Photo by Michael Donahue // Buy this photo
Autumn Renee
Autumn Renee's singing career is progressing by stages -- actual stages.
The first stage was when she was 12. "I did an audition at some place in Memphis. ... I kind of froze," said the 17-year-old singer from Brighton, Tenn. "I was really, really nervous. I got on stage and I stood there. I sang one or two verses. I couldn't speak. No words would come out. I kind of just stood there. I kept trying to sing, but nothing would happen. So, they cut the music off and I sat down."
Her grandmother got her the audition as a birthday present. "It wasn't such a great birthday present."
Autumn Renee got interested in music again a few years ago. "I used to go out and eat breakfast with my grandma and grandpa all the time. They used to go to this place called The Heritage Cafe in Munford. I would see my friends going up there and singing karaoke. They'd start trying to get me up there and I would never do it."
T. J. Butler, 18, who works at the restaurant, kept trying to get her to sing. "He'd force me to sing: 'Autumn, you've got a great voice. You need to sing. Show people.'"
Butler said he finally told her, "There's no turning back. I'm not letting you out those doors until you get on stage.'"
So, she did. She sang a song by Journey, one of her favorite bands.
"She was real shy when she got on stage," Butler said. When she sang, it sounded "almost like she was mumbling."
Butler came up with a strategy. "He'd get louder and louder and get on my nerves, so I'd get louder and kind of just went from there," she said.
Autumn Renee realized she was having fun and "loved singing."
The next stage was at an audition Autumn Renee and Butler attended for "Memphis Idol" in Cordova. "I'm like the third person up to the stage and I'm like, 'I can't do it,'" she said. "I started walking away and he goes, 'No, you're gonna do it.' I get up on the stage and all of a sudden I started singing. I wasn't nervous at all."
About a year ago, Autumn Renee was on Myspace and discovered Memphian Chris Lehman, 21, was looking for a female singer for one of his songs. She responded.
Lehman, who is the "Lil C" in the rap duo, Lil C and Big Durkee, was impressed when he heard Autumn Renee sing; she didn't use a lot of country twang in her singing. "I saw someone that wasn't the regular country female you hear up in Tipton County," Lehman said.
She recorded his song, "You in My Life," which they posted on YouTube. "We got a lot of good feedback on it," said Lehman, who currently is producing her album. They've also done a music video to their song, "Where Are You Now." Autumn Renee wrote the music and Lehman, the lyrics.
Friday night, she'll be on her biggest stage -- at The New Daisy. "Honest? I'm really nervous," she said. "I think once I start hearing the crowd and hearing all my friends, I'll be OK.'
So, where does Autumn Renee see herself in 10 years? "On a stage."
Singing. "That's all I can see myself doing."
Listen Up spotlights area performers. Michael Donahue can be reached at 529-2797.
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"Calling it a Rap" featuring artists, including Autumn Renee, Lil C, Big Durkee
Tonight (Friday) at the New Daisy, 330 Beale. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cover: $10; (901) 525-8981.
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Source: http://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/sep/23/listen-up-autumn-renee/?partner=RSS&partner=RSS
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