Despite making her explosive debut portraying Regina George in the Broadway production of ‘Mean Girls’ in 2019, music has always been at the forefront of Reneé Rapp’s aspirations. The rising star grew up in Huntersville, North Carolina, and spent much of her childhood performing in musical theatre. The end of the pandemic then marked a massive new leap in this up-and-coming gem’s career, with her landing a role in the Mindy Kaling series ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’. However, it was not always apparent that acting would become such an integral part of her life, with music remaining her greatest love.
“Music was always the goal and the thing that I wanted to do. And honestly, it was the only thing I thought I was going to do,”, the Carolina-based singer admits, her words resonating with a sense of unwavering determination only found in someone born to become a pop star. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to act. I idolised Jennifer Aniston and ‘Friends’, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I just didn’t think I was a good actor at all. Like, I thought that was the worst part of my talents or lack thereof. I thought that it was not my thing. Acting and songwriting were my biggest insecurities. And those are literally what I do now. So, it’s great!”
But surely, the artist and actress didn’t just stumble into the production of one of the most popular coming-of-age series of the past years? “Acting just happened to be a really, really cool conduit. And something that came into my life and ended up being incredibly important. It’s really served my music ultimately. But yeah, music was always the goal. Music was always “mommy”.”
However, that isn’t all. While the star has a rich tapestry of diverse musical inspirations from pop to R&B and hip- hop, there’s another immense source of inspiration that has significantly impacted her work – musical theatre. The 24-year-old, with a glint in her eye, exclaims: “I’m a theatre kid.”
“I think that amazing theatre and amazing storytelling, whether it be on stage or screen, is incredible. And so, I obviously came from a background of not only listening to incredible lyricists in the pop world and in the R&B space and then in hip-hop, but I also came from the likes of Sondheim and Andrew Lippa. Do you know what I mean? And those are very specific story-driven, beautifully crafted things,”, Rapp explains, further illuminating the massive impact her background in theatre has had on her craft – and the music industry in general. “I think that musical theatre, especially right now, has such a huge influence on pop music, which is super fun because all the girls who are becoming pop stars are musical theatre kids. It’s so exciting. Everybody’s super cute and super gay. But yeah, I think it’s had such an impact on my writing and on my career, and I hope it continues to. I hope that one day I can die happy. Just in general, but specifically in that.”
As for other pools of inspiration that Rapp has surrounded herself with, the powerhouse vocalist instantly delves into one of her favourite topics – all the people who have been most instrumental in her journey, and, above all, women: “I’m really just a product of the people that I’m around, and I’m very spoiled, especially with the women in my life and the non-men that are in my company as well. I’ve got some good men, don’t get me wrong, but they’re, like, okay.”
One of those people is Alyah Chanelle Scott, Rapp’s co-star whom she met while filming ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’, and who she now calls her closest confidante. “My best friend in the whole wide world, I met through work. She is not only that, but she also directs a lot of my music videos and has a really, really big hand in my personal life. In my music career, she’s come to the studio with me and is on some background vocals for ‘Snow Angel.’ She is just incredible, and I wouldn’t be who I am without her as my friend,”, Rapp expresses, additionally highlighting the effect her surroundings and specifically the individuals she shares her day- to-day with have had on her career and who she is as a person. “Being fortunate enough to work with somebody so talented and thoughtful is definitely the next big thing to feeling very spoiled. I feel like,“Yes, I got her first”. I genuinely feel like it’s a large accomplishment because she’s iconic. So yeah, the women in my life shape a lot of things around me.”
Rapp’s unique journey is marked by her unapologetic self-confidence, often described as delusion by some. But the brilliant artist wouldn’t dare to shy away from embracing this term. “It’s so interesting because I feel like delusion is cute now. Delusion is becoming slay. It’s very funny and silly,”, Rapp affirms with a laugh, further asserting her place in the industry and the fiery attitude that got her where she is now. “I think that delusion has helped me because when I say delusion, I don’t mean delusional in the sense of like, something that is not at all going to happen. When I say delusion, I mean, no matter how much I doubt myself in something, and, trust me, it’s a lot and it’s a lot more than I lead on, I am going to f-king do it. I’m going to do it inevitably. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, I don’t know when, but I will. And that to me is delusion. It’s just a weird, innate belief in myself. And a real hunger to do something that I love so much. So, I think delusion is like my little BFF. It’s got me where I am right now.”
“I can‘t get out here and say that I love Beyoncé, and then sound like sh*t. I can‘t do that. It‘s not fair to her.”
