On paper, Renee' Mixon is a novice - another fledgling musician with a catalog just two albums deep, spanning a career that began only eight years ago. But a deeper look reveals an old soul; a shy little girl whose love for music was borne before a small Methodist congregation.... The same young woman who, now a self assuredd and self-actualized artist of 35, has found a way to channel life's episodes of powerlessness into the most powerful of mediums: Music that touches the soul.
Neal Howard - V3 (Vini, Vidi, Vici) (Jun 1, 2006)
Rome musician Renee Mixon’s first CD is ‘If I Could Live in a Picture’ 06/15/
By Kristin Smith Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer KSmith@RN-T.com / 290-5252 Six years ago, local musician Renee Mixon learned her first three guitar chords from a friend and she’s never looked back. “When I found music it became my passion,” Mixon said. “I always wanted to learn to play and when I do something, I put my whole self into it.” Performing live for three years now, Mixon has become a familiar face in Rome since starting out at Broad Street venues such as Ana’s By the River and The Levee. Mixon calls her opening for Michele Malone at The Rivers Edge in 1999 her first “big gig.” “That was very scary because I knew she was amazing. I was so intimidated,” Mixon said. “But the more you perform, the better. I’m still learning a lot.” Today Mixon can be found playing her original acoustic harmonies at Schroeder’s New Deli, Harvest Moon Cafe and Eddie’s Attic open mic nights in Atlanta. Mixon also has taken her music to Tennessee audiences in Chattanooga and Nashville. “I’m working toward doing this for a living,” she said. “I have goals set, but I’m not locking myself into them. I’m enjoying the ride.” Mixon began writing songs soon after she became comfortable with her guitar. “When you’re a songwriter, the music comes from your heart,” she said. “My songs tend to be very personal.” Mixon is a self-professed “people-watcher” and she includes many people who have crossed her path in her songs. She has penned countless songs, and has about 50 she performs for the public. Fifteen of those songs are included on Mixon’s first CD, “If I Could Live in a Picture,” released in May of last year. Mixon describes the experience of recording “Picture” “incredible.” “Just to know I would be able to share my songs with the world is so powerful,” she said. The CD’s songs are a collection of her life’s experiences with insights into relationships and “life in general.” Mixon’s most personal piece of work is the third song and the CD’s title track, “If I Could Live in a Picture,” written for her father who died six years ago. “When my dad was still alive, I didn’t play music,” she said. “When he died I tried really hard to write him a song. And when I finally did, it was the song that came out.” Songwriting for Mixon has been a source of constant learning. “Songwriting is a building process, just like playing,” Mixon said. “Once I began to perform my songs, I could see the crowd response.” And crowd response has been great. At her June 6 First Friday Concert perfomance at the Forum, the audience was a lively one, obviously engaged in Mixon’s singing. Loud cheers came from Mixon’s friends and co-workers who were dotted around the room. “My friends come out to all of my shows,” she said. “They are all very supportive.” It’s not hard to find her mother and sister at her performances either. “I can’t thank them enough for all they do for my music,” she said. Mixon said she hopes to find a booking agent in the near future. “Playing as often as possible is key to getting a booking agent to recognize you,” she said. “I’m working on it.” Mixon is hoping a booking agent will assist her in her hopes to play at conferences and festivals. “I’m not looking to be famous, I’m not looking for millions, just to make a living,” she said. Mixon hopes to tap into more unused markets such as teacher conferences. Mixon has called Rome her hometown her entire life. She graduated from Model High School in 1989 and continued to Berry College where she played basketball. “Basketball was my life back then and after that I was saying, ‘what now?’” she said. “That’s when I put everything into music.” Mixon received her bachelor’s degree in middle grades education and her master’s in education from Berry. After a teaching stint at Calhoun Middle School, Mixon began working for Regional Educational Services Agency in 1999, where she is employed today. She says being a musician in a small town has its advantages and its drawbacks. “It’s hard in a way because you don’t have the same draw of people that you would have in a big city, but you don’t have the competition,” Mixon said. “I just have to be creative.” As a child living in Rome, Mixon remembers her fondness of singing. “My sister and I always loved to sing,” she said. “We loved to put on performances for everyone.” Other than these childhood memories, music is a relatively new influence in Mixon’s life. “Music wasn’t a huge part of my life,” she said. But life has changed for Mixon and music is now a part of her identity. “If I Could Live in a Picture” can be purchased online at www.cdbaby.com. Mixon’s next performance is Saturday at Schroeder’s New Deli at 8 p.m. with Nikki Sutherland.
Kristen Smith - Rome News Tribune (Apr 21, 2004)
You have a way with words, but more than that, you have the gift to put those words to the music that gives the song “life.”
SB - Listener from Rome (Apr 7, 2006)