After kicking off the summer with the acclaimed “Glow Up,” pop singer and actress Dina Renée — born in Knoxville and now based in Los Angeles — returns with her new single, “Heartbreak Saved My Life,” released via AWAL/The Orchard. Blending Dance-Pop, Electropop, and the signature Y2K flair that defines her sound, the track turns heartbreak into strength, energy, and liberation. With vibrant production by Ayax Arroyo and songwriting alongside Brooke Tomlinson, Dina delivers a song that celebrates rising from the pain and offers a glimpse of the bold new sonic era she will unveil next year.
“Heartbreak Saved My Life” turns pain into strength. At what moment did you realize that this feeling could become a song — and more than that, an empowerment anthem?
My co-writer and I just talked out how I was feeling at the time. I was really depressed, barely able to leave my bed except to go do shows. I was telling her how a few days in a row a light would randomly come on in the middle of the night that I did not switch on. I instinctively knew it was my late mother trying to tell me it’ll be ok. I was telling her how I was losing myself in this relationship and maybe somehow I’d feel like me again without him. It inspired the whole song.
You mentioned that the song was inspired by one of the hardest heartbreaks of your life. What was it like revisiting those emotions during the writing and recording process?
It was like therapy to me, but the best kind. I’ve never found a good psychologist, my last one ate chips while I told her about my dead mom – I know they are out there, but to me, music has always been what gets me through tough times, so writing a song is all I needed to really get through the pain I was in.
The single blends Dance-Pop and Electropop with a clear Y2K energy. How did you arrive at this sonic aesthetic to express the message behind the song?
It was when we performed it live at the Viper Room. I realized everyone was dancing and that’s when I decided a dance track could be cool. My producer, Aj, made it all come to life in that way.
The lyrics explore rebirth after the end of a relationship. What were the challenges of balancing vulnerability and strength in your vocal interpretation?
Balancing vulnerability and strength in the vocal was really about letting those two ideas exist together. For me, one of the most powerful moments is ending the pre-chorus with “she saved herself instead.” That line is simple, but it says everything — even when things get bad, even when something tries to hold you back, you can still choose yourself.
That’s why it hits so hard going into the chorus, “I found my power in the blinding light.” It’s like saying: yes, the situation was painful, but the very thing that tried to break me actually pushed me into my own strength. So vocally, I wanted that shift to be clear — the softness of realizing what happened, and then the rise into claiming the light and the power that came from it.
You collaborated once again with Brooke Tomlinson on the songwriting. How did this partnership shape the emotional and narrative tone of the track?
Brooke and I really dug into how I was feeling at the time — every detail, every shift, every emotion that was still hard to say out loud. She has this way of taking what I’m going through and helping me elevate it into something bigger than the moment. Working with her shaped the whole emotional core of the song. She helped me translate my experience into a narrative that feels honest, but also empowering. It went from “this is what happened to me” to “this is how I saved myself,” and that shift is a huge part of why the song hits the way it does.
Ayax Arroyo’s production brought a vibrant, euphoric energy to the song. What was the collaboration like in shaping the atmosphere and soundscape of the track?
Ayax immediately understood the heart of the song — that it needed to feel emotional but also uplifting, like the moment you realize you’ve actually grown from something that once hurt you. We worked a lot on building a sound that felt bright and hopeful without losing the vulnerability in the lyrics. He really helped create that feeling of stepping into your own power, and the production almost becomes its own storyline. It feels like a rebirth, which was exactly what the song needed.
“Heartbreak Saved My Life” closes your musical year but also marks a new beginning. What does this release symbolize for you artistically — and what can fans expect from this next chapter?
Releasing this song at the end of the year feels symbolic because it’s me closing out a chapter that taught me a lot. It represents a turning point — choosing myself, trusting my voice, and letting go of the things that were holding me back. Artistically, it feels like a fresh start.
For the next chapter, fans can expect more honesty, more intention, and music that reflects where I am now — stronger, more confident, and more open. This song really sets the tone for what’s coming next.
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