Gearing up to release their new EP on Friday, Ci Majr’s (Ciara Adkins) sincere and inspiring creations draw influence from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ms Lauryn Hill, Daft Punk and Christine & the Queens.
Recently dropping their new single "Guillotine", the track is filled with shimmering synths and 80s inspired rhythms - it's truly addictive. We chatted with Ciara to find a little more about the track and what else is to come this year.
Could you tell us a little more about your new single "Guillotine"? Absolutely! The song was inspired by the unproductive conversations that stemmed out of the political craziness in the US in 2020 but, at the end of the day, it’s all about setting boundaries. It’s about recognizing when a situation is beyond saving and realizing that if no changes are made that you’ll need to walk away from the situation. It’s a sad concept but the song sounds so upbeat and ethereal which seems like it might not fit, but in reality, making that decision to remove yourself from the situation is likely the best thing you could do for yourself and worth celebrating.
How would you describe your sound? Are there any musical icons in particular that you're inspired by?
I had a friend recently say I was the “master of happy-sad songs” which I think is so accurate! They often sound happy and upbeat but they have darker, more serious meanings which I feel really represents me as a person. I come off really happy and pleasant but I also have a lot more going on with me behind the scenes and in my head than most people will ever know.
In terms of musical icons that inspire me, some of my lifelong favorites have been Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, and Phil Collins. Phil is the one to thank for my obsession with 80s drums. I am so weak for big 80s drums with some good reverb. My more recent favorites who inspired a lot of my sound right now would be Robyn, Christine and the Queens and Troye Sivan.
The video's described as a "labour of love between friends". How important is this companionship in your music? So important! Collaboration always makes the end product better but when you’re working with friends and people who share your values, it makes the process fun! I love having talented people around me who truly understand my vision and direction and also are able to add in their own personal touches.
What has been a highlight of your career so far?
My highlight has definitely been the reception to the "Guillotine" music video. It was a lot of work to make. I bought a bunch of stuff like backgrounds, paint, outfits, and filmed the whole thing on my iPhone in my apartment. In that interim before anyone had seen it, I wasn’t sure if all of my work on it was worth it, but at this point, it has almost 20k views and for my first music video that feels HUGE. So I feel really proud of that!
How have you found the lack of touring and live events over the past year?
Pretty sad! I actually made a commitment to myself at the beginning of 2020 to perform live at least once a month. Before we went into lockdown I was able to play an open mic each month in January, February, and March but obviously couldn’t after that. I’m excited for things to start opening up again especially considering the amount of music I’ve created in the past year.
What can we expect from you throughout 2021? Anything to keep an eye out for? The biggest thing will be the rest of my debut EP which is coming out on April 16th. The EP is called Side Effects, and "Summer Drug" and "Guillotine" are a part of the project. Keep an eye out for it!
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