For Rena is a compilation album featuring Grammy winners and nominees telling the story of a young girl lost to the world far too soon.
By Graeme Smith
Feature artwork by Filiz Soyak
The collection is an eclectic mix of genres, we get poetry, hymn, song and nursery rhyme, all brought together by producer and mixer Justin Matley, the uncle of the titular Rena.
It opens with a reading of Until I Thought of Myself as the Sea by Hannah Napier Rosenberg, backed by some moody, slowly-building electronica. It pours seamlessly into a meditative, acoustic rendition of Ave Maria which combines the talents of Justin with Everett Bradley.
Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is beautifully turned into song by Michelle Willis before We Shall Always Be expands things with a jazzy, soulful moment courtesy of Josh Dion. Bubbles provides a particularly poignant piece. Featuring captured audio from Rena herself, it is dreamily playful and a highlight.
The World is Waiting for the Sunrise/Blue Skies oozes with an old world charm revived by Matt and Atla DeChamplain. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star renders the nursery rhyme emotionally through piano and Connie Martino’s compelling vocals. Night Owl is a bright lullaby courtesy of Paul Robert Wright and Timothy Paul Harrington. Things are then closed by more poetry from Hannah, this time with the album’s title track For Rena. It’s strikingly ambient and its words are rich with imagery.
As sad as it is, it’s sometimes the toughest moments that create the most beautiful art. Justin has taken the untimely loss of his niece and, with the help of some great talents, made a strikingly unique compilation in her name.
For Rena features contributions from Tall Heights, Michelle Willis, Ye Vagabonds, Hannah Napier Rosenberg, Josh Dion, Everett Bradley, Khylie Rylo, Jerry Jean, Matt & Atla DeChamplain, Connie Martino, Roman Zeitlin, James Lowe, Jason Schwartz, Paul Wright, Liz Vaughan, and Justin, Josie & Caroline Matley. It was co-mixed by Nic Hard, and mastered by Randy Merrill.
The album is out now and you can check it out below.