Reynold Stubblefield is a 20 year old musician from Philly and based in Delaware. He got his name Renold from having an employee spell his name wrong on a Starbucks drink and loved the way it looked as an artist name.
How would you describe your music style?
My music is currently a hybrid of alternative Hip-Hop and bedroom pop. I like to call it
bedroom hip-pop.
Who are your biggest music inspirations?
Mac Demarco is my BIGGEST. The moment I heard Chamber of Reflection in the 9th
grade my whole life changed. 2nd biggest is Tyler, The Creator mainly after all his growth
and also the impact that the whole Odd future movement had on Hip-Hop. I’m also
inspired by HOMESHAKE, Earl Sweatshirt, Connan Mockasin, Tame Impala, David Bowie
(mainly his storytelling), Sade, Archy Marshall (old King Krule), Kanye, Tennis, Todd
Rundgren, and Soft Cell (my FAVORITE band of all time).
How did you get started in music?
I really got started in the 9th grade when I couldn’t skate because it was constantly
snowing outside. In an attempt to escape boredom I downloaded FL studio (production
software) just to try it out and I’ve been constantly making noise and improving my
sound ever since. I owe it to my cousin Roland for trying to get me into FL back when I
was like 13. I didn’t have much patience or understanding for it back then but when I
came back to it out of boredom 3 years later, I was so fascinated by it.
What are you most proud of so far in your career?
I’m proud of letting go of the old goofy ChairBoy stage name I had along with the songs I
made under it. ChairBoy was a chapter in my artistry where I made a lot of mistakes but
still just had fun. I now take those mistakes and learn from them by closing the ChairBoy
chapter and growing into Renold. I now put a lot more thought into what I’m creating and
continue to find balance between perfecting my craft and reminding myself that
perfection doesn’t exist. Letting go of something I started and worked so hard on was
very difficult but I had to face the music and just let go for the better.
Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
My 3 main inspiration sources are love, life, and my dh moments/imperfections. These 3
sources are where I find myself to be the most vulnerable and raw. Life being the most
important source because it basically translates to everything and has the other two
sources included within itself. Love is one of my main sources because I’m always trying
to understand it in order to interpret it in the best way possible. My imperfections are
another main source because I feel like everyone should be aware of the other half that
makes them who they are, the shadow self. Constantly pushing this perfect narrative to
the point where natural negativity and imperfection is drowned out always seemed very
unbalanced to me. I don’t mind publicly displaying my flaws because I’m just sharing
truth that helps me heal and might potentially help heal others too. Throughout my
career I’ll definitely get better at balancing these 3 sources within my craft.
What makes you different from other musicians?
As an artist it doesn’t matter if you’re making trap songs or jazz songs in 7/8 time
signature we’re all doing the same thing by just expressing ourselves through the craft.
There are artists who follow the next guy in their genre and those different ones who do
what they want their own way by blending different genres. I happen to be one of those
different artists. I just blend what I genuinely enjoy and make what I want to. I’m different
from other musicians because I’m me. I have my own methods and sound blending
dialed in and only I have the potential to get better at what I do specifically in my own
craft. There will never be another Renold.
What is it like being an up and coming musician in the age of social media?
It can be bittersweet at times. I always feel gratitude towards how easy it is to maneuver
and independently drop songs in 2020. On the other hand, especially when you’re just
starting out, there are moments where the lack of big numbers, likes, and comments can
really bring you down and make you feel like everyone is just getting tired of seeing you.
But for me once I imagine 20, even just 15 people all in one space I’m no longer so
focused on the big number that I want because even just 15 is a whole lot of people. The
root of the discouragement comes from social media tricking my mind into looking at
them like they’re numbers instead of people that also have their own lives and it also
comes from comparing my engagement to other more successful artists’ engagement. I
always remind myself that everyone is where they’re at currently for a reason and
meaningful connections with a small group of people mean a lot more to me than all
types of attention from 50,000 people.
Do you have any projects coming up?
Oh WoW. I thought you’d never ask! I actually do have a debut album I’ve been working
on for a year now that I just got the final mastering done on. It’s all complete now and
ready to be leaked. I’ve recently been working on different visual ideas I have for it so
people are able to connect to the project in more than just an auditory wav file way. No
matter what though I’m releasing the project when it absolutely feels right to do so. I
have rushed a project in the past when I went as ChairBoy and I’m definitely not
repeating that shit again.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from being in this industry?
I’ve learned that you can never get too comfortable in thinking that shit is gonna be
sweet out here once you become a full time musician. I’m not even there yet but already
know how blown out and exaggerated the glamour of it is. I try my best to stay educated
on the business side of music because that's where things really get messy. Expressing
myself to the world for a living definitely beats scanning barcodes at my Amazon day job
though.
What message do you hope your songs send?
I hope they send the message that vulnerability and being yourself is okay. I know some
folks come from homes where they get brainwashed into thinking otherwise but I’m here
to snap them out of it. When you wake up, who do you want to be? Yourself or other
people’s versions of who you are?
What do you want to tell the people who listen to your music?
Don’t expect the same sound from me. I’m a wildcard. Also, thank you for sticking
around with me on this wild journey. I’ll always improve and give it my all for y’all.
How have the social justice movements that have taken place this year impacted your music?
It won’t be heard in any of my current songs but it has definitely influenced me to dive
into painting the imagery of rage caused by injustice in some future work. I’m getting
some influence from ANTIFA, I love their motives. I’m not for violence but when nobody
is putting pressure on these fascists that spread hatred, somebody has to take matters
into their own hands. That's where ANTIFA steps in.
Where can our readers listen to your music?
https://renold.bandcamp.com/
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/renold/ya-boi-cant-dance-feat-donavan-burt-3
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/renold/on-3
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/renold/chamomile-2
What kind of vibe do you want to give off to your audience?
I don’t really have a specific vibe I want to give off. Even if I did it wouldn’t hold up for
long because I’d be trying too hard to come off a certain way or carry a certain energy
that isn’t authentic. I’ll just be myself and let my audience catch whatever vibes I’m
spreading out naturally. I’m all about showing love at the end of the day. I feel, as long as
you’re not an asshole you should be alright.
Is there anything else you would like us to know/include in the interview?
This song Momo’s by Connan Mockasin is on repeat. JAMES BLAKE SNAPPED ON THIS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL5x4bBkkRk
AND MY IG IS @RENOLDFACEHOLE
DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY HI.
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