A BEACON OF LIGHT
Truro-born singer-songwriter leverages power of faith and music to show her love for Nova Scotia endures
By Ayah Victoria McKhail, The Chronicle Herald
Renita Greener was destined to sing. Family lore has it that she was singing even before she was talking. “Music was woven into the very fabric of my family life. I have many early memories of music in my childhood home, whether it was my nanny, who was born and raised in Cape Breton playing the piano; to playing the spoons; family kitchen parties and sing-alongs; and of course, my dad’s record collection, which I loved to play and sing along to.”
She also derives a great deal of inspiration from the breathtakingly beautiful province of her birth.
“The scenery, people, cuisine, ocean and especially the music scene are the very heartbeat of all I love. It seems like music is everywhere in Nova Scotia: coming out of every home; every community; town; and city – it seems like it’s even in the ocean air.”
With such a strong passion, she began taking private vocal lessons as a child. As a teenager, she revelled in opportunities to sing at weddings, events and in church. She also sang and toured with the First Baptist Girls’ Choir and had an opportunity to compete in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. And as an adult, she performed with Symphony Nova Scotia.
She also spent years singing and competing in the Truro Music Festival and that’s where her love for both musical theatre and folk music gained momentum. As a grade 12 student at the Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro, she landed the lead of Laurey Williams for the musical, Oklahoma!
“I knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I finally knew where I belonged; the stage was home and my deep love for musical theatre was born and realized in that moment.”
Although she began studying theatre at Dalhousie University, her quest for greater musical opportunities was ignited, so she moved to Toronto in 1996 in order to attend Sheridan College’s highly competitive diploma program in music theatre performance, which she graduated from in 1998.
Today, the contemporary Christian artist, who’s married to businessman Alan Bender and is a mother of four, gently merges her devotion to faith with her passion for music to write songs that stir the soul. In 2017, she discovered the Toronto Songwriting School, led by Juno-nominated songwriter and musician, Murray Foster. That’s where she literally found her voice.
“Murray taught me the craft of song writing and for that, I’ll be forever grateful. He gave me the confidence to pursue song writing, believing in me before I really believed in myself.”
Working alongside him, they went into a recording studio to record her first three songs: I Will Wait; Hold On; and Keep You Here.
“That was a life changing moment for me; I knew I was now on a new path as an artist and there was a different call on my life.”
She then signed on with Spinnup, a digital distribution service for unsigned artists, created by Universal Music Group. The innovative company distributes her songs to iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Deezer.
Currently, she continues to write songs for her début album.
“I’m hopeful about the future and excited about the possibilities. Eventually, I’d love to co-write and collaborate with artists whom I admire and who inspire me. I also feel a strong pull toward Nashville and see that playing a part in my future music goals.”
One of her greatest career highlights took place that very year, when she backed up American country singer, Reba McEntire in the Dove Choir at the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards in Nashville. And last year, in Toronto, she sang with Micah Stampley, an American gospel singer-songwriter.
“It was an awe-inspiring night of praise and worship.”
In a testament to the sense of fellowship she feels with other Nova Scotians, most recently, she’s been present with other members of Facebook’s ‘Ultimate online Nova Scotia kitchen party COVID-19 edition’. She sang ‘Taken’, which she wrote to honour the victims of April’s mass shootings; and ‘I Will Wait’, where she stated, “I wrote this song based on Psalm 37. It’s about waiting on God. He knows your struggle. He’s not going to let you fall. He is holding onto your hand. Wait with hope for God. A better day is coming.”
Additionally, on her @RenitaGreenerMusic page on Facebook, she sang, ‘Rise Up’, by American musician Andra Day. With attention turned yet again to her beloved community and its missing boy, she wrote, “Let’s hold onto our faith and each other. I’m dedicating this song to Dylan Ehler, his family, the first responders still searching and to my hometown, Truro. Still praying for a miracle.”
Such sentiments resonate with many and Melissa Benvie, a mother of three near Debert, is one of them. When her family’s local church closed due to COVID-19, she and her husband, Matthew, felt continuing religious teachings was especially important due to the tragedies that have unfolded at home and abroad. “Strengthening our connection to God has been essential, so Matthew’s been engaging our children in Bible studies.”
Reflecting on the incomprehensible events that have devastated Canadians and especially Nova Scotians, Greener has a message to share: “These are dark days, but it’s in the darkness we need to find the light. That light is Jesus; the light of the world. When there’s nothing else left, there’s hope; there’s always hope. Put your trust in God; turn to him. We can’t fix everything that’s broken, but he can. What we can do, though, is love each other, so let’s do that. Let’s love our neighbour; let’s encourage each other; let’s show grace to one another; let’s forgive – not just others, but ourselves, too. Together, we’re stronger, and together, we’ll rise by lifting each other up.”