In mid-August, rising pop star Reneé Rapp released her debut album Snow Angel. The 12-track project includes “Talk Too Much” and the stellar pop-rock title track, among other gems.
Leading up to its arrival, Rapp dropped by Today for a performance on the plaza and the Grammy Museum for an intimate Q&A with fans. She also stopped by Billboard News to discuss her start in music — and even teased her dream Snow Angel deluxe edition (hint: her collaborator wish list is no joke).
Rapp’s rise has been quick; she released her debut single last summer, the emotive “Tattoos.” She says she had no idea whether it was the right song to introduce herself as an artist but knew she just had to go for it. “That was a time in my life where I was so hungry and so desperate to be seen and I really wanted to get signed — so bad,” she said. “It was such a big dream of mine ever since I was a kid.”
She called the song “a huge catalyst” for her career — crediting the Internet for helping create visibility and opportunity — and, ultimately, what helped her get signed to Interscope and score a manager in Adam Mersel. Within a few months, by last November, she released her debut EP Everything to Everyone. “I’ve made it abundantly clear to everyone I work with that this is my endgame,” said Rapp. “And I want to do this to the best of my ability.”
Elsewhere, Rapp revealed her dream guests for a potential deluxe edition, saying she can envision Kacey Musgraves featuring on “I Hate Boston,” Jazmine Sullivan on “Tummy Hurts” and Frank Ocean on “Willow.”
Prior to doubling down on music, Rapp starred as Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway. She recalled watching the film “so many times,” calling it a “staple” in her household and sharing what she believes to be Regina’s most iconic lines. More recently, Rapp has starred in the Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls (she will not return as a series regular in the upcoming third season).
“I’ve always idolized multi-hyphenates,” she said, going on to praise the well-rounded and global career Beyoncé has built for herself.
Up next, Rapp will kick off her Snow Hard Feelings Tour on Sept. 15 in Houston with her close friend and collaborator Alexander 23 and rising rocker Towa Bird as support.
Watch Rapp’s full interview above.
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