CELINE
INTRO
Celine is a South African singer, songwriter, musician and actress. She discovered her passion for music and especially singing at the age of 11. She says her source of influence was discovering the different styles and genres of popular commercial music at that time.
Influenced by the likes of Joan Jett, Pink, Alanis Morisette, Ellie Goulding, and the duo Tegan and Sara, her musical genre is a unique blend of pop/rock with some elements of adult contemporary, blues and jazz. She likes to create unique-sounding songs that are meaningful, catchy, interesting to listen to; and that incorporate elements from different genres. With her unique sound, well-crafted original songs, hard work, discipline and determination, Celine has set her sights on success!
PHOTO CREDITS: LEANNE DURAND
INTERVIEW
Hi Celine, welcome to Fanbase Music Magazine; it’s really great to be featuring you. Lets start from the beginning: When did you first realise that you wanted to become a musician?
At 11 years old. As soon as I discovered music and the feeling of singing and performing for the first time, I knew immediately that this is what I wanted to do. I have stuck to that decision to this day!
Did you come from a musical background?
Not particularly. A few family members did music in various forms when they were younger, but I didn’t really “grow up” with music so to speak. I started to explore and discover music naturally on my own and find artists and genres that I liked when I was about ten years old. Before then, I didn’t really think much of it or pay much attention to music; but as soon as I found it in my own way and in my own time, I was hooked.
How would you describe your genre?
It is a mix of pop and rock, with some elements of blues and adult contemporary. Certain songs lean a bit more towards pop, while others lean more towards rock. I really like a variety of genres and sounds, which I think has influenced how I write, so that I tend to “mix” the genres and blend elements together. Overall, I’d say the best way to describe the sound is “pop-rock”.
You have an awesome voice, what other instruments do you play?
Thank you! I play guitar, bass guitar and drums, and I have completed Grade 8 Rockschool qualifications in all 3 of those instruments. I learnt a little bit of piano as well, but I haven’t focused on it as much as the other instruments.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
For song-writing, I draw inspiration from my own experiences and emotions, as well as things I observe in society and other people.
You have been said to be influenced by the likes of Joan Jett, Pink, Alanis Morisette, Ellie Goulding and Tegan and Sara; what is it about those musicians that you like?
They are very authentic and bold in what they do. They are all unique and have their own style and sound that is recognisable and that I really enjoy. Their songs speak to me and they inspire me to be bold and always stay true to myself musically and personally.
Do you play live, and what can we expect from a typical gig?
Yes I do play live very often. I usually perform either on my own acoustically, or with a full backing band, depending on what the gig requires. I play mostly my original material, but also throw in some covers here and there. I like to add my own twist to the covers, which is especially fun to do with the full band. Also, I sometimes like to talk in different accents during a show, just for a bit of fun! One of my previous band members and I used to do a whole banter in Irish accents during full band shows.
How is your setup when you play with a backing band?
I have a backing band that performs with me when we need a full band set-up for gigs. They are session musicians that are good friends of mine, so it’s really awesome and fun to work with them. Performing with them is a great way for audiences to hear and experience the “full sound” live.
You have an album out called “BLUE”, can you tell us a little bit about the album, how many songs are on it?
The album has 10 tracks on it, plus a bonus track that is a remix of one of the songs.
The album starts off with more rock and bluesy-sounding songs, and progresses towards a more pop sound on the later tracks, ending off with the stripped-down acoustic track, “Heaven”.
Where was the album recorded?
It was recorded in Cape Town, at Traxtudio with Riaan Steyn.
What was the inspiration around writing the album?
The songs on the album were written over a period of about 3 years. This being my first album, I wanted to tie the songs together in a way that made sense to the overall theme and feel of the album. The title “Blue” encompasses all the themes that are present throughout the songs. Blue is a very symbolic colour, and the different shades have different meanings attached to them. For instance, lighter shades of blue are linked to feelings of peace and calmness, whereas darker shades are more melancholic, and “electric shades” are energetic and dynamic.
The songs explore various themes and I wrote them based on my own experiences and emotions – from breakups, to toxic relationships and friendships, and infatuation, among other themes. Some of the songs explore social issues and act as social commentary, such as “Miss MB”, a song about materialism and superficiality. Overall, the title encompasses the feel of the songs and the themes that come through in the subject material.
You have a new single out “Call Me” which has an awesome video to it; can you tell us what the song is about?
The song is about toxic friendships and/or relationships where one person doesn’t value the other equally and doesn’t put in an equal amount of effort. There is an imbalance of power that occurs because of this. Often this person is never really there for you and they are only around when it suits them or when they need something from you; while you are usually ready to drop everything for them, even though they would never do the same.
