strings. Ren has inspired me to get better at singing but my guitar skills don't match his. In Scotland he's still not that well known but it's amazing how he's globally getting noticed.

Add ‘ready for you’ to the list, when a lot of people listen they say it’s their favourite ren song (me included)

Loved this. Im here for the Ren rabbit hole cos he's a genius.

Great video!!! Thanks for doing these amazing songs together.

Loving your honest response. You should check out the 2 busking video's they've done together. ❤❤

Great great reaction! I love love love you wearing your emotions on your sleeve! You are brilliant dear! I really hope you dive down the Ren rabbit hole more!!! His vocals are brilliant. You have no idea. I’m not gonna retype all of the songs you shoukd do. I’ve seen there have been great reactions but I can’t wait to see you do “Back in 74” or Ren and Sam Thonkins “Earned it/Mans World/Falling”. Your socks will be blown off! Keep em coming beautiful you! Thanks again!!

just another great reaction. love your vibe love your enthusiasm and love your comments. honesty and thoughtful. some of the reactions to Ren offer nothing but generic responses so its really nice to see someone become a fan and just react with insights and opinions, and the fact you know Chinchilla...very impressed lol (Fingers Live if you havent seen it already). thank you for your reaction and thank you for the 2fer1 !!!

Every song from Ren you listened were one take live !

I enjoyed watching these tracks with you again, it's clear you get it! Subbed in the hope you will see more!

RIP Joe

1 last comment.... There is a collab with Prof and Ren dropping on Friday, July 12, on Prof's channel, and it's called Pain Salesman. Ren has also announced he will be releasing the first single off of his new upcoming album (the album is titled Slaughterhouse) on August 15. This new album should have one or two new collabs between Ren and Chinchilla on it but he hasn't given us any info on the song that's being released August 15 except the release date and that it is off the upcoming album.

Y'all make sure to check out her new song on the 12th at 1500!!!

💙💙💙🔥🔥🔥

great reaction. some more lighter ren songs (uninvited, humble, losing it or bitter sweet symphonie) or busking sessions from The big Push (rens band).

Liya is a role model to those of us who appreciate that it is good to embrace art and be strong enough to not be jealous of other artists

I love both of these songs, but Chalk Outlines is one of my favorite songs ever.

Great reaction Liya . You're gonna be successful.

I came here for ur Ren reaction & checked out some of ur music... I really liked what I heard, & I just wanted to let u know that, & to keep pushing... I'm excited to hear ur new drop!

Woot double watch

I watch a lot of reaction channels, but I don't usually subscribe to them. I only watch reactions to artists I like. After your last reaction to Ren, I checked out your songs and loved them, so I subscribed because of your talent.❤❤❤