"I believe music chose me." A moment with Cmagic5

When people are at a young age, many of them pretend to be singing on stage with a microphone in their hands. That is also a story that sounds familiar to the talented 18-year-old Cmagic5. A few years and singles later, the dream has finally become a reality. And her dream continues until today by wanting to give people a good time and stay positive by listening to her music.

We sat down with the Portuguese origin and Canada based young singer and songwriter to talk about her passion for music, managing every aspect of her brand herself and how important critics are for her development as an artist.

How did you discover your passion for music?

I believe music chose me. My parents say that I started humming before talking. My passion for singing and performing manifested itself when I was very young and I was already performing to a ‘living room’ audience by the age of 5. I believe that the inspiration for writing songs was innate and I had written my first song at the age of 6. By the age of 10, my articulation developed and I had written and composed my very first original song with no help. The lyrics were very raw, pure, and straight from the heart. This ignited my creativity as Cmagic5 and encouraged me to pursue song writing. For as long as I can remember, music has always been an integral part of my life.

What´s the story behind your artist name ‘Cmagic5’?

That’s a great question! It’s my vivid imagination and original ideas that made me want to think of something creative and different. Spilling the tea here, as they say. The “C” corresponds to the initial of my first name, which I may choose to reveal sometime in the future… sshhhh. The number 5 is my lucky number, being born on the 5TH day of the 5th month. Ever since I was little, I always hoped people would experience “magic” through the power of music.

You write and compose your music all yourself and even managing every aspect of your brand. What have been the most difficult situations for you so far?

Yes, that is correct! With the pandemic gripping the world, no doubt things are different and we are all trying to adapt to the “new norm” of living. During quarantine, I tried to make the most of the extra time on hand and maintained focus on my music and stay productive. Being a self-managed artist, I have not only been able to write new music with inspiring themes but have also been working on lyric and music videos. Releasing music during the pandemic has been slow and challenging but definitely worthwhile. Paradoxically, it has been a productive experience amidst turbulent times. I personally feel I have been able to set short-term goals and take each day one step at a time with the extra time.

“Releasing music during the pandemic has been slow and challenging but definitely worthwhile. Paradoxically, it has been a productive experience amidst turbulent times.”

Though the live music and grassroots in-person shows and performances are diminished right now, it has opened up a plethora of online avenues and live streams, reaching a geographically wider and diverse audience, which I think is truly amazing in the midst of this pandemic. The love, vibe and energy from my fans has definitely kept me motivated and inspires me to keep making more music during these turbulent times. Being in my first year of university, the most challenging part about being a self-managed artist is to balance it all. I also tend to be overly hard on myself when I don’t get as much done as I’d like on certain days. I am working on prioritizing myself and practicing self-care, which I believe is extremely important.

You just released your new song “Lego”. What´s the inspiration behind?

Taking inspiration from other’s or my own life experiences, toxic friendships, and bullying, “LEGO” was inspired by encounters with negative, energy-draining people in my life, who taught me how to value myself and unplug from those who belittle me! The song overflows with an assertive and unapologetic swagger and brings about empowerment. This powerful message is playfully portrayed from my real-life experiences and how I persevered through my own trials and tribulations.

Inspired by a tiny piece of “LEGO”, everyone can visualize how painful “stepping on a LEGO” can be. The classic adage “go step on a LEGO”, playfully restores and transitions figuratively to “go take a hike” or “beat it” and signifies how to be a sweet savage, when enough is enough! Ironically, revenge is best retaliated through self-empowerment, self-worth, and success. It is amazing how society can transform you into a badass! The lyrics, “Wearing my own heels… look at me behind the wheel” demonstrates this innate power which everyone has the power to unleash.

This track simmers into life with tropical synth beats and hints of spicy salsa flavor. The playful, sassy vocals, perfectly match the Latin cues captured musically and create a captivating effect. Overall, this ear worm single, particularly the solo trumpet chorus which is the centrepiece, adds a spellbinding ingredient and will leave your ear buds dancing and toes tapping. I am so happy to share that “LEGO” is accompanied by a lyric video filled with visuals and graphics to enjoy. So, make sure you have your toes tapping to this one (smiles)

“LEGO” was inspired by encounters with negative, energy-draining people in my life, who taught me how to value myself and unplug from those who belittle me!”

How important are critics for your development as an artist? Or is it something that doesn´t matter to you?

I am a believer in constructive criticism. Critics are important for a healthy medium, as long as they are not offensive or belittling. Constructive feedback helps me to grow as an individual and as an artist.

You look very stylish – how important is fashion for you? And is there the pressure of being stylish as a musician and artist?

Thank you so much! To me, style is a confidence you wear all the time! It is your greatest asset and it is very important to me as it makes a statement about your personality as a whole. No doubt, due to time constraints, it is challenging to keep up with trends as there is always something or someone trending. However, I am not under pressure as my mom is my go-to and has a pretty good fashion sense. I would like to make my own mark in the fashion world, and differentiation and creativity are key factors. I believe it is important to celebrate your uniqueness and dare to stand out. One of my favorite quotes is “Life’s too short to wear boring clothes!”

I try to represent my artist brand in a way that takes the uplifting and empowering messages from my music, and channeling that energy through a vibrant and exuberant visual style. This is reflected in my personality as well.

“I believe creativity is a trait that is inherent and intuitive.”

Besides music and fashion, how else do you express yourself?

As an artist, I believe creativity is a trait that is inherent and intuitive. I am grateful to my parents who supported my passion and provided me with a strong foundation in the creative arts including dance, drama, and music, as a child. I was able to harness and develop my acting skills further and played lead roles in yearly Summer Broadway performances. Along with acting, came opportunities to model as my bold and vivacious style are representative of some brands that I have collaborated with in the US and Canada. While acting and freelance modelling remain on the back burner, I am passionate about music which has been my focus, forte and niche with my ultimate goal to hone my craft and positively impact people through the powerful, universal language of music. Today I am proud to represent “musivv”, an international digital music platform, as a global ambassador and spokesperson.

Furthermore, I am also a mental health ambassador on various platforms and podcasts, that also champion the cause. I want to raise awareness and promote mental well-being more so now than ever before.

How would a good friend describe you?

Kind, creative and passionate. They would say I have the biggest heart for others, but need to prioritize myself more.

Please tell us about your future plans. What are you working on next?

2020 has been an interesting year for everyone, full of transitions, and I kind of think it’s only up from here. I am grateful for interactions like this and can’t thank you enough for having me! I’m excited to continue sharing what I love and finding new ways to create during these times. And I’m looking forward to a more personal discovery, and sharing this journey with the world.

While 2021 seems bleak now, I hope to go on tours, perhaps drive-in shows with sanitizer shots ha-ha, hoping it would be safe enough to do so then. For now, my biggest goal is to release my forthcoming debut album by the end of this year/early January. I am working on a couple of different styles and to have that incorporated all into my album is something I am stoked about and cannot wait to share with the world!

I am also preparing for some international radio interviews, podcasts as well as digital magazine features. I’m excited to be collaborating on the remix for some of my songs with different producers, and establishing synergies in the future. Come say hi and connect with me through my socials!

Last question: What´s the most important thing for you in life?
What a great question.
Family, Friends and Values. Love, kindness and humility especially in the current world, can go miles.