I love the music video for “Call Me”, can you tell us the story behind the concept and storyline of the video?
Rash Ferguson, the director, helped conceptualize the video. I wanted to bring out the themes of the song in an interesting way, and I also made the decision to be open about my sexuality for the first time publicly, as I wanted that to come through as well. He came up with a really cool concept that explored the idea of how we are haunted by the past and by people who have hurt us before; often fearing that it will happen again. I tend to overthink things a lot and I take a long time to let go of past hurt; often also experiencing this haunting feeling of paranoia that the same thing will happen again. All of this influences a person’s perception and expectation of future relationships. The past experiences and people tend to stick in one’s mind long after it is over, like a recurring nightmare that hits you at unexpected times throughout your normal daily life. The video ends on a much lighter note though, showing that the “nightmare” can come to an end and we can find something real and genuinely good.
I really love the way the whole concept came together. I was quite nervous for this to be my “coming out” video as well; it was a long journey leading up this point, but I am so glad that I did it and I hope that it can inspire others to be brave and proud of who they are, no matter what.
Where was the video recorded and who worked on it?
It was filmed at a really beautiful location just outside of Simon’s Town and Scarborough.
Rash Ferguson directed, filmed and edited the video. Anneri van Vuuren from Mooigemaak did make-up and hair styling on set. Alice Findlay co-starred in the video. My mom (*slash manager*) was there for moral support!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician, and what do you hate the most?
What I enjoy the most: Creating and expressing myself through my art, working with and meeting so many amazing creative people, performing and seeing so many cool places.
I’d say what I hate the most is the uncertainty that comes with this type of career. I am quite an anxious person, so sometimes it is a little bit difficult to live this freelance kind of lifestyle, not being sure what is going to happen next. I think I have gotten used to it though and actually think it suits me perfectly, as I get very bored and frustrated if I have the same-old routine all the time; and I think it keeps me on my toes to consistently work hard and progress. I always see challenges as a learning opportunity and an opportunity to grow as a person and musician. At the end of the day, it really is worth it, and I’ve seen that time and time again.
Do you find it harder being a female and a musician in today’s industry?
I feel like things have gotten a lot better, BUT there are still challenges with being a female in the music industry. I have literally heard people say things such as “I don’t like female vocalists”, which is just such a ridiculous thing to say. I find that sometimes it is harder to be taken seriously as well, which really sucks. As a female, it sometimes feels like people speak to you as if you are a “little girl” who needs advice and rescuing. When I was younger and used to go to music stores to buy new instruments, I often found that the assistants would speak down to me before they even knew anything about my musical background (Not naming names, but this was not at every music store, luckily! There were some stores where I was treated much better and I have been loyal to them for their great service). There was even one occasion where someone did not want to sell me a specific drum pedal because he took one look at my small stature and didn’t think I could “handle it”…. And that is the drum pedal I have been using to this day! They would be very shocked and taken aback when I would describe exactly what I was looking for in detail, from the guitar neck shape, to the type of pickups etc.
There are plenty of incredible female musicians in our local industry and all over the world, and as long as we keep kicking ass at what we do, we will keep showing the world that female musicians are here to play and here to stay!
If you could change anything in the industry what would it be?
I would like there to be more recognition and opportunities for upcoming artists, especially when it comes to big events and festivals. It is very difficult to break out as an upcoming artist, and I feel that it is important for event organisers etc. to provide opportunities for new artists, in order to keep growing the industry. (Thanks so much to the organisers who have provided such platforms for new artists! It really makes a difference and means the world to local musicians)
I also think the public could be more supportive of local music, as there really is so much incredible talent in SA that often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.
If the good people want to get in touch, and hear/see more about your music, where should they go?
You can find me mainly on Facebook and Instagram (I do have Twitter as well, but I overthink way too much to use it properly!). I have various music videos on YouTube, and my music is available on digital platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music etc.
See the link below:
Thank you so much for joining us for the interview. Is there anyone you would like to thank, and do you have any messages for your fans and our readers?
Thanks so much to you for the interview! I really appreciate the opportunity. Thanks to the whole team involved with the “Call Me” music video for doing an amazing job. Huge thanks to Ice Carstens as well for organising all the interviews and PR etc. and for just being an all-round awesome publicist and human!
To the readers and fans: My motto and outlook for this year has been to “be bold and be brave”, which is something I try to work on and live out every day.
And I think in the times we are in right now, we need to be brave and trust that we will get through this. Stay safe!
NOW READ THIS: CELINE TAKES PRIDE IN HER NEW MUSIC VIDEO “CALL ME”