"Hard though it is to think back to those halcyon days of youth, between the ages of 13 and 21 … Not many of us were writing the songs that would one day form our debut album … Anna Renae was doing just that, capturing the experience of teenage life in music, navigating the turbulent maelstroms of those years and making sense of them through songs. Any worries that this might therefore come across as the kind of immature cod-philosophical musings you associate with teenagers should be dispelled instantly on the first play. … There's not a weak song on the album, and Renae melds together pop and folk sensibilities with a great deal of craft. … Where Renae truly shines is in her ability to take what are really very personal moments and lessons in her life, and turn them into something that will speak to everyone. … Skin is an absolute delight of an album from start to finish, and is one of the most impressive debuts I've heard in some time."

- Adam Jenkins, FATEA (22nd April 2020)

Read full review here

​

"[Skin] draws on the songs she has written between the ages of 13 and 21, though they show the maturity of someone much older … The album opens strongly with her superb a cappella voice on ‘Alaska’, inspired by the film ‘Into the Wild’. It is just one of the songs with her layered harmonies and strings. My favourite song comes next with ‘Far From Sanity’, which deals with the madness of being in love, something I hadn’t thought about, but I think she gets it just right … There’s really not a bad track on the album … ‘Loving You Silently’, which was a piece she had to write for a string quartet during her time at university, the harmonies and string arrangements are just stunning and when she performs it live it brings tears to the eyes … For my money, amongst the very many talented female singer songwriters out there Anna is one who will go far … For those that like comparisons, think of Suzanne Vega with a hint of Taylor Swift."

- Duncan Chappell, Shire Folk (6th February 2021)

Full review on Shire Folk Twitter page

​

"Anna is telling the story of her young life and these are deeply personal songs – the sort I would normally run a mile from, which is why I find her music so appealing. I’m nearly fifty years away from her but I can relate to the things she sings about because of her artistry. The line ‘the country is no place to build a kingdom’ and its mirror image of the city in ‘Where To Belong’ says so much. I don’t want to hammer the point but Anna wrote ‘The Soldier’ when she was thirteen - but its maturity is astonishing and the same can be said of the whole album. I will also say that she has a powerful voice that exudes confidence; the sort of voice I want to listen to. If Anna Renae isn’t a star one day I’ll know I should have retired long before now."

- Dai Jeffries, Folking.com (18th March 2020)

Read full review here

​

"Given that she wrote most of the songs on her debut album Skin during her teens, there's a maturity to Anna Renae's tales that, unsurprisingly, draw on her own experiences of love, heartbreak, leaving home and finding her place in the world. Avoiding the obvious pitfalls of such a musical journey, Renae's narrative songs are honest, charming and beautifully performed."

- Issue 81 of RnR Magazine (8th May 2020)

Visit website here

​

"The album kick starts with a song named "Alaska". This lovely intro tune contains melodic guitar instrumentals that are accompanied by such a huge range of effortlessly stunning vocals. Every song tells its own story and you will feel as though you are on a journey alongside Anna and her music. "Homeward Bound" is another fantastic song to look out for on the album, a really strong and refreshing song that will raise your mood tenfold. Anna Renae has a voice that is up there with the professionals you hear on the Radio everyday! Her songwriting and ability to perform are truly impressive ... It's clear that a lot of genuine love and hard work went into each and every one of her songs"

- New Blood, Roadie Records (25th March 2020)

Read full review here

​

“Against the bright acoustic picking patterns, her vocal tone is pure and warm with nice character that gives her music a folk edge...By the second verse, after a moment's breath, the arrangement blossoms with guitar strumming and percussion moving towards a pop-folk flavor. A gorgeous violin is soon added to the mix...The title of the song "Skin" refers to a moment in life that lives beneath your skin...The song is a coming of age tale, a time of transition and inner growth, where a young woman discovers her own "truth" and learns the life lesson of being true to herself..."Skin" is a beautiful song that displays Anna's ability to bring emotions and stories to life through introspective lyrics, a well-conceived arrangement, and a warm and inviting vocal performance. "Skin" shows that Anna's music can go beneath the surface of the skin and touch the soul.”

- Sylvie Marie & Staff, 'Skin' Song Review, Please Pass The Indie (6th April 2020)

Read full song review here

​

"Anna's songs in her early years of writing started out with very basic song lines and guitar strumming accompaniment, for this, her debut release, she revisited them, added harmonies and layers, giving the songs lift and new life. She has progressed impressively, compiling some complex and interesting songs for the listener...Anna's catalogue of early songs seems endless, 'Skin' is an extremely well crafted and produced release for one so young, we look forward with great anticipation of what is to come."

- The Sound Cafe (7th October 2020)

Read full review here