Artist Interview: Cindy B
In today's interview, we caught up with sit down with rising artist and producer Cindy B to discuss her Y2K-inspired sound, the influence of her Congolese heritage, and how she navigates the pop world while remaining fiercely authentic.
Tori: Can you elaborate on the specific cultural elements, sounds, or stories from your Congolese roots and East London upbringing that most influence your music?
Cindy: I think growing up Congolese, music has always been a part of my life. And one thing that I hold onto about Congolese music and what I try to implement into my own is that it's always really fun sounding. When you listen to Congolese music you hear how it sounds soo big and grand. You can tell that there were so many different types of musicians involved in the production process and that's what I want my music to sound like. It makes it sound so fun and that's why it's great for parties. Also living in East London and just London in general has inspired my sound and style in a major way too, mainly because there are so many different cultures in this city and we all kind of mix all of that together to create different styles of music, fashion and even change the way we speak to one another. And with all of that I try to let it come across in my music.
Tori: Your tracks are described as "Y2K-inspired." What elements of the Y2K aesthetic or sound are you most drawn to, and how do you ensure your music feels nostalgic yet fresh and modern?
Cindy: I love the Y2K aesthetic! The main thing that draws me in about it, in terms of music, is this “gritty” feeling I think most of the songs back then had. It felt very raw and almost in a way ‘unperfect’ and very ‘free’. And I think it mainly came from the artists themselves, being really creative in general and not being scared to experiment. I think it's not completely possible to bring back everything about the Y2K era but one thing we can try to keep alive and one thing I try to put into my music and aesthetic is trying to be as creative as possible, and trying new, weird and fun things, no matter how crazy it may sound or look.
Tori: You're inspired by artists from Aaliyah to David Bowie to Beyoncé. What's the biggest lesson or piece of inspiration you've taken from that collective group of artists?
Cindy: The biggest piece of inspiration I’ve taken from all of those artists is that, it's all about the way people feel when they listen to your music or watch you perform. I recently went to see Beyonce in concert and instantly felt inspired and I felt like I had so much fun. And that's something that will stick with me forever, when I think about watching her live. It's all about the feeling. And I think they're all really authentic to themselves too!
Also, I think that those artists have quiet, laidback and shy personalities and growing up being someone that was the ‘quiet’ one I realised that I could also want to perform and be loud on stage, and be the complete opposite in real life!
Tori: What does "famous" mean to you?
Cindy: Famous, to me, is being well known. Mainly also being recognisable. Having something that everyone collectively recognizes about you or recognizes you for.
Tori: You started playing guitar and piano at seven. Can you describe your songwriting process? Do you start with a melody, a rhythm, or a specific lyrical idea?
Cindy: Yes! So my songwriting process will always start with a melody or chord pattern. I’m one of those people where I cannot write anything at all if I don’t have sound. Sometimes I hear songs in my dreams and I wake up and produce them because in order to finish the song I have to have a beat or chords. There's been a few times where I’ve had lyrical ideas, but if I don't find a melody to put with it, I most likely will never write or finish the song lmao! I’m not sure why, but usually if I hear the song or a sound, I start to think ‘Ok, what would this sound want me to sing?’ or ‘What would this sound say, if it could talk?’ and then that triggers me to write the lyrics.
Tori: You created an original series on YouTube and TikTok. How important are these visual and narrative projects to the overall Cindy B brand, and how do they enhance the music?
Cindy: The series I started on my Tik Tok & YouTube are really important to me and my brand because I think I overall really love and enjoy the concept and aesthetic/idea of being a ‘Popstar’. But a lot of the stereotypes around being a popstar are that they’re almost, ‘factory made’, superficial and are ‘industry plants’ and I feel as though people view popstars and people that make pop music as ‘less creative’ in some ways. And I really wanted to take that narrative and spin it in a way that shows people that I want to be a popstar, and I want to remain authentic and creative. And I think the series was the perfect way to showcase this. It also allowed me to properly incorporate certain imagery and themes into my brand aesthetic, such as the pink writing, and white backgrounds, handwriting fonts etc.
