James Renald, a successful and talented singer-songwriter best known as leader of the Montreal duo Sky, has - according to reports - died at age 46.
Details of his death have been incredibly elusive and it is noted that it occurred sometime in 2018 before August.
It only received obscure mentions on Wikipedia, Youtube and Twitter.
Renald is best known for the 1999 hit Love Song, which has received endless radio play on Canadian easy listening FM stations.
Some Kind of Wonderful was also a hit and both songs still get plenty of airtime across Canada and possibly beyond.
Renald suffered from debilitating social anxiety that forced him out of the limelight.
In one episode Renald declined to come on stage to accept a music award, leaving his music duo partner Antoine Sicotte to accept the honour alone.
Sicotte replied to a note on social media confirming Renald's death but offered no other details.
Sicotte kept Sky going without Renald but got no more hits out of it.
Renald went on to become a behind-the-scenes songwriter, penning Cry by Mandy Moore, which has 17 million views on Youtube.
Renald remained so low-profile that the only photo of him from the last few years was taken likely without his knowledge in 2013. He is seen sporting a ball cap, beard and glasses, much unlike his previous image. The image was snapped by singer-songwriter Daniel Powter best known for his 127-million view hit song Bad Day.
A couple of references indicate that Renald lived in the tiny northern BC town of Mackenzie for a time including around 2002 but had since moved away.
Social anxiety, according to The Guradian, can be caused by "serotonin imbalances and overactive amygdalae. There are also genetic factors at work which try to explain why social anxiety tends to run in families. Whatever the ultimate cause, the stubbornly physical basis of social anxiety suggests that there is no immediate cure. One doctor informed me that it’s just something that has to be lived with."
Please write megaforce@gmail.com to help piece the rest of this story together.
Details of his death have been incredibly elusive and it is noted that it occurred sometime in 2018 before August.
It only received obscure mentions on Wikipedia, Youtube and Twitter.
Renald is best known for the 1999 hit Love Song, which has received endless radio play on Canadian easy listening FM stations.
Renald suffered from debilitating social anxiety that forced him out of the limelight.
In one episode Renald declined to come on stage to accept a music award, leaving his music duo partner Antoine Sicotte to accept the honour alone.
Sicotte replied to a note on social media confirming Renald's death but offered no other details.
Sicotte kept Sky going without Renald but got no more hits out of it.
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| Renald, at right, seen in 2004 |
Renald remained so low-profile that the only photo of him from the last few years was taken likely without his knowledge in 2013. He is seen sporting a ball cap, beard and glasses, much unlike his previous image. The image was snapped by singer-songwriter Daniel Powter best known for his 127-million view hit song Bad Day.
A couple of references indicate that Renald lived in the tiny northern BC town of Mackenzie for a time including around 2002 but had since moved away.
Social anxiety, according to The Guradian, can be caused by "serotonin imbalances and overactive amygdalae. There are also genetic factors at work which try to explain why social anxiety tends to run in families. Whatever the ultimate cause, the stubbornly physical basis of social anxiety suggests that there is no immediate cure. One doctor informed me that it’s just something that has to be lived with."Please write megaforce@gmail.com to help piece the rest of this story together.
Wow I was just looking around because love song got stuck in my head and i was curious as to what became of the group. Its pretty sad that the anxiety crippled the poor guy at such a young age. I'm glad he was still able to create music and stay with his work. RIP
ReplyDeleteMe too! I am so shocked. He truly was a gifted songwriter and I don't say that lightly like some throw away thing because you only have to listen to the album 'Push' to realise this is something superior to anything we've ever listened to. And the refreshing thing about them is they didn't look how you expected them to sound. This is heartbreaking. I only went to YouTube today to listen to their music as it reminds me of Canada so much then decided to Google as I wanted to know what happened to Sky after he left. I couldn't believe what I was reading ie he died last year at age 46. I even went to a signing and met him, but he totally looked uncomfortable with the fame thing. It's so heartbreaking. It really is, but thank you for your music which still is timeless.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to have ripped one of James' demos he recorded with keyboardist Loren Gold on from MySpace: https://youtu.be/ZoDUjjWbiW0
ReplyDeleteIt was later used as an original song in the film Bandslam, performed by actor Scott Porter.
https://www.kitchenertoday.com/around-ontario/james-renald-of-montreal-duo-sky-remembered-for-writing-lyrical-pop-hits-1367325
ReplyDeleteThis was just published two hours ago on 10th April 2019.
He committed suicide.
I'm heartbroken. But I don't understand why because it's not like I knew him, but I recognised he was an exceptionally gifted songwriter. I think Antoine Sicotte definitely recognised this too and I can bet that he was solely responsible for their success and Sicotte just rode that wave and wanted to share the limelight even though watching him feels a bit Milli Vanilli. Sky just felt 100% James Renald.
Their music just has a different meaning for me now and every time I listen to James's vocals, I'm emotional. It is a huge loss but I'm struggling to come to terms he ended his own life. He really must have been in such a dark place. It seems the gifted and creative are.
I woke up from dozing on the couch earlier tonight & for some reason I had "love song" stuck in my head. I decided to watch one of Sky's videos for the song. I then went on to Google what became of the original duo. I was (& still am) stunned & saddened to hear of the circumstances of James Renald's passing. I feel a sense of loss I can't quite explain to be honest. I also feel a sense of torment & pain that's not my own. Ive heard it said a lot of the stars we see in the nights sky are actually no longer there... RIP James Renald.
ReplyDeleteI am so sad to hear of his passing. My daughter played Some Kinda Wonderful on her phone while we were riding around today. I said, I love that song and she said it is one of her favs and now looking them up I find out he is gone. We rocked all day to that song. Thank you for the joy it brought..
ReplyDeleteI came here to commemorate James Renald on his birthday, February 22. He would have been 51 today. I hope things are well on his end.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Sicotte was just riding the wave of Sky's success. While they shared song writing credits, Sky felt like it was 100% James Renald. I've never heard Sicotte sing or play a note. Somehow, as a Pisces person born February 26, I kind of understand his prolonged torment and pain, which I think ultimately led to his suicide. It's painful to watch his body language, its clear he's uncomfortable and anxiety ridden and its evident in this only interview of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Dj3z2WeOk . I feel like Sicotte actually perpetuated his anxiety, you can see him roll his eyes or display expressions of annoyance every time James speaks. Nevertheless, I truly hope James is in a happy place.