Stuart Rennie is a talented North East Victorian based songwriter and composer whose music explores deep emotional landscapes and intricate sonic textures.
His latest release, Caught in the Middle, is now available for streaming on Atomic Music and marks a significant moment in his musical journey.
This song, which combines personal reflection with poignant instrumentation, is the lead track from his upcoming work, the Reflections 2024 EP, and stands as a testament to Stuart’s ability to capture raw human emotion through sound.
In a recent interview, Stuart shared insights into his songwriting process and plans for the future, offering a deeper understanding of the artist behind Caught in the Middle.
When it comes to crafting songs, Stuart places a heavy emphasis on emotional expression through his choice of instruments. In the balance between music and lyrics, he’s less focused on the lyrical content, often letting the music convey the emotional depth he wishes to express.
A great example of this, is one of the tracks on Reflections 2024, called Time Can Come To Me, in which the lyrics are performed not by a human voice, but a classical guitar. Stuart will release a lyric video available for those who want to understand the intended meaning, but releasing as an instrumental invites the listener to focus on the music and melody, and not on words, to convey the emotion of the song.
In Caught in the Middle, the use of saxophone similarly plays a crucial role. Stuart chose the instrument specifically to evoke the emotional weight of the song, drawing inspiration from the classic track At This Moment by Billy Vera.
When asked about the inspirations behind Caught in the Middle Stuart said:
“The song came about quite a few years ago during a time of family upheaval, and as the title suggests, I felt I was ‘ caught in the middle’ with responsibilities/obligations to support all family members involved. Emotions surfaced included hopelessness, frustration, sadness, loneliness. Being caught in the middle, and knowing there are things outside of your control, the costs of actions taken at the time can be huge and far reaching. Sometimes people end up being hurt regardless of what action is or isn’t taken, and it’s true no action is necessarily going to satisfy everyone, so you make your best gut decision.”
Stuart took great care in ensuring the song conveyed the emotions and intentions of being caught in the middle, and his attention to detail is highlighted in achieving the perfect sonic environment. He mentioned the song is the only one in the EP where he’s “sent a reference track to each of the musicians involved” to ensure the right vibe was reached.
Looking ahead, Stuart is set to continue his musical exploration, with plans to release one or two more songs in 2026.
His work on the Reflections 2024 EP, which included professional mixing and mastering, marked a pivotal step forward in his sound, offering a more polished and refined version of his artistic vision.
When asked about his goals for the future, as primarily a songwriter/composer, he’d love to hear one of his songs performed live through others—though he doesn’t see himself as a performing artist. Collaborating with others for live performances, might further expand his musical reach, something possibly common amongst non-performing artists.
Given his already collaborative approach to song creation, this seems like an achievable goal for the artist.
He also has a goal of branching into sync licensing for film and TV, with Time Can Come to Me being one of his standout tracks, as he believes it represents his best musical work to date.
Despite this, Stuart is leading the upcoming EP with Caught in the Middle given the personal meaning it has for him.
Stuart’s music continues to evolve as he delves into new creative territories, but at the heart of it all is his commitment to connecting with listeners through deeply emotional and carefully crafted compositions. Caught in the Middle is a perfect example of his ability to draw from personal experiences and translate them into a compelling musical narrative.To experience the emotional depth and artistry of Caught in the Middle, be sure to visit the Atomic Music website and stream the track today.
