Quashona Renee is not your typical college student. When she is not hitting the books, she’s hitting the stage to entertain audiences with her neo-soul inspired gospel music. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and growing up as the middle child in a family of seven children, Renee knew that there was one thing that made her stand out from the rest of the pack – her singing ability.
“I’ve always been singing,” she says when reflecting on her talent. She would sing during the opening and ending credits of her favorite television show at the time, Out Of The Box, and from there she would develop her skills through local performance at churches and community theaters and went on to become the lean, mean, gospel-driven machine known as Quashona Renee.
Renee is majoring in Popular Music and Music Business with a minor in Worship Arts. During her time here at Catawba College, she has met a multitude of people, performed on numerous occasions, and managed to remain true to herself and the faith the motivated her pursue a music career.
Her introduction to Catawba came after a performance at Carnegie Hall where she and her classmates sang and were noticed by the choir directors of the college. After a campus tour and audition, she confirmed her status as a Catawba Indian with the acceptance of her musical scholarships and the rest was history. When I asked her what she enjoyed most about Catawba College she said that “the class size and the personal relationships with the teachers” was a major part of her decision to come to Catawba. She also serves as a resident assistant, a job she takes very seriously because of her commitment to creating a strong community among the students.
Her music is dedicated to her family and her Christian faith and rather than try to fit the mold, Renee seeks to go outside the lines by incorporating contemporary genres such as soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and urban into her music to entice a wider variety of fans. Her fast, funky beats, coupled with lyrics about God, relationships, and matters of the heart all culminate to make her one of the most exciting acts in the Artist Development Program at Catawba College.
Quashona Renee is a multi-talented singer-songwriter with a great message to give and a lot to be thankful for. She credits her friends Carlos, Richard, Julia, Abyie, and Tevin for being, “easy to work with,” and understanding her as an artist. In her words, “We make magic.” Here’s hoping that Renee’s dream to spread the messages of her faith around the world comes true. For anyone looking for a quality vocalist who exudes both energy and positivity, Quashona Renee is your girl!
