Thursday night’s elimination episode of X Factor will send three of the four remaining acts into the finals, but last year’s third-place finalist, Chris Rene already has plans for at least one them -- fellow Californians Emblem3.
The 29-year old Santa Cruz native told The Hollywood Reporter that he will be working on material for Emblem3’s debut album, which at this point in the competition seems a certainty, regardless of next week’s finale.
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“I like their talent,” said Rene, who just released his own record, “I’m Right Here,” this past fall. “I like their sound. I think they could go somewhere, and I’m probably going to be producing some of their songs next year.”
If this happens, Emblem3 will be in good hands. Rene’s original composition, “Young Homie,” was an instant YouTube phenomenon hours after he performed it on his audition episode last year. The multi-talented artist, who also plays guitar, drums, piano and bass, comes with a sturdy musical pedigree in his lineage as well. His grandfather, Leon Rene, was a famous composer in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, penning the hit, “Rocking Robin” for Bobby Day and popularized by Michael Jackson.
“The world knows me as a singer and they know me for ‘Young Homie,’ but when they hear the music I produce for other artists and myself, it will be a beautiful thing,” he said.
Fans will be able to see Rene in action on new show, Real Music Live, that will premiere on NBC after Saturday Night Live on Dec. 22. The show, presented in two half hour specials Dec. 22 and Jan 2, will focus on entertainers like Rene who triumph in a live setting. Other performers on the show include American Idol season 10 finalist Haley Reinhart, Hoobastank, and Faith Evans, as well as Early Morning Rebel and Grammy-nominated R&B artist, Luke James. The show will air at 1 a.m. following SNL.
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Real Music Live, created by Executive Producer Mark Hill, will showcase Rene in the first episode. Rene was hand-picked by talent booking agents David Mitchell and Karen Rocco, mainly due to Rene’s charisma and triumphant back story of overcoming addiction, as told on the show.
“He has some good songs and he’s connecting with a lot of the kids,” said Mitchell. “He has that X Factor.”
Rene has plans for his career that go beyond performing. The singer revealed that he has been demoing songs for some of the biggest acts in hip-hop and rap, sending tracks to T.I. and Lil’ Wayne.
“There’s not an artist out there I couldn’t work with and make it sound incredible,” said Rene, whose goal is to work with “every artist in 2013.”
“People are going to understand what all my fans see and what L.A. Reid and Simon [Cowell] saw when I got on that stage,” he said. “People haven’t had a chance to hear what I can do. I’m going to make that my number one priority when it comes to making music.”
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The former trash man’s debut CD, released through Epic Records and Syco Music, featured many producers, among them Brandyn Burnette, busbee, Christian Rich, Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, J. Bonilla, J.R. Rotem, Jon Levine, Lauren Evans, Marlin "Hookman" Bonds, Marty James, Mitchum Chin, Peter Biker, Supa Dups and Talay Riley, and American Idol season nine finalist Alex Lambert.
As for the show that launched his career, Rene said he is still loyal, and has enjoyed both Emblem3 and Carly Rose Sonenclar each week. As a matter of fact, he said he will be at the finale next week to cheer everyone on.
“I’m going to stop by and say what’s up!” he said.