Tori: If you had to pick one lyric from your entire discography that best encapsulates the core message of your music, what would it be?
Cindy: I’d say ‘lost in the rhythm tonight’, from my song ‘Like It’. Because I want people to get lost in the music and just have fun. It’s quite a similar vibe to my song No Reply where I say ‘the music’s gonna take you from me tonight’.
Tori: As both an artist and a producer, how does producing your own music change the way you approach a song compared to working with an external producer?
Cindy: Producing my own music makes me way less anxious! Mainly because that means I can record and change anything about a song really easily, instead of going through someone else, so it makes music feel more fun and less stressful. I love the idea of working with external producers, and hopefully I can work with more, but overall being able to produce my own work is also fun because it doesn't put a limit or a deadline on how I do things.
Tori: You've had notable performances at venues like Boxpark and Strongroom in London. How does the energy of a live setting, like the "vibrant, sweat-soaked" ones described, influence your performance style?
Cindy: When I perform in vibrant, fun spaces the energy really gets me fueled! It allows me to feel more free and wayy less anxious because it reminds me that everyone's really just there to have a good time overall, so that definitely changes the way I perform.
Tori: What is your secret to establishing that strong and immediate connection with a crowd?
Cindy: I think the biggest secret I’d say is being honest. If I’m nervous, I'll just say I’m really nervous and then the nerves magically go away. Or if I’m hungry I’ll just make a comment about how hungry I am and it kinda lightens up the mood and makes people kind of feel at ease in a way. I also think if you look like you're having fun, people will have fun with you!
Tori: What is your pre-show ritual? Do you have a specific routine or mindset you get into before stepping onto the stage?
Cindy: I actually don’t have a pre-show ritual at the moment! I want to come up with one haha.
Tori: At the young age of nine, you were already creating original compositions. What advice would you give to other young artists who are creating content and trying to find their voice online today?
Cindy: Do EVERYTHING. Like dabble in literally everything. Make random songs out of random noises, produce on different websites, listen to so many different types and styles of music. Write a million songs. I think I had sooo much time when I was younger. If I wasn't at school or playing outside with my friends, I was doing something soooo random and creative. I used to write like 3 songs a day about my crushes and friends and I think, even though some of them were that great, it allowed me to figure out what type of creative things and sounds I do and don't like.
Tori: In a world often driven by trends, how do you manage to remain authentic and true to your own voice while navigating the sometimes demanding landscape of the pop world?
Cindy: I feel like, if I don't do what feels authentic to me, my body rejects it in a way haha! I don't think I can physically do anything that doesn't feel right to me. Even if I try, I feel like everyone can kind of see that I’m not enjoying it. If I’m writing a song and I realise that I really don’t like it, I immediately stop because it doesn't feel right. Or if I start posting a different style of content one week, and it doesn't feel right or it feels fake, the next week all the videos will be taken down.
Tori: What's the immediate next step or biggest goal for Cindy B in the next six months, and what can fans look forward to?
Cindy: I really want to perform on more stages and perform at festivals. I want to put together a cohesive live set that flows really well. Overall, I want to be seen a lot more in creative spaces and I want to be busy doing creative things. Mainly performing!
Tori: Outside of songwriting and performing, what's a non-musical passion or hobby that fuels your creativity and helps you stay grounded?
Cindy: I am in LOVE with fashion. I have to thank Bratz because genuinely, it's because of them that I have a passion for fashion. I love to sew and make clothes from scratch. I’m not sure what it is, but when I go to the fabric store, I feel like it ignites some sort of fire inside of me. I’m really obsessed and in love with making clothes and styling my own outfits and clothes. My best friend and I go thrifting almost every other day. Going thrifting with me is a terrible idea because we will both have empty bank accounts!
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