"Blues is and always will be my foundation. I'm inspired by the rawness and realness of blues," says Annie. "Because I'm secure in my foundation, it allows me to branch out and express myself using others styles of music. When I write songs and start with the bare idea or "skeleton" I think about the mood of the piece. What story do I want to tell? Would a Gospel sound do it or maybe an outlaw country style? I try to "hear" the "vision", she pauses and thinks. "I try to hear the heart of the song." 
Annie Mack has become passionate about "the heart of the song". Her new recordings of her originals is a work of dedication and soul. Annie's songwriting continues to evolve, unfolding thoughts and perspectives about humanity and human nature. 
"I'm going in a different direction because the music spoke to me of a pop influence," she admits candidly. "I've been listening to Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, Alabama Shakes, and Gary Clark Jr; all remarkable storytellers. I'm studying the way stories translate into songs."
Annie's songwriting is deep. Her new tune, "Closer", talks about owning her own life and the realization that growing adds richness to living. "Love" centers around the theme of the self-sabotage that happens when a friend manifests love, peace and joy but then rejects those very things. "Just Do Right" is the story of a charming drunk who, after begging for second chances, and receiving them, just can't do anything right. 
Annie's Title Track, "Tell It Like It Is", about a recovering addict who finds power and stability in a very humble place: having a home, family, drinking coffee before reporting to work at a menial job. Success is found in the simplicity of life. 
Annie's new songs speaks to her most amiable and admirable musical trait: she refuses to box herself into a genre. Her new tunes amplify the fact that she is a gifted songwriter, weaving themes of lack and appreciation, poverty and the precious gift of motherhood and, perhaps most importantly, the belief in a power that sees, raises and saves those who are lost and downtrodden. Her music talks about hope and the power of belief. 
"I want others to not only jam out and enjoy the music but I want them to relate and have an experience as well.”

Maybe you saw her on Morgan Freeman's Blues Diva's on PBS? Or, you may have caught her singing live for a season opener for the WWE SmackDown with 6 million viewers? Six-time Minnesota Music Award Winner and WC Handy Best New Artist Nominee, Reneé Austin, calls her new music a mix of Soul/Gospel/R&B with a hint of Texas. The Texas Hill Country raised multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter rose to national attention in 2003 with her first international release, “Sweet Talk” which included the spine-tingling duet "Pretend We Never Met" with 3-time Grammy Winner, fellow Texan and friend - Delbert McClinton.
 
Austin released 3 CD’s between 1997-2005: "Dancin' With Mr. Blue", "Sweet Talk" and "Right About Love" opening for respected artists such as Los Lobos, Delbert McClinton, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd & The Monsters,  Keb Mo and Robert Cray. Sadly, just two short weeks after the release of  "Right About Love", Reneé's singing career was halted just as her star was rising. Tragedy struck when during a surgical procedure, Austin's left vocal nerve became paralyzed. Unable to sing or speak above a whisper, Austin began a new life without music. 

But, after years of struggle and heartache, Austin experienced a series of true miracles and her voice has returned. Her new CD,  “Songbirds & Angels”,  hit the streets April 7, 2018 with a sold-out Album Release show at the world renown Dakota Jazz Club. She also just signed a worldwide digital distribution deal with 
The Orchard, a division of Sony Music.  Reneé was Executive Producer for Songbirds & Angels and wrote all 13 tracks working with Producer/Guitarist David Grissom (Mellencamp, Dixie Chicks, Storyville, Allman Brothers, Joe Ely) for 4 songs recorded in Austin, Texas. Austin worked with Producers Douglas A. Smith (P Funk, Nikka Costa, Vann Hunt) and Christopher Furst (Studio 65 Owner, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering) for the other 9 songs recorded in Minneapolis. MN. Austin's voice has been compared to Anita Baker, Tina Turner, Regina Belle, even a female Michael McDonald. Watch the video of Reneé’s inspirational story at www.reneeaustin.org

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