Nonetheless, as we are living in 2024 times, and no matter how much girlhood might be having its comeback right now, Rapp is also quick to acknowledge that as a woman, especially in the music industry, projecting confidence can sometimes be perceived negatively: “I think a lot of times when I say delusion, it’s to avoid people calling me a bitch for saying that I believe in myself. You know what I mean? I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I don’t know if I’m serving myself. I don’t know if I’m hurting some sort of deeper psyche sort of thing.”
Still, she’s not shy about her agenda – specifically when it comes to her support of and existence within the LGBTQ+ space. Thus, in her blossoming career, Rapp has gone beyond just her music to make sure to establish a community within her fanbase where people can feel comfortable truly being themselves – as well as herself. “Just to give some context, I’m bisexual. I never talk about it and you would never guess,”, she admits, also mentioning the awkward and sometimes uncomfortable moments she has found herself in, “You still have these situations where like, I’m out and this straight girl, a mutual friend of all of ours, is like, “You know babe, if I wanted to, I totally would”. And I’m like, that’s amazing. That’s incredible. I’m so glad that you feel that way. I’m so glad that you feel super comfortable to come and hyper-sexualize me also, so thank you so much. That really sat well with me.”
“I have been out to different people for almost 10 years now,”, the young star reflects further. “Since I have been publicly out, I have become so much more comfortable in myself. I think a big part of that comes from the more that you are publicly accepted, the more you’re going to be comfortable with yourself. Like no joke, right?”
Still, Rapp remains as self-aware as ever, always coming back to the goal of creating openness and positivity for and within the LGBTQ+ space without putting herself on a pedestal, no matter how many followers she might have on TikTok and how many shows of hers may sell out: “I think that in being open about my sexuality, I have found the grace to do so within this community, which I would not have had otherwise. A lot of people have it a bazillion times worse than me, so let’s be clear, it’s not this hyper- angelic, like, “And I, myself, Reneé Rapp, a bisexual, white woman, am the gay community”. Like, no, it’s not that. But I am very fortunate to have an enormous community of queer people around me who all identify in different ways, and who all lift each other up just the same, and then therefore, do the same thing to me. Like, when you talk about being gay, it makes me feel cooler to be gay. Do you know what I mean?”
Rapp’s authenticity and self-assuredness shine through not only in her massive online presence and the ways she holds herself but also in her music, particularly her ability to craft poignant and relatable songs. Delving deeper into the creative process behind her latest musical adventures, this also most importantly stands in her debut album ‘Snow Angel’. Within the series of 12 songs, Rapp effortlessly navigates a complex spectrum of emotions, seamlessly transitioning from raw honesty to fierce indignation, all while delivering witty remarks about past lovers who’ve irked her, as showcased in tracks like ‘So What Now’ and ‘Poison Poison’. And despite the sadness that carries itself through the record, as Rapp remarks, every song manages to encapsulate the musician’s trademark characteristics: an intoxicating blend of humour, unfiltered candour, and straightforwardness.
Throughout the production of the album, Rapp remembers that her attention to detail and dedication to her craft extended far beyond the creative process. “When it comes to recording vocals, I take how my voice sounds very seriously. I want to do a good job. I want to make the people who have taught me how to sing and been influences in my life proud,”, she underlines, also shining a light on the emotional (and expectational) weight that can sometimes lie on one’s shoulders while trying to put your whole self, all good and bad sides included, into a piece of musical art. “I can’t get out here and say that I love Beyoncé, and then sound like sh*t. I can’t do that. It’s not fair to her. I’ve had breakdowns in the studio. I would cry, I would scream, I would yell. Alexander, my producer, [aka Alexander 23, Rapp’s long-time collaborator and close friend], is very monotone, so he would just sit there and be like, “Okay”. It was quite the time.”
As Rapp continues to break boundaries and challenge the norms in today’s industry, we find in her an artist who not only embraces her true self but encourages others to do the same. Through her music, her unapologetic authenticity, and her fearless embrace of the person she is, it is clear that the pop talent is a force to be reckoned with – whether that is in the world of music, theatre or film. She is done trying to convince the world that she deserves to be taking up the space she does, and as she looks ahead to the future waiting for her, it’s her unwavering strength and pride that leads the way: “I’m in my ‘So What Now’ era. I feel very much like I’m living that. I’m like, “So what am I supposed to do now? You want to talk? Would you like to chat?” Like, come on, grow up. I’m very much in that place right now. The song is about your ex being in the same city that you live in. Like yes, you did grow up here. Your family is here. But I don’t give a fuck. Why are you here? The rats don’t own this place, we do.”
Written by Issy Todd & Laura Weingrill // Photography by Katia Temkin
GEM Magazine 