Renforshort

Lauren Isenberg (born May 7, 2002), known professionally as Renforshort (stylized as renforshort^[3]) is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Toronto. Debuting independently in 2019 with the singles "Waves" and "Mind Games", Isenberg released her debut extended play, the Teenage Angst EP, in March 2020.

Renforshort
renforshort performing at Moroccan Lounge, 2022
Background information
Birth name	Lauren Isenberg[1]
Born	(2002-05-07) May 7, 2002 (age 22)[2] Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1]
Genres	Alternative pop[3][4] bedroom pop[5]
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, bass, guitar[3]
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Geffen Interscope
Website	www.renforshort.com

Life and career

Early life

Lauren Isenberg was born in Toronto. Her parents' taste of music influenced her at an early age, and she was exposed to musicians such as Billy Joel, The Velvet Underground and Nirvana.^[1] As a child, she won a Chinese language competition for performing the folk song "Mo Li Hua".^[3] Isenberg wrote her first song at 13 years old called "Hopeless Town", which was produced by Nathan Ferraro of the Canadian band The Midway State, and worked on several songs in Los Angeles with producer Justin Gray, however decided that none of these songs showed off her full personality.^[3] She began posting covers of songs to YouTube and Soundcloud in 2015,^[3] starting with a cover of Labrinth's "Jealous". At 14, Isenberg decided that singing was her passion after performing at an open mic night.^[6]

Isenberg met Canadian producer Jeff Hazin in 2016, who became her long-time collaborator (Isenberg has continued to work with the same co-writers since 2016).^[3] In the same year, she collaborated with German drummer and YouTuber Sina-Drums on her album Chi Might.^[2]

Debut

Under the moniker Ren,^[7] Isenberg released her debut single "Waves" in February 2019.^[8] Music executives from Geffen Records took notice of her due to the song's popularity, and organized a meeting with her only a month after its release.^[9] Isenberg's second single "Mind Games" became a viral hit,^[6] and by November the two tracks had amassed five million streams across platforms.^[3] "Mind Games" was later nominated for the 2019 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.^[10]

Isenberg's first single with Geffen Records was released in November, entitled "IDC".^[7] On March 13, 2020, Isenberg released her debut extended play, the Teenage Angst EP,^[1] and changed her stage name to Renforshort.^[3] The leading single from the release, "I Drive Me Mad", was inspired by Isenberg's experiences with anxiety and panic attacks.^[11] Promotion for the EP was difficult, as scheduled showcases in Toronto, New York and Los Angeles were delayed in an effort to flatten the curve against the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3] She is a support act on YUNGBLUD’s Life on Mars tour.

Later works

In 2021 Ren released another EP titled off saint dominique EP^[12] which was released through Interscope Records on June 4. It was met with positive reviews from critics with NME describing it as " A celebration of ever changing emotion"^[13] and publication Dork called the EP as having a "striking take on lyricism that continues to impress with a refreshing level of self-reflection"^[14] As of January 2022 the EP has surpassed 15 million streams on Spotify.^[15] On the 8th July 2022, she released her debut studio album “dear amelia” which was followed by a tour of North America and the UK/ EU shortly afterwards. In this album she dedicated a song to American singer Julian Casablanka "Julian, king of manhattan".

Artistry

Renforshort's music is inspired by acts such as Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse, and from films such as Coraline and Call Me by Your Name.^[16]

Personal life

Isenberg's mother is a real-estate agent. She has three brothers.^[9]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details

Title	Details
Dear Amelia	Released: July 8, 2022[17] Label: Interscope Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details

Title	Details
Teenage Angst EP	Released: March 13, 2020[1] Label: Geffen, Renwasn’there Inc, Interscope Formats: Digital download, streaming
Off Saint Dominique EP	Released: June 4, 2021[18] Label: Interscope Formats: Digital download, streaming
Clean Hands Dirty Water EP	Released: May 17, 2024[19] Label: Renwasn’there Inc, Nettwerk Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Album
"Waves"[20]	2019	Non-album singles
"Mind Games"[21][22]
"IDC"[7]		Teenage Angst EP
"New Way"[23]	2020
"I Drive Me Mad"[24]
"Fuck, I Luv My Friends"[25]		Non-album singles
"Nostalgic (Luvsick)"[26]
"AfterThoughts"[27]		Clouds (Music from the Disney+ Original Movie)
"Feel Good Inc."[28] (featuring Mateus Asato)		Non-album single
"Virtual Reality"[29]	2021	Off Saint Dominique EP
"Exception"[30]
"Fall Apart"[31] (featuring Glaive)
"Moshpit"[32]	2022	Dear Amelia
"Made for You"[33]
"Bebe"[34]	2023	Non-album single
"Serpentine"[35]	2024	Clean Hands Dirty Water EP
"Hurt Like It Should"[36]
"Buried Alive"[37] (with PJ Harding)
"Buried Alive, Again"[38] (with Wrabel)		Non-album singles
"On My Way!"[39]

