From battling physical and mental health issues, to securing a No. 1 album in the UK, Ren Gill has had the kind of rollercoaster career that most people couldn’t conceive of. But throughout all the ups and downs of his life, Ren has always maintained that busking and street-performing have been vital to keeping him grounded

What you need to know

Born in Bangor, Wales, Ren Gill first cut his teeth as a musician by performing in cities throughout south England. The artist was known for his bracing, heart-on-sleeve songs, which often blurred the line between poetry and music.

Ren has been a member of several busking bands throughout his career, mainly operating as an indie/hip-hop frontman. Most notably, he was a member of Trick The Fox and The Big Push, both of whom became fixtures on the Brighton busking scenes.

Through busking, performing, and uploading his music online, Ren emerged as a musical force to be reckoned with during the 2010s.

However, even as this was happening, the artist was dealing with severe physical and mental health issues. During what he describes as “a period of isolation” - after suffering from psychosis, autoimmunity illness, chronic fatigue, and Lyme Disease - he found himself bed-bound for several years. He faced extreme battles with both body and mind during this time, but he used music as a way to aid him in his recovery.

The result is that Ren has returned to the public eye in recent years with some incredible music. Taking all of his experience as a street performer, and taking on all the hard lessons he has learnt while sick, Ren released his entirely self-written and self-produced album, Sick Boi, at the end of 2023. The album shot straight to the top of the UK Charts, marking one of the year’s most touching success stories.

Ren Gill’s story of going from a plucky street performer to a generation-defining star is one that many have found inspiring.

Ren’s genre-defying music is a wonder to behold. In his songs, he can blend hypnotic hip-hop beats with unusual indie-rock riffs, layering them with all manner of thought-provoking samples or looped sounds.

As well as combining poetry and singing, he also incorporates the Welsh language with English in his songs. This is music that’s more profound and more rewarding than most audiences are used to hearing, but - clearly influenced by his years of busking - Ren has the ability to make complex sounds and ideas accessible and gripping for the general public.

Where you can see Ren Gill perform

Even after returning to music and becoming a No. 1 charting success story, Ren has occasionally returned to his street performer roots. He has recently performed in Brighton, where he first made a name for himself.

Ren has also spoken about the positive psychological aspects of busking and how it has always helped foster a sense of community between himself and the audience. His advice on busking has served to help many emerging street performers in their musical journeys.