Based in Scotland, originally from Austria, dreaming of Eurovision, and fresh off releasing a track… about making tracks. Sounds like a brain-teaser? Maybe. But the result is surprisingly heartfelt. Ferdinand Rennie has been through it all: from the grueling schedule of “Les Misérables” to private performances for Monaco’s royal family and launching his own indie label. In this conversation, he opens up about why a genuine story will always beat high-budget special effects, the true cost of creative independence, and what really goes on behind the scenes of legendary songs.

Ferdinand, hello! Thank you very much for finding time in your busy schedule. We are incredibly happy to have this conversation with you! Let’s start from the very beginning. Please tell us a little about yourself. What was your childhood like, and what seemed to be your destiny back then: music, theatre, or something completely different?

I had a very idyllic childhood in Deutschlandsberg in Austria in a very musical household where traditional Austrian music was always played however I was a bit of a rebel and preferred listening and singing to pop music where Olivia Newton John was a big inspiration – Listening to her taught me how to breath properly when singing and also how important it is to tell a story when singing. I actually got to speak with Olivia personally many years later as my husband who is a Fashion Designer made stage clothes for her concerts in Las Vegas.  I always wanted to work with music but my parents insisted that I had a proper training to fall back on so I studied bookkeeping to keep them happy but continued my dream by working on the side as a DJ and entering talent competitions.

You were born in the picturesque Austrian city of Graz, and now you live in Dunoon on the stunning west coast of Scotland. What part of Austrian culture do you carefully preserve in Dunoon, and which Scottish habit have you adopted so completely that you can no longer imagine giving it up?

I love Austrian food like schnitzel ,pancakes and dumplings and always bring back Austrian tarragon mustard, pumpkin seed oil and bread from Austria  – cooking traditional recipes always makes me remember the good old days there. In Scotland I love making a traditional roast dinner on a Sunday and I am addicted to a bacon and egg roll – with Scottish granary rolls – delicious! And Scottish tablet (a kind of harder fudge) is irresistible! 

More than thirty years on stage. Roles in “Les Misérables”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and even “Little Shop of Horrors”-quite a diverse company, from barricades to a carnivorous plant. Which of these roles turned out to be the most unexpected in terms of personal discovery?

Les Mis was a huge challenge physically as I was on stage for 8 shows a week which meant having to die eight times a week. 🙂  but the music is fabulous and still one of my favourite musicals to this day. Playing Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors was a dream as I was singing off stage which meant I could totally concentrate on singing without the extra stress of performing on stage and didn’t have the extra preparation like make up and costume to worry about.

I read that you performed in front of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene-not exactly the most common item on a performer’s résumé. Were you more nervous than usual performing for a royal audience, or is a stage simply a stage?

It was a great honour to sing in their presence during a fashion show of my husbands Couture dresses. I wasn’t at all nervous as singing live is a thrill and singing with 25 top models walking around me was even more of an exciting experience.

You founded your own independent label, Fabscots Music, essentially taking the fate of your music into your own hands. Independence means both freedom and complete responsibility for every decision. Which aspect of working independently has been the most difficult, and which has been the most pleasant surprise?

Working independently can be a challenge as well as a blessing. The downside is that you are completely on your own so have to take care of so many things with promotion being the biggest obstacle. It can also be quite lonely which for a Gemini is a nightmare:-)

Let’s talk about your new single, “You Wrote Hallelujah”. While listening to it, I came to the conclusion that it is a song about songs-a tribute to the writers behind great lyrics. In your opinion, how often do listeners actually think about the person who wrote the words of a song?

I don’t think the majority of people actually give it too much thought unfortunately –  they have no idea of the struggles we songwriters go through till the song is actually finished. However when a song touches your audience with meaningful words and emotional vocals then that for me is the most important thing.

Warm, reflective, and emotionally rich”that is how this single has been described. And you say: “Every great song begins with a story. Sometimes it’s about faith, sometimes love, loss or redemption.” Which of these themes felt closest to you personally while working on the track?

Love and faith were the emotions I thought about most. Love of course is the most important – there is no life without Love.  And Faith in myself as an artist is always something I need to keep reminding myself of.

The single is now available on all streaming platforms, which means it has begun living its own life, independently of you. What do you feel when you let a song “set sail on its own”?

It is always a huge sense of excitement when I get the song finally out there but also with other emotions in play too. Nervousness of course – how is the song going to be received. Worry – have I really done everything right or could I have done better? Impatience- waiting for the first feedback and reaction to the promotion is probably  the emotion I like least.

You have never hidden your dream and hope of one day performing on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. If that were to happen in the near future-which I sincerely wish for you-what would be the main message you would want to bring to that stage watched by millions?

I would love to perform a big ballad song with meaning and emotion. So many of the songs nowadays  are taken over by huge effects and gimmicks. The message from me would be to never give up on your dreams. I actually took part in the preliminary heats for the ESC for Austria in the eighties where I ended up in 5th place.

Sometimes a single successful post on the internet suddenly opens up a completely new audience for an artist. Do you think the very logic of building a music career has changed today compared to when you first started?

When I first started I was signed by a large music label in Germany – on one side great because they took care of promotion and PR but they were also very controlling. They were quick to sign you but also quick to drop you. Nowadays there is so much more opportunity to get your music out there. A song or a new artist can quickly become a sensation on social media. However social media can also be damaging and brutal so its important to have a thick skin and the strong belief in yourself.

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