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other artists	Album
"Doing the Wrong Thing the Right Way"[40]	2016	Sina-Drums	Chi Might
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"[41]	2017		YourSongBook
"Superstition"[42]	2018		Your Songbook II
"Dog Eat Dog"	2021	Aldn	Greenhouse
"Box in a Heart"	2022	The Maine	—

Tours

Supporting

• The Between Albums Tour (2023) - selected European dates

References

1. Tymochenko, Katie (March 13, 2020). "Interview: renforshort details newest EP teenage angst". Music Existence. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
2. "LAUREN ISENBERG, RENFORSHORT". Girls Got Groove. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
3. Bliss, Karen (March 20, 2020). "RENFORSHORT EXPLODES ONTO THE SCENE". Socan Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
4. Freyaldenhoven, Laura (March 24, 2020). "EP REVIEW: RENFORSHORT – 'TEENAGE ANGST'". When the Horn Blows. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
5. Bruner, Raisa (March 13, 2020). "The 5 Best Songs of the Week, From Anderson .Paak to Margo Price". Time Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
6. "Meet The Toronto Alt-Pop Artist renforshort". Spindle Magazine. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
7. Krause, Ryan Killian (November 13, 2019). "REN DROPS HER NEW SONG "IDC"". V Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
8. Itatani, Kelly (February 22, 2019). "Ren Details Her Complicated Love Life In Vulnerable Music Video for "Waves" [PREMIERE]". Ones to Watch. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
9. Porter, Ryan (November 22, 2019). "The new Billie Eilish or the next Nirvana? Meet Toronto's new 17-year-old pop star who adds the '90s to the mix". The Star. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
10. Gregory, Allie (July 16, 2020). "SOCAN Announces 2020 Songwriting Prize Finalists". Exclaim. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
11. Chiu, Melody (February 28, 2020). "Rising Pop Singer Ren, 17, Releases Video for 'I Drive Me Mad' Inspired by Her Battle with Anxiety". People. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
12. Off saint dominique EP. www.renforshort.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
13. "Renforshort – 'Off Saint Dominique' EP: pop-rock riser is unafraid to speak her mind". NME. June 4, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
14. Freyaldenhoven, Laura (June 3, 2021). "renforshort - Off Saint Dominique EP | Dork". readdork.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
15. off saint dominique EP, June 4, 2021, retrieved January 31, 2022
16. "BMI Indie Spotlight: ren". Broadcast Music, Inc. March 30, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
17. "renforshort has released a new album teaser, 'i miss myself'". Upset. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
18. "Artist's Guide: renforshort - off saint dominique EP". Dork. June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
19. "renforshort - clean hands dirty water EP". Instagram. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
20. Thomson, Zangba (February 15, 2019). "Ren releases a wonderful debut single, entitled, "waves"". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
21. Kushwaha, Brooke (June 18, 2020). "Ren Debuts Haunting New Single "Mind Games"". L'Officiel. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
22. Bartee, Richardine (June 17, 2019). "Canadian singer-songwriter REN sings about the games we play in her new visual for 'mind games': Watch". Grunge Cake. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
23. Dodson, P. Claire (January 23, 2020). "Singer-Songwriter Ren Laments a Too-Good Relationship in "New Way" Music Video". Teen Vogue. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
24. Riddell, Rose (February 28, 2020). "Introducing: Ren and her new single 'I Drive Me Mad'". Coup de Main Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
25. Wass, Mike (July 15, 2020). "Breakout Star renforshort Is Back With "f*ck, i luv my friends"". Idolator. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
26. Bruce, Dave (September 9, 2020). "RENFORSHORT shares new single 'NOSTALGIC (luv sick)'". Amnplify. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
27. Lavin, Will (October 16, 2020). "Listen to Renforshort's alluring new acoustic single 'AfterThoughts'". NME. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
28. Clarke, Patrick (December 11, 2020). "Renforshort shares atmospheric cover of Gorillaz' 'Feel Good Inc'". NME. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
29. Tattersall, Jett (March 30, 2021). "INTERVIEW: renforshort on new single 'virtual reality' and sexism in music: "I am at a disadvantage because I am a woman and that's just the sad reality of this industry and of life"". Women in Pop. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
30. Lavin, Will (April 7, 2021). "Renforshort shares enchanting new single 'Exception'". NME. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
31. Newton, Felicity (May 13, 2021). "renforshort and glaive have teamed up for new single collab 'fall apart'". Dork. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
32. "moshpit - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
33. "made for you - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
34. "Bebe - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
35. "serpentine - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
36. "hurt like it should - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
37. "buried alive - Single by renforshort & P.J. Harding". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
38. "buried alive, again - Single by renforshort & Wrabel". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
39. "on my way! - Single by renforshort". Apple Music. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
40. "Chi Might". iTunes. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
41. "YourSongBook". iTunes. 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
42. "Your Songbook II". iTunes. 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2020.