Last sunday the rather unknown but surely promising Canadian bluesrock band No Sinner – with singer and actress Colleen Rennison – performed on stage of the Paradiso in Amsterdam. The band already established a reputation in Canada and the United States. No Sinner played at The Commodore Ballroom and The Biltmore Cabaret in their hometown Vancouver. And recently performed at the big South By South West Festival in Austin, Texas.

Besides being a great singer Rennison is also a well known actress who started acting at a very young age. The acting career of the now 26 years old Rennison began already in 1994 with the film Max. Later on she acted in TV series as The Outer Limits, Highlander, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Millennium and The Sentinel and films like Da Vinci’s City Hall, Unforgettable (with Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino), Rob Reiner’s The Story Of Us – with Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer – and the Sally Field directed film Beautiful, with Kathleen Turner.

But for this occasion Rennison didn’t come to Amsterdam as an actress but as a singer in her band No Sinner. And what a singer. Rennison has a great and soulful voice at her disposal. Her raw and hoarse tone of voice is often compared to singers like Beth Hart, Dana Fuchs and Janis Joplin. Certainly when she really shouts out loud, like she demonstrates during the performance later on.

Like agreed with the record company Mascot Label Group we arrive one hour in advance at the side-entrance of the Amsterdam pop temple Paradiso. At the Paradiso we are nicely let in by a staff-member and somewhat later guided through the catacombs into the dressing room of No Sinner. There we meet Rennison – just finished the sound-check – preparing for the show to come. In the dressing room we have a nice talk with the versatile and multi-talented Colleen Rennison in which I submit her to some questions.

You are born and raised in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada. Do you still live there?

“Sure, it’s still my hometown. In that way I’m home-loving. Just for work I’m often on the road. We tour a lot. And for acting I often stay in New York or Los Angeles.”

How’s Vancouver? Is there a considerable music scene over there?

“Oh yeah, Vancouver has a considerable music scene with a lot of musicians who live there. In Vancouver there are many venues and places for live music. Like The Commodore Ballroom and The Biltmore Cabaret and many more.

I know you started acting at a very early age? What about singing? Did you start singing at an early age as well?

“I started singing since my early childhood years. Besides acting, singing is my big passion.”

“I prefer to combine singing and acting.

I really love to do both.”

Did you start singing in bands at an early age too? Or is No Sinner your first real band?

“No, at first I’ve been singing in several cover bands in which we played different kinds of music. From Motown-soul and blues to heavy rock like Led Zeppelin and similar bands.”

What do you prefer, by the way. Singing or acting?

“I like both a lot. Preferably I would like to combine them. But in the end it is not a choice really. That would be the case if you could choose your acting roles as an actress. Unfortunately that’s not the case. So you have to be contented with what comes your way. And accept roles that are offered to you. By the way, I’ve just been nominated for my role in the film Down River in which I sing as well. Of course for me that’s a perfect combination. For this part I’m nominated for a Canadian movie award. One of these days – as a matter of fact I think even tonight – will be announced whether or not I’ll win this award.

How did you meet up with the other band members of No Sinner?

“We knew each other already from the musicians’ scene in Vancouver and decided to join up and form our own band.”

When did this occur? And is this still the same formation that you start up with?

“I guess we joined together about three years ago now. Eric Campbell (guitarist) and Ian Browne (drummer) are in it from the start. Even as Parker Bossley at that time. But somehow there always been a lot of changes in bass players. Often they started a band of their own. I even think we have our fifth or so bassist, now. On this European tour we are accompanied by bassist Brandon Clarke.”

In 2012 you released an EP and now Boo Hoo Hoo is your official debut album. How’s the record doing in Canada and the United States?

“Well, I can’t say anything reasonable about that. The album still has to be released officially in Canada and the United States. It’s due to be released on June 24th, I think.”

“Songs originate spontaneously during jam sessions.

And strangely enough while I ride my bike.”

Who writes the songs? Or in what way are they created?

“On Boo Hoo Hoo there are a number of covers, but most of the songs are originally ours. I write a lot of stuff in cooperation with my friend Parker Bossley and some songs originate spontaneously during jam sessions with the band. And strangely enough a lot of lyrics originate while I ride my bike.”

I saw some of your shows in The Commodore Ballroom and The Biltmore Cabaret. How’s The Commodore Ballroom like? Is it a nice venue?

“Oh yes. The Commodore is awesome. It’s a crazy venue where many musicians from Vancouver perform. In that way it’s a great meeting point as well.”

What do you think of the Paradiso? Have you ever been here before and do the people in Vancouver know about this famous Dutch temple of music?

“I’ve never been here before, but it’s an awesome venue of course. Among musicians in Canada the Paradiso is well known. So I’m really proud to perform here.”

“The South By South West Festival is like a nuthouse.

It’s an overkill of music and film.”

I noticed you performed at the South By South West Festival in Austin, Texas. What can you tell me about that? How’s it like?

“Austin, Texas is a huge musical city. Like Nashville is in Tennessee. The South By South West Festival is great, but it’s immense. It’s quite like a nuthouse. So much music and so many movies makes it almost an overkill. There is so much to do. So many spots to see. And there are so many people and booties going round that it almost resembles a human safari. We did like it very much, but it was extremely intense. We did about seven shows over there.

Your voice is often compared to Beth Hart, Dana Fuchs and even Janis Joplin. Certainly when you’re really screaming out loud. Which female singers do you admire yourself?

“Well, I am an admirer of singers like Billy Holiday, Etta James and Aretha Franklin, but I also admire Carole King a lot. But I can appreciate Whitney Houston’s voice and vocal range for its beauty as well.

A glance at the time indicates to me you have to go on stage within half an hour. And I can imagine you’d like to prepare yourself for it. So I thank you for your time and your hospitality. And good luck with the show.

“Okay, my pleasure. Thanks to you too. So you stay in order to witness our show. Cool!”

Text: Rick Warner

Colleen Rennison als (zingende) actrice in haar laatste film DOWN RIVER (in 2013 uitgeroepen tot Most Popular Canadian Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival):