Pictures taken by Yetbarek Temesgen out of Ethiopia
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Deejay Wolf: First of all, give me a bit of some background.
Ceeceefied: I started singing when I was 5. Went to Shalom Christian School in Kitwe and we would always have an end of year concert. So yeah that was basically the beginning...the kid with the big voice. That was basically me. From then I did the whole singing in church thing.
Deejay Wolf: 5? That’s a very young age to start singing. Where you born in a family of musicians?
Ceeceefied: Umm, no not really actually....I don’t really remember any of my family members being singers. It was just the encouragement of my teacher at the time Mrs Mumba, so I guess I owe it all to her.
Deejay Wolf: Cool...You mentioned Kitwe, how did you find yourself in Canada?
Ceeceefied: Well I was born in Ndola, moved to different cities growing up. My dad was in the military that’s why I guess. Started school in Kitwe when I was 5 then moved to Lusaka when I was 9 I think. Went to a whole bunch of schools...GOCA, Mary Queen of Peace, St Mary's and finally Chipembi. I then took a one year gap just chilling and working for Chinama hotel and in 2006 I moved here. It was either the U.S.A or Canada and this seemed like a better choice. You could say I have always been a nomad. I like travelling so it works well.
Deejay Wolf: Yeah I see...so when did you think of making your singing a career?
Ceeceefied: Am still thinking about it actually...ha ah ah ah. But I figured since I am here and I have all these resources at my disposal I might as well make use of the opportunity. I met some great people who are now good friends...equally with a passion for music so things worked out well and am learning as I go so it’s a process
Deejay Wolf: So you are not signed to any label?
Ceeceefied: No, not currently, but I have worked with one here called Nico Roth. Focus, the guy on the ‘Forever Long’ track is with Nico Roth and Ritchcraft who produced the song is from Nico Roth as well.
Deejay Wolf: I saw your myspace page and your reverbnation page and you have a number of songs on there...namely ‘Confused’ and ‘Forever long’. Haven’t you taken your demos to any major labels?
Ceeceefied: I am in the middle of working on a kit with one of my friends Emma...to put something concrete together before approaching any of the major labels, but I have my eyes set on SONY...I have had some contact with EMI but like all other artists I have to wait for a response.
Deejay Wolf: I see that most of your songs are in English even though I have no doubt that you can sing in Bemba or Nyanja. Is it a career move or you have not just thought about going vernacular?
Ceeceefied: Honestly I find it really hard to write songs in vernacular but I am proud to say I recently wrote one and though its only got a few vernacular lines its a step to more....and my Nyanja isn’t that great so if I am going to go with a 100% vernacular song it will probably be Bemba. I am exploring other languages as well. Spanish and Arabic. So we'll see how it goes. Wish me luck….ha ah.
Deejay Wolf: Yeah Arabic? Where did you learn Arabic?
Ceeceefied: I know countable words but I don’t think you need to know a language to sing in it. But early this year I took a trip t the middle east and was just loving the language I decided I will one day write an Arabic song because the expressions of feeling are so beautiful so it just made sense.
Deejay Wolf: So how does it feel to be number one on the RnB/Soul charts for Halifax?
Ceeceefied: I feel my goal is being achieved. What I mean is
when I write a poem or song which I don’t do very often. Am feeling a particular way and would like my reader or listener to understand what am feeling and relate to it on more than just a basic level
It’s like when you read something and you like ‘damn that’s some true deep ish!’ If that’s the reaction of the reader or listener...then am good
Deejay Wolf: You do write some deep poetry for sure...I was on your blog and I could relate to some of your songs. I wont say which because you will be like 'There you go' but yeah. Just break it down for me and tell me, are your songs real life situation stories or just art?
Ceeceefied: ha ha h aha h ah ah ah a well there you go...ah ah ah a I kid I kid!! Umm yeah def real life situations but not necessarily my situations....am inspired but others lives whether its people close to me or not. Do some crazy deep ish and ama write about you...ha h aha. I am kidding.
Deejay Wolf: Ok how bout this line here. You gatta come clean on this one right now...plead the 5th or something.
'I dont want to be the bitch that split you two'
I saw this line on your blog somewhere. Was that a line from a song or you were just blogging?
Ceeceefied: ha ha h aha h ah ah ah ah aha ha! Damn why you gotta call a sister out.....it was a situation I had observed. Usually when there is a third party in a relationship people are quick to point a finger at the lady saying she is this and that but they don’t look at things from a whole.
