High-octane and soulful, new Canadian artist, Cmagic5 has been at this “music thing” for a while. As a child, this vocal powerhouse was humming before she learned to walk or talk. She began performing in musical theater, dance and vocal performances at the age of four and has been non-stop ever since.
We got a chance to chat up with Cmagic5 in her busy schedule and get to know more about who she is, what inspires her and where she’s going from here…
Bridge: Go ahead and tell our readers who you are and what you’re all about…
Cmagic5: Thank you so much for having me! Hey everyone! I’m an independent singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist from Toronto. Music was innate and has always been my passion. I truly believe music chose me. By the age of 10, I had written, composed, and produced my own songs. Driven by my passion for music, I completed my music theory studies and classical vocal training from the Royal Conservatory, by 16. As a vocal mentor and mental health advocate today, I am dedicated to helping the youth amplify their voice in society, as well as on stage. I released my Debut Album “Ready to Run” which was a quarantine creation in May 2021 during the pandemic. I recently released my brand new single “Dancing On My Heart” accompanied by a high-energy music video. Hope you check it out below and enjoy! It showcases my love for fashion, dance, and acting!
Bridge: I have to start out by mentioning the fact that you were writing and composing your own songs at ten years old?!? Was that something you just wanted to do or did you have outside influence?
Cmagic5: It was definitely something I knew I wanted to do for the rest of my life! My passion for singing and acting manifested itself when I was very little with me performing to a living room audience at the age of 5. 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.
The inspiration for writing songs was all around me and I had already started writing melodies at the age of 6 and began performing to a larger audience. I captured anything around me that inspired me at that age such as colors and animals and put it into a song. By the age of 10, my articulation developed and my lyrics matured, and I had written and composed my very first original song along with an EP in just a few days titled “Destiny’s Calling”. The lyrics were very raw, pure, and straight from the heart. My elementary school years were a challenging time for me, being bullied. It was during this time, music became my sole companion and it empowered me to express myself creatively. Although I didn’t really have a strong support group of friends at the time, I grabbed my acoustic guitar and dived deep into song writing. This was the defining moment in my life when I knew that I wanted to pursue music for the rest of my life. Most importantly, I wanted to give back by inspiring others to feel the same magic that I experience through music. “Destiny’s Calling” was a basement recording that led to my future professional studio recordings. There has been no looking back ever since! Here I am now working towards my EP with “Dancing On My Heart”.
Bridge:You also completed your music theory and vocal training from the world-renowned Royal Conservatory at 16! What was that time like for you? Was it a difficult thing to complete?
Cmagic5: You got it! Being a self-managed artist and a high school student was challenging, no doubt. Just like any education out there, music education has provided me with a strong and valuable foundation and enhanced my personal growth. It has not only shaped me as an artist but also as an individual. Having been classically trained, I can sing in Italian, German, French, Spanish, Chinese and of course English. Being a musician, I feel it is important to explore different styles, genres, and languages. As English is my first and only language, studying and performing different vocal pieces in various languages has not only enhanced my abilities as a musician, but has also educated me and expanded my horizons on diverse cultures. Vocally, classical studies have strengthened my technique and shaped my soulful voice. Music history and theory have enriched me as I am able to use this knowledge when it comes to my song writing and composing. While I would like my music to be fun and enjoyable, I also want it to be musically respected.
Bridge: Who would you say are your strongest musical influences?
Cmagic5: Some of my greatest musical influences include Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Toni Braxton.
Bridge:Tell us a little about your latest single “Dancing On My Heart”
Cmagic5: Absolutely! “Dancing On My Heart” is a riveting party anthem inspired by the universally relatable struggle of moving on after a breakup when your ex-lover finds any opportunity to let themselves back into your life. I wanted to create something fun and playful, but also empowering and impactful. I wanted to write something upbeat that would instill energy and exuberate confidence into my listeners. The track’s infectious tune showcases my abilities as a vocalist by enabling my voice to soar through the song’s wide range and emphasizes my soulful vocals through the melodic structure. I absolutely thrive on powerful beats and catchy melodies that are accompanied by my energetic and charismatic delivery.
This track emphasizes the ‘moving on’ part after falling out of a relationship and the frustration that develops when you’re falling in love with the same person all over again, knowing they’re not the one for you (But hey, it happens!). It’s all about how my EX dances on my heart like it’s his stage and steals the spotlight. This can be summed up in the lyrics “I keep giving in and that’s my crime”. In a fun and playful way, it’s all about holding your EX responsible for your inability to move on. It’s almost as if your EX is your guilty pleasure… we all have that one guilty pleasure!
Bridge: What does the song writing process look like for you?
Cmagic5: Song writing is one of my favorite parts of the creative process! It is something I have been doing ever since I was little, so find that it comes very naturally to me. When it comes to my original music, I like to give every song a different vibe with its own identity through my vocal delivery and song writing style. My writing style is vivid and direct to my listeners, conveying a positive message to smile, prioritize yourself and succeed. I try to make my lyrics as sincere as possible and universally relatable. Personally, my passion for making others smile and feel good through my music is my greatest motivation and most rewarding experience.
The song writing process for “Dancing On My Heart” was unlike any of my previous releases, in a good way. It definitely is one of my favorites and showcases my artistic evolution. As my Debut Album was entirely self-written and self-composed, this was the first track that I collaborated on with established songwriters. Also, it was written entirely through one zoom session! Aside from some technical glitches, the writing process was smooth sailing, and it was a blast jamming out with my producers in LA over zoom! It was incredibly refreshing to be able to bounce ideas off each other and get into each other’s headspaces, rather than solely listening to and recording my own thoughts. It was a perfect opportunity to feed off the creative chemistry with my collaborators, and vibing with the positive energy in the room was very liberating. Although it was all virtual, it felt like an in-person session! Once we started to kick around some ideas and throw words into the air, “Dancing On My Heart” was conceived!
Bridge: Can you tell us what you have coming up in 2022?
Cmagic5: Response: Though these are unprecedented times, I would love to see myself as an internationally recognized artist, impacting and inspiring a wider audience through my music. I hope to go on tours and travel the world, hoping it would be safe enough to do so then. I am also working on my EP which I will release next year and look forward to vibing with an audience in a live setting soon! I am also preparing for some international collaborations with artists, songwriters, and producers. You can also expect more music videos and remixes too!
Stay tuned and connect with me through my socials below!
Bridge: If you could give advice to another young, gifted artist like yourself, what would it be?
Cmagic5: Thank you so much for the kind words.
I try to encourage artists to be their most authentic self always! Yes, for sure be inspired by successful artists around, but share your own light with the world and embrace what makes you unique. Always remember to take care of yourself as an individual first, then as an artist. It is important to never give up no matter how challenging things can be and to stay focused. Never let anyone stop you from doing what you love, including yourself. Stay hungry for your dreams, and make it happen! Dream your dream and keep the faith!
Bridge: You had to pick one song to be the soundtrack of your life, what would it be?
Cmagic5: Ooh, love this question! While it totally depends on my mood, I would have to say “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. From the earlier days of my passion for music, my favorite song to perform is ‘Feeling Good’ by the one and only Nina Simone. She has always been one of my greatest musical inspirations. “Feeling Good” was the first song I began to perform in front of large live audiences. The more I sang it, the more I began to discover my true abilities as a vocalist and began to hone the soulfulness in my voice. Whenever I listen to this song, I just feel like my best self! If I was in a movie, this would definitely be my opening song where I walk into the room in slow motion and the whole world around me stops and stares and that’s when I’ll be like… “And I’m feeling gooood”. I guess you could say I have the whole scene blocked in my head lol!
