The Le Ren Interview
After the release of her 2021 debut album “Leftovers,” Canadian-based artist and singer-songwriter Le Ren (Lauren Spear), raised in Nexwlélexm, Bowen Island, BC, where the Squamish people once dwelled) has returned to the sacred soil of her beloved country for her highly anticipated sophomore release “Don’t Be Funny Without Me.” Like a delightful dream from the “Great White North,” Ren’s soothing sound and precious poetry burn off the primitive peaks of Colline de la Croix like a melodic mist. “Love, always love. I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing about it,” says Ren, and in this carefully curated and cruel world, we need this now more than ever.
Photo: Shelby Fenlon
Tell me about growing up in Nexwlélexm, Bowen Island, BC. I was intrigued to learn about the Squamish Nation's Indigenous heritage, which once inhabited the island. Any lore about the island and its community?
Bowen Island is part of the unceded traditional territory of the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw). Long before European settlers arrived, the Squamish people used Bowen for hunting, fishing, and gathering. Like the rest of Turtle Island (now known as Canada), Bowen Island still reeks of colonialism. There was a swan that had quite the reputation. It was known for attacking small dogs and being generally unpleasant and loud. Despite being widely despised, the islanders held a funeral for the swan when it eventually died.
I understand your folks are musicians and exposed you to folk and bluegrass music pretty early on. When did the fascination and obsession with music begin to take over? How sudden was the shift from conscious listening to wanting to write/record music? After relocating to Montreal, tell me about pursuing an education and musical career during that time.
I seemingly came out of the womb obsessed. My mum tells me stories of me bouncing around as a baby whenever music came on. I started writing horrible songs as a teenager, and now the goal is to keep going until one day they’re not so horrible. I moved to Montreal to study art history, but I was never particularly good at school. During the day, I wrote essays on different kinds of Greek columns, and at night, I’d be playing bluegrass at Grumpy’s Bar. If you played in the band, you got free beer, so naturally, my priorities began to shift.
Photo: Shelby Fenlon
When you first began approaching the material that would eventually become the music on “Don’t Be Funny Without Me,” what were some of the most important topics you wanted to focus on? This album features a wide range of guest musicians you mentioned you’ve never played with; do you feel music-making is more of a community effort, or closer to a personal quest to find those specific truths within?
Love, always love. I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing about it. All you need is love! Someone should write a song about that. I think it starts as a personal quest and ends in community. I write for myself first, to make sure I’m not writing for anyone else, and then, when I’m good and ready, I reach outwards. Being part of a music community is just about the best thing I know. It makes all the long drives and bad pay worth it.
“I think it starts as a personal quest and ends in community. I write for myself first, to make sure I’m not writing for anyone else, and then, when I’m good and ready, I reach outwards.”
The album was released. How do you feel about its freedom and how intimately it's involved in the listener's life so far? A couple of months ago was pretty terrible, to say the least, with the tragic loss of Dolly Parton. As a Tennessean, I’m sure you can safely assume the impact we’ve had, but I’m curious how much she influenced your life both personally and professionally. Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?
It’s been really affirming to see people connect with the songs. A friend told me he listens to my record while biking home from his bar shift. He was explaining how different songs fit different parts of his journey, and I liked picturing that. Dolly was a true shining light and a legend. She seemed so good at standing up for herself while also making everyone who crossed her path feel like a million bucks. Just this summer, my friend Erin Rae stumbled upon the grand opening of one of Dolly’s “Tennessean Travel Stops,” and Dolly was there! She showed up to surprise everyone, even though she was dealing with health issues. People traveled from all over the state to see her, and there was even confetti in the shape of butterflies. I highly recommend watching Erin’s video recounting the experience because it’s an A+. Let us all raise a cup of ambition to the late, great Dolly Parton!