It’s like a ball. They are just seeing one side of things never the whole sphere. So yeah that’s what that poem was about and if am not mistaken I think it led to ‘Confused’ the song. Usually my poetry at some point becomes music.
Deejay Wolf: No COMMENT! Because things like that do happen. Way to go. Tell me a bit about the whole process of you writing a song to when it’s complete. How does it go?
Ceeceefied: Every song is different. Like ‘Confused’.....it started with some situation I wrote about. The situation got intense so I couldn’t write more about it so I came up with the song melody and altered the poem a little but maintained the concept. Went to studio...sang it to my producer JJ. I was with my good friend JR Mitti(aka Goldfinger) and after a beat and all that was created around it I just asked him to add a verse and he did....which is amazing because he had no prior knowledge of the details of the situation. Other songs start on the bus ...or while in class (yeah yeah my mind strays sometimes). ha ha ah ah!!
At times I would listen to JRs beats and be like I wanna sing to this and just write to it or pick a poem that I would like to go with the beat
Deejay Wolf: Ok. Talk about Versatility, the mark of a true artist. I was wathching you video for 'I wont ask for world peace' There some deep lines in that poem, can you explain the inspiration behind it?
Ceeceefied: hmmm I don’t remember...I might have been watching the News or thinking of beauty pagents. I think it was beauty pagents. When they ask the model ‘if you where crowned Miss so and so, what would you do first or work towards?’ and they all say WORLD PEACE.....its kinda funny really coz I don’t know how many actually do anything about it. So I just started writing, letting my pen lead the way...I don’t think when am writing....and yeah basically the different ways in which we can achieve world peace without just wishing it...me putting a smile on your face, on her face and on a hungry kids face is a step to world peace. So yeah let them wish for that. Amma just do it in the simplest way most doable for me.
Deejay Wolf: Ok. So who is your role model?
Ceeceefied: Wow! I have never really thought about it...but I think my parents and definitely Christ...but every person I come into contact with adds their 2cents to my life whether they know it or not.
Musically Lauryn Hill, Boys 2 Men, Kci and Jojo.....otherwise, like I said I learn a lot from a lot of people around me.
Deejay Wolf: Lauryn Hill...Yeah that lady has inspired a lot of people. She sure has soul. So what is the reason you are doing music? Is it for the fame or the money? Or just to entertain people
Ceeceefied: It would be great to be rich...everyone dreams eyy...ha ha ha! But I honestly don’t think am ready for fame...lack of privacy and all that, everyone in your business...for me its more for the love of music, of expressing myself and expressing yours and other peoples thoughts and feeling through my music.
Deejay Wolf: Well there is no way out if you are scared of being famous because already you have fans and if these people were to run across you in the street, they would take pictures
Ceeceefied: Its not being scared....I don’t think anyone is ever ready for something like that. If it comes then its part of the package. Its like love...with the happiness comes the risk of hurt. Doesn’t mean you not going to fall in love..so yeah bring it on..ha ha ah ah!!
Deejay Wolf: Cool. So what are your plans for you music career?
Ceeceefied: I would definitely like to appeal to a wider audience hence the desire to brunch off into other languages and would also like to get into the Zambian scene...charity begins at home si mwamene!
I am gonna be done with University in a little bit so I will be able to dedicate more time to music, work on an EP first perhaps 5 tracks before proceeding to a full blown album.
Deejay Wolf: Sure thing. You are headed in the right direction. Aren’t you planning to shoot a video for one of your songs?
Ceeceefied: Actually I am. All that is in the works...’Confused’ got the attention of a local Canadian producer and we are discussing video concepts and such. So hopefully we will be getting down to the actual shooting soon as all the talks and brainstorming is done. Also a good friend of mine Mr Paul Green will be working on a Ceeceefied website so fans can get updates, downloads, wall papers and be able check out what am up to all in one spot.
Deejay Wolf: Wow...I tell you what? ‘Confused’ is stuck in my head. But I would love to hear it revamped now that you know that it’s got potential
Ceeceefied: Definitely! I have a stack of tracks to work on so there is definitely more to come and ‘Confused’ will be heading them all
Deejay Wolf: Well it’s a wrap for now. Nice talking to you and looking forward to many mo interviews as you advance in your career
Ceeceefied: thanks....for sure....and now my bed calls ..its 3.12 am...have a great day!!
Promo songs coming in a day or two