REN

Ren Gill (known professionally simply as Ren) is an incredibly talented Welsh singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his jaw-dropping musical versatility, his viral solo masterpieces, and his deeply inspiring resilience in the face of severe, long-term health battles.

​

🎸 The Big Push Era (2019–2022)

Before skyrocketing to global solo fame, Ren was a leading frontman, guitarist, and occasional bassist for The Big Push, a brilliant four-piece busking band based in Brighton, UK.

• The Lineup: Ren shared the spotlight with fellow frontmen Romain Axisa and Gorran Kendall, backed by drummer Glenn Chambers.

• The Sound: They gained massive viral traction on YouTube and TikTok by reworking classic songs (like their famous street cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff") and playing original tracks. They fused elements of reggae, ska, hip-hop, and rock, matching a gritty, high-energy street presence with flawless vocal harmonies.

• The Disbandment: After a completely sold-out UK tour in 2021, the band played their final gig and officially disbanded in 2022. This was largely due to the escalation of Ren's chronic health conditions, making rigorous touring impossible.

🩺 Health Battles & The Meaning Behind His Music

Ren's personal life is a heavy narrative of survival, which directly fuels the raw vulnerability of his art. In his early twenties, just as his music career was taking off, he became profoundly sick, leaving him bedridden for massive stretches of his youth.

• The Misdiagnosis: For years, the UK medical system failed him, misdiagnosing him with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E.), depression, and bipolar disorder. He even experienced severe, stress-induced medical psychosis.

• The Truth: He was eventually properly diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, which had been left untreated so long it caused severe autoimmune issues, brain damage, and PTSD.

• Recent Treatment: Ren spent significant time in Canada undergoing intense, specialized medical treatments, including stem-cell therapy, to slowly reclaim his health.

🚀 Solo Breakthrough and Viral Success

Despite being physically isolated and undergoing daily IV treatments, Ren managed an extraordinary solo breakthrough. He is widely recognized as a "modern bard" because his tracks frequently switch between rapid-fire rap, melodic folk storytelling, and visceral slam poetry.

• "Hi Ren" (2022): This single went explosively viral on YouTube. Filmed in a single take while Ren sits in a wheelchair and hospital gown, it features an acoustic guitar piece and an intense, theatrical dialogue between Ren's creative soul and his inner, mocking demons.

• Chart-Topping History (2023): In October 2023, he released his sophomore solo album, Sick Boi. Completely independently and without playing a single live promotional show, Ren shocked the music industry by beating out global superstars like Rick Astley and Drake to score the #1 Album on the official UK Charts.

Ren continues to release boundary-pushing music from his content library, using his platform to passionately advocate for and fundraise for the overlooked community of people living with chronic, invisible illnesses. If you are just diving into his work, let me know if you would like some song recommendations based on your favorite genres, or if you want to know more about his incredible theatrical rap trilogies (like The Tale of Jenny & Screech).