Ren
Ren Eryn Gill (born 29 March 1990) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, actor, and director, known mononymously as Ren. He gained widespread attention in December 2022 with the music video for "Hi Ren", a single-take performance exploring mental health and chronic illness. His second album, Sick Boi (2023), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart as an independent release, making him one of the few completely independent artists to achieve that feat.[^c1]
Ren's music blends hip-hop, folk, rock, reggae, and electronic influences.[^c2] His lyrics frequently address mental health, chronic illness, and personal struggle, drawing directly from his decade-long battle with Lyme disease and autoimmune complications.[^c3] After years of misdiagnosis, Ren was correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2015, by which point he had spent months bedridden for up to 23 hours a day.[^c4] He self-released his debut album Freckled Angels (2016) to fund experimental stem cell treatment.
Ren operates entirely outside the major label system, relying on direct fan support and viral moments.[^c5] His independent success has been studied as a case study in modern music industry models.[^c6] He continues to release music while receiving intensive treatment for his conditions, currently based in Canada.[^c7] In January 2026, he released the concept EP Vincent's Tale [^c8] and is scheduled to perform at multiple UK festivals in August 2026.[^c9]