Concert: Irene Rianne

Irene Rianne lets her skills flourish in a mix of soul, R&B, urban, indie and pop — think Olivia Dean, Yebba, Lizzy McAlpine, Dijon and Mk.gee, but with a distinctly Zwolle twist. Craft comes first. In her songs, she talks about life, love, falling down and getting back up again — and sometimes just about the chaos in her head. Relatable? Good. And yes, you’re allowed to dance. Even when it hurts a little. She was already writing her own songs during her studies, but the artist life? She wasn’t quite ready for it back then. Let’s just say she still had some soul searching to do. “This is the reason I get up every morning.” After a healthy dose of personal growth — something that doesn’t come with an expiration date, but hey, we’re growing along the way — she feels that it’s time to share her own story. Life is one big challenge, and through her songs she shares what that looks like for her. She has learned to stay close to who she is, something she feels is important to carry into the world. For many people, her stories may feel familiar, or perhaps they can draw strength from them.