Marian Renta Drops Vintage-inspired Heady New Single + Video “You Doin' a Work in Me”

Singer-songwriter Marian Renta delivers Gospel-soul Blues to the max with her ultra sassy, Motown-laced single and video “You Doin’ a Work in Me” hitting stores today. A major nod to the Soul-blues sound of the legendary Chitlin’ Circuit, the song is a rollercoaster of vocal runs and tantalizing musical arrangements.

“You Doin’ a Work in Me” is a powerhouse vocal showcase resting on a highly refined production that makes use of rich arrangements and stellar writing. The DNA of the song is pure Motown; a tickling piano, a slow shuffle beat, a robust upright bass, and a showstopping brass section bursting out at just the right times. Renta takes center stage with her resonant, velvety voice and melismatic delivery. Written, produced, and arranged by Renta in her recording studio, the song shares her testimony and harks back to the days when she walked in darkness. ‘Work in Me’ paints a picture of a young person living for self, steeped in sin, and feeling the consequences. The song tells the tale of a person who is brought to their knees, led to a place left with no choice but to cry out to God in desperation. The lyrics speak of the ways in which God transforms us from within, curbing our lustful appetites, and renewing our minds to view sin from His perspective. Renta states:

“This song is my testimony dressed in blues-y, Etta James-esque, Motown, Mahalian fashion. I had so much fun producing and arranging this song, and I simply sang the vocals and the melody just as it came to me, not really tweaking much. I had so much blues and soul energy pent up from years of being confined in a Pop box. It just all came pouring out, and I knew that this song was something special. It’s my experience with the Spirit of God moving through me and delivering me from a life that I don’t belong to. I’m His, and He set me straight and put me back on track.”

The song’s music video, Directed by Renta and filmed by Timothy Cox in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, adopts a cinematic feel. Rendered in widescreen, it has a warm, lush, film-like quality. It captures Renta performing the song in a monologue style; no glamour, just authentic expression and charisma. The cinematography is dynamic and builds up its energy to a climactic point whereby Renta is dancing around rehearsal space freely and expressively. She states:

“We had such a good time making this video, and it’s definitely my favorite shoot I’ve done. We were like two kids with a camera just playing around and exploring our ideas. Tim is such a goof like me, and he really gets my vision, often complementing my ideas with his own that really hit the mark. Mostly, it just felt nice to be in my regular street clothes, performing this song as if I were in my kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.”

“You Doin’ a Work in Me” is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. The music video can be streamed on all video streaming platforms, including Youtube and TIDAL.