The best kind of song is familiar and illuminating all at once, and if you're lucky, its creator is too. Such is the case with Reni Lane, the 20-year-old whose edgy beauty belies her geekier side. A campus character at Columbia University, this classically trained artist extraordinaire is ready to turn heads in the music scene - while finishing her homework first. Tall and radiant, Reni's charisma attracts the young, not so young, and apparently, legendary photographers. True story: Reni Lane goes to see a Verve concert. Wanting to soak up the magnificence that is The Verve from center stage, Reni bypasses her seat and cozies up into the front row. Turns out the seat belongs to Mick Rock, who, upon seeing Reni, has a quick jolt of Deja Vu: Reni reminded him of a young David Bowie on the Ziggy Stardust tour. The two immediately hit it off, Mick offers to photograph Reni, and the rest is rock history. At 7 years old, Reni began learning piano on a Casio (of the toy variety) purchased from a yard sale in Corvallis, Oregon. She recited lyrics and melodies by heart from her favorite Disney Movies and performed them at home with her little sister. Later she became inspired by the impressionism of Debussy and Chopin. She seared through the classical chords while discovering the rock of U2, Tori Amos, and Radiohead. After relocating to Virginia, Reni won a coveted first chair position on trombone in All-District competition (band geeks take notice). With a dean's list carte blanche she graduated high school early. At the age of 18, Reni moved to Manhattan and found her way to the Sidewalk Cafe, a breeding ground for other songsters such as Nellie McKay, Regina Spektor, and Beck. While performing she captured the eyes of NYC fashion casting directions asking if she'd ever done a print ad or beauty campaign, her answer, "No thank you". In 2007 she toured Holland with her band, playing the famous Melkweg in Amsterdam. Upon returning to the states Reni was officially "discovered" by MTV talent executives and featured in their First Ladies of Rock campaign, sponsored by Virgin Mobile. She also began her sophomore year at Columbia University with a bang, where she built a small stage (spot lights included) in her dorm room. Six months later, she signed a record deal with Custard Records/Universal. What a year! Maybe NYLON Magazine said it best when they wrote, "Some people seem to exist just to make the rest of us look like slackers. Reni Lane is one of them." And it's just getting started...