Rene Byrd started her musical career as a singer songwriter by participating in numerous talent contests inter-college competition based in London, which nurtured stars including Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield. Then, aged 14, she joined a band as a backup vocalist. Rene is third generation West Indian and she comes from a religious and musical background. Her father was a music producer and her uncle is a Gospel singer known as Bishop John Francis who had a gospel TV show broadcasted on Channel 4 called People Get Ready. Francis’ choir sang once for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Show. Rene recalls: ‘it was a regular occurrence to see my uncle on TV and he inspired me to sing. His voice is amazing!’ Her most vivid memory as a young child was being side-stage at an open-air concert in London watching Sade, Sting and Tracey Chapman perform which blew her away. So inspired was Rene that she ran on stage, grabbed the mic and spoke to the crowd. Rene has performed at Elstree Film Studios, at a TG Foundation’s charity event featuring Lady Gaga’s designer Vera Thordardottir, at Paris Fashion Week and on Live at The Forge, Delancey Street in Camden, […]
Music Star Emerges from Musicals to Release Soul Rock Pop Single
Raised in London’s East End, making it through the BRIT school with Jessie J, then featuring in high profile musicals and theatre productions; Donna HineZ releases a soul, rock and pop album with her first single Ice Cream out in November. Donna HineZ, 26, was the born in Greenwich, south east London, the youngest of 3 sisters to Jamaican parents and raised nearby in Catford. In between ballet, tap and jazz classes, Donna got her singing practice in early by recording herself on a tape recorder and the sounds of RnB, soul, jazz, pop and reggae emanated from the family living room. Surrounded Surrounded by music and inspired by it, Donna cottoned-on early to the importance of stage presence and learned to have fun while singing by pretending to be on stage. This led to regular showcases for friends and relatives, performing with her two older sisters. Also important in the formation of a future music star were Donna’s rebellious teenage years at school when faced with the ravages of peer pressure. Music again was her escape as she started writing songs and producing them in the music rooms at her secondary school. Donna says: “It felt like home to […]