It didn’t take long for Miriah Renee to discover that the stage was her place. Born in Chicago and raised in Long Beach, she was always surrounded by music and a talented family. Her formal entry into the artistic world came when she was accepted into Renaissance High School for the Arts, and soon after, when she joined the group Her Story, she realized that this passion was something bigger than a simple hobby.
The experience gained from participating in groups like Her Story and Riss & Ry helped her learn about teamwork, artistic vision, and how to survive in an industry that often tests women.
Today, with the release of her new single “Brand New,” Miriah stands confidently, showing a renewed and empowered version of herself. The song is a direct response to male dominance, which she addresses with a fun, liberating, and genuinely heartfelt narrative.
The music video, inspired by The Sims, visually reinforces the message because each click and each change of look represents the many ways a woman can reinvent herself.
Before we dive into your new single, tell us a bit about your beginnings: How did you realize music was your path?
I was Chicago-made and Long Beach-raised. My father is a musician and plays the guitar; my cousins, sisters, and brothers are all in music. At age 13, I was referred by my middle school choir director to apply to Renaissance, the School of Performing Arts in Long Beach. While attending Renaissance and performing, I was recruited and asked to audition for a girl group called “Her Story,” which is when I really started taking my musical path seriously.
You were part of groups like HerStory and Riss & Ry. What lessons from those stages did you carry into your solo career?
That journey gave me a lot of preparation and confidence to perform on big and small stages. It taught me the ropes in the industry and how to survive with the sharks. It also showed me how important it is to remember where you come from and how far you can go as a group and also on your own. It helped me understand other female artists’ perspectives on the industry and how to leverage positive relationships, as well as how to collaborate and compromise with others, while still maintaining my own creative vision. These are all tools that helped me prepare to take the independent journey.
What inspired you the most to create “Brand New”? Was there a key moment that sparked the idea?
This single allows me as a woman to flip things a little and talk some shit – usually the shit-talking is from the guys, so I figured a fun female anthem to flip the script on them was perfect.
The song has a strong, confident vibe. What does it mean to you personally to have taken control of that narrative?
This song is definitely me, and I am sure many others. I am constantly shedding away layers of different life things that I go through and starting brand new. From relationships, career steps, clothes, hair, health and wellness, raising a daughter and many other life moves.
You sampled an iconic track by 3LW. Why did you choose “No More,” and what does that song represent to you?
The 3LW sample was a no-brainer. It brought my girl group days right back to life. I loved the 3LW record and love my “BRAND NEW” version.
The “Brand New” video has a super fun and original aesthetic. How did the idea of drawing inspiration from The Sims come about?
The Sims was so cool and fit perfectly because it tied the relationship issues with the clickbait changes, showing a brand-new vibe with each scene and Sim click. The scene where I’m changing outfits on the TV screen is one of the great moments, with the comment Sim clouds above everyone’s head showing what they were thinking outside of the club scene. The part that was very important to me as a way to pay homage to 3LW, which is why we insisted on the spray paint scene, where we kind of came to life like the sidewalk chalk scene in the 3LW video.
Beyond music, you’ve developed projects like MarleyCon. How has your role as a mother influenced your art and creative decisions?
It pushed me even harder to become successful, intentional, and careful with my music. Being fully responsible for another human being is a shift in your world, and everything I do now is ultimately for my daughter. She is my purpose, and her happiness and future are based on my drive and success as an independent artist and businesswoman. MarleyCon is a kids’ spin-off of one of my favorite festivals/exhibitions called ComplexCon, which happens annually in my city of Long Beach. I go wild with creativity on the MarelyCon event because it is ultimately for my daughter’s birthday, but it is the size and fun of a ComplexCon that is open to the community free of charge, with only donations being collected, so we can donate the proceeds to various community charities in our city.
What do you hope a woman feels or thinks when she listens to “Brand New”?
I hope they feel empowered to move on from toxic/bad situations and move forward with a brand-new start and vibe. We all go through things, and it’s hard to maneuver life, let alone relationships, and typically women don’t take the stance like you hear in brand new because of double standards, so I was trying to give them a women’s anthem to turn the tables.
What’s been the biggest challenge of making music independently, and what keeps you motivated on this journey?
The biggest challenge, but also the biggest blessing, is being responsible for all of your own creativity and choices. I have a great creative team that gives input and supports my vision, which helps a lot, but ultimately, the decisions and direction are on me, which can get overwhelming. I have been very blessed to also have a great business management team to ensure I have the financial support I need to create my own destiny and pursue my dreams. I come from very humble beginnings, and getting to pursue my dreams is not taken lightly. I will never forget where I come from, and I will absolutely support other up-and-coming artists, no matter how successful I may become. This independent artist journey is hard, and I know how it feels to try and break through in this industry and want to collaborate with other more established artists who don’t have time or are so focused on their own careers that they don’t really look back at all. That will not be me, as I intend to use this experience to help myself and others succeed.
Do you have any rituals or hobbies outside of music that help you recharge or spark creativity?
I love fashion, hair, and makeup, and I am also obsessed with health and wellness. I do a lot of creative, fun things with my daughter. I’m like the coolest mom and aunt when it comes to creative play. I have a passion for opening a sensory center and will one day do it.
And to wrap it up: if “Brand New” were the first chapter of a new book in your career, how would you describe the rest of the story to come?
I will take it one day at a time, but I definitely know that new music, new business ventures, and being a great role model and mom will always be in my storyline.
CONNECT WITH MIRIAH RENEE