Ren Shelter Releases "Bloody Wine" and Talks Bold Narratives, Raw Emotion, and What's Next
- STAFF
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
By: Staff
An electrifying, fearless triumph, “Bloody Wine” cuts deep with lyrical precision and sonic brilliance.
Ren Shelter’s new single "Bloody Wine" is here, and it's not what you think. The track plays like a pop anthem but hides something darker beneath the surface. With hypnotic energy and a voice that commands attention, Ren Shelter takes listeners into a narrative that feels both familiar and completely flipped. There’s something unsettling lurking in the lyrics — and that’s the point.
Bloody Wine closes out Ren’s debut EP, a collection that proves he's not just here to sing, but to say something. Inspired in part by Baby Reindeer, the song unpacks themes most artists wouldn’t touch, especially from this angle. It asks questions that stick with you after the beat fades. What happens when love turns into obsession? And what happens when the victim isn’t the one we expect?
We spoke with Ren Shelter about the story behind Bloody Wine, his experience growing up in a musical home, how it felt to top the Future Hits Radio chart with Eternal Sunset, and what performing for thousands taught him about himself as an artist. He opened up about the risks he took in writing this song, what keeps him grounded, and what’s coming next.
Read on and get to know the voice behind one of the boldest releases this year.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Ren Shelter, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For the fans meeting you for the first time, is Ren Shelter your given name or a stage name? What inspired you to choose that for your artist persona?
A. Ren Shelter is my stage name. The whole thing actually started because I’m a world-class overthinker… I spent two years trying to come up with the perfect artist name, and trust me, some horrific ideas came out of that process. In the end, I decided to just use the short form of my real name, LoRENzo.
As for “Shelter,” that one came about totally by chance. I was reflecting on two important things of myself: the loss of childhood memories, which reminded me of Leonard Shelby from the movie Memento, and my all-time favorite saga, Harry Potter. So I mashed Shelby + Potter together and somehow ended up with… Shelter? Yeah, don’t ask.
Then I realized “shelter” means a safe place, which actually fits perfectly with the kind of music I make, so I stuck with it.
Q. We loved the powerful vocals and your cadence was so rhythmic. Also, your voice really takes the attention of the whole performance. When did you discover your voice, and what was the turning point that moved you from singing in the mirror to recording professionally?
A. Well first of all, as we say in Italy, “grazie amico!”
I started singing as a hobby when I was a kid thanks to my dad, he used to be a musician. I’d wait for my parents to leave for work just so I could sing in secret, because I was way too embarrassed to let anyone hear me.
Then one day during lockdown, my dad was playing guitar and, maybe because I liked the song, or maybe because being stuck at home was slowly melting my brain, I randomly joined in and started singing with him.
That was it. Since then, I never really stopped. Every minute I spend singing is a minute I don’t feel the crushing pressure of, well… everything else. So yeah, sounds like a fair deal.
Q. You’ve played festivals with 6,000+ people and shared the stage with major Italian acts, but also performed in intimate theaters, how does your performance or mindset shift depending on the size and vibe of the venue?
A. Honestly? It doesn’t.
I’m incredibly proud and grateful to have performed at big events, it’s a feeling I’ll never forget and one I can’t wait to experience again (and again… and again).
But to me, every show has the same value. It’s not really about the venue, it’s about the people. Whether it’s one person or six thousand, they’ve chosen to spend part of their life being entertained by me.
The least I can do is give them a performance that feels one of a kind.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about “Bloody Wine” to intrigue them about its meaning if you only had one sentence to get them interested?
A. You know that bizarre Netflix series Baby Reindeer? Yeah… kinda like that.
Q. “Bloody Wine” flips the typical stalking narrative, what pushed you to explore a story where the man is the one being stalked, and why did that feel important to you right now?
A. Honestly, that’s just who I am as an artist. It’s what I love doing.
Most of my songs tell stories you don’t often hear, but that still hook you in, like films do. Movies really inspire me. Baby Reindeer is a great example. Watching that series made me realize how the typical idea of the strong, masculine man often doesn’t hold up, it hides a lot of insecurity.
Maybe I saw a bit of myself in that... now that I think about it, I’ve been through a very similar situation too!
(Obviously I won’t name names... but hi J, look, I’m being interviewed!)
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this song and reading this interview?
A. My terrible English accent!
(And maybe, hopefully, that they got pulled in by my songwriting and catchy melodies, diving into a musical story that feels like watching a movie).
Q. We can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what's next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. Thank you for having me! I really hope as many people as possible connected with my personality and my music.
Right now, I’m working on some amazing collaborations with super talented London-based artists and I seriously can’t wait for you to hear what we’ve been cooking up.
Also, for everyone living in London: in September I’m throwing an EP release party! There’ll be some fun little surprises that I guarantee you’ve never seen from another artist.
But most importantly… there will be some juicy spoilers shared only with those who attend.
You better follow me on Instagram if you want to know when and where!
Ren Shelter sends his love and can’t wait to meet you all… CIAOOO!
Ren Shelter, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Ren Shelter’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
