Reneé Rapp talks all things ‘Snow Angel’, being open in the LGBTQ+ community, and what the future holds for her rising career.

Written by: Gracie Lowes

On Thursday, August 17, Backstage Features had the chance to attend °1824’s press conference featuring singer-songwriter and actress Reneé Rapp. The 23-year-old also took the opportunity to talk about all things regarding her debut album ‘Snow Angel’ was released on August 18 and is available everywhere.

Starting her career back in high school, Rapp has a wide range of experiences and accomplishments in her back pocket. Still, when asked if she always saw herself as a triple threat with music, acting, and writing, Rapp was quick to clear the air with complete honesty saying that music was always her goal.

“Music was always what I wanted to do, and honestly it was the only thing I thought I could do,” she told Potted Purple. “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to act, I just didn’t think I was a good actor at all. Acting and songwriting were my biggest insecurities and now that’s literally what I do which is great.”

Rapp is quickly making a name for herself in the music industry with her heart-wrenching and honest lyrics, when asked by Lettuce and Cheddar if she finds it easier to find inspiration from happy moments in her life or more difficult times Rapp laughed and quickly answered “I typically find it easier to write sad songs, I don’t think I’ve ever written a happy song,”

She went on to explain that sad songs to her don’t necessarily have to be slow ballads saying “‘Pretty Girls’ is my most up-tempo song I think I’ve put out but it’s a really sad song, like the words are incredibly sad,”

“Just to give some context it’s basically about my bisexuality and I’m out and a straight girl whose a mutual friend of ours says ‘You know babe if I wanted to I could’ and I just go ‘That’s amazing, that’s incredible, I’m so glad that you feel that way and that you feel super comfortable to come and hyper-sexualize me in this moment, so thank you so much that really sat well with me’. So they are sad songs but they don’t have to be ballads.”

Although the ‘Too Well’ singer is making a name for herself and quickly growing her dedicated fan base every day, Rapp credits the LGBTQ+ community for being a massive help to her success thus far in her career.

“I have been out to different people for almost 10 years now,” Rapp told Vandy Radio. “But since I have been publicly out, (and I say publicly I mean as someone who does work that can potentially be consumed by a mass of people, whatever that might look like) I have become so much more comfortable in myself,”

“A part of that comes from the normal thing of ‘the more you are publicly accepted the more you are going to be comfortable with yourself. But I also think in being open about my sexuality, I have found the grace to do so within this community which I would not have had and did not have before I came out.”

Besides the support from the LGBTQ+ community, Rapp also credits her “delusion” for pushing her to be the best she can be.

“When I say delusional I don’t mean something that will never happen,” Rapp explained to ATWX Media. “I mean it as no matter how much I doubt myself in something, I am going to f**king do it. I don’t know how, I don’t know why or when, but I will. That to me is delusion.”

“As girls or non-men, you’re taught that if you come across as confident that actually is not super cool,” She said. “So instead they say ‘let’s mask it as delusion so we can giggle with you and not be intimidated by you and not be bothered by your presence.’ So I think when I say delusion it’s to avoid people calling me a bitch for saying that I believe in myself.”

‘Snow Angel’ consists of 12 tracks and takes listeners through the emotional and honest stories of Rapp’s life experiences. Along with hoping that everyone enjoys her debut album, Rapp made it known to fans which song speaks to her the most right now in her life.

“I’m in a ‘So What Now’ era actually,” she told UNIA. “I feel like I very much like I’m living that because I’m like ‘so what am I supposed to do now? You want to talk? Do you want to talk? like come on grow up,’”

“I’m very much in that place, when you hear it you’ll understand. It’s basically about your ex being in the same city that you live in and it’s like ‘why are you f**king here?’” she laughed.

Reneé Rapp’s debut LP ‘Snow Angel’ is out everywhere, you can click here to listen now.

You can follow Reneé’s journey on her socials:

Twitter (X): @reneerapp

Instagram: @reneerapp

YouTube: @reneerapp

TikTok: @reneerapp

For more entertainment-related news and stories make sure to follow Backstage Features on our socials:

Instagram: @backstagefeatures & @backstagefeaturesclips

Twitter (X): @backstagefeat

TikTok: @backstagefeatures

YouTube: @backstagefeatures

And a big thank you again to °1824 and Interscope Records for setting up the conference and inviting Backstage Features.