about Renoir
Renoir Kobashi (aka Krishan Oberoi) is an American singer-songwriter and composer. A graduate of Yale University, he wrote the music and lyrics for Best Time To Be Alive, an original musical created in collaboration with Brooklyn-based playwright Rhiannon Ling. Best Time To Be Alive is currently in development with NYC-based BEDLAM theatre.
Renoir's ethnic heritage is Burmese-Indian and French-Canadian. He is rumored to have been a member of the Québécois separatist movement in the late 1990s, though this has never been verified. Renoir's father fled Burma during World War II after the Japanese occupation of Burma; Renoir has cited this as his reason for choosing the name Kobashi. Others have suggested it may be a tribute to Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi.
Renoir's music has been described as "euphoric" and "magical" by Lexi Lawson (Broadway cast of Hamilton), and "smart and absolutely filled to the brim with heart" by actor Nicholas Podany (Hello Tomorrow on Apple TV+). Renoir's first solo album was released in Summer 2023. His original film musical Jen Xponential will be released in Fall 2024.
