Toronto teen pop queen Cmagic5 recently released a new ten-track album Ready to Run. The fun and feisty release touches on all things empowerment and confidence, with a huge emporium of genre infusions. This album bends the rules, blending R&B, classical, rock and reggaeton. Her passion for self-love and confidence radiates through her powerful vocals and relatable lyrics, it’s the ultimate album for finding that inner love, dealing with life’s curveballs and bopping along simultaneously. PopWrapped caught up with Cmagic5 to chat biggest influences and what to expect from her through the rest of 2021.
Congratulations on the release of your album ‘Ready To Run.’ How does releasing a collection like this compare to releasing a single?
Hey there, thanks so much for having me! I was super stoked to release ‘Ready To Run’ – my debut album and a quarantine creation – on May 5th – my birthday – which made it extra special. It was a gift I gave myself. I felt blessed and grateful that I was able to finally release it despite all the challenges during the pandemic.
It was absolutely a surreal experience to finally share an entire body of work with the world, especially during the pandemic. It is so rewarding when releasing music packaged in any form, be it an EP, a single, or an LP. While most of the tracks on ‘Ready To Run’ were released as singles during quarantine, throughout the year, I wanted to throw in some fresh surprises which included a brand-new single “Love Me If You Can” as well as a bonus version of “LEGO.” What began as just an idea creating ripples in my head, is an entire creation making waves that others can sing along to and relate to personally, and that is something magical to me. Releasing ‘Ready To Run’ has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far, and I am incredibly grateful to be able to share this milestone with my listeners who have so warmly received it.
You talk and sing about empowerment a lot – how does this radiate and how is it reflected throughout your album?
I am a strong believer that mental well-being is as important as our physical well-being. Especially in this day and age, where the future is so uncertain, and where the world is adversely impacted, economically, socially and emotionally, each one of us has a responsibility even if it means playing a small role. It is important to keep our minds fit and strong. Kindness, being humble, and smiles go a long way in spreading positivity.
Through the medium of the arts, music enables me to deliver simple yet positive and inspiring messages by reiterating self-worth through my own experiences of bullying during my early childhood. Music has the power to heal. By raising awareness, and being a mental health ambassador by collaborating with platforms and campaigns that also champion the cause, I want to enhance awareness and reduce the negative stigma that is so often associated with mental illness. I want to empower others to be unapologetically themselves, discover their innate strength and feel good about themselves
‘Ready To Run’ has a gorgeous array of genre influences, from R&B, classical to rock and reggaeton. What makes these genres so important to you and how did you find the process of combining them as you have?
While the genre of my music is pop/rock, the uniqueness of my sound is created by fusing other sub-genres into my songs. Each and every song in this album is self-written and self-composed, reflective of the four seasons which we can all relate with and feel inspired with as we go through the ups and downs in our own lives. Being a lover of many genres of music, each song has its own creative journey and tells a different story exploring diverse song writing styles. 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, succeed, and prioritize yourself. I try to make my lyrics as sincere as possible and universally relatable. Once I start writing, it just flows. Somehow the most honest work comes when you aren’t trying to push for something and you allow your creativity to flow.
You’re classically trained vocally – how does this impact your current artistry, and do you think your influences would be different if you weren’t?
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. Music itself is a universal language. 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 and powerful 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.
Talking of influences, who is most inspirational to you both musically and in life?
One of my greatest musical influences has always been Nina Simone. Her voice, style of music and work ethic have all inspired me to be the greatest musician I can be. One of her most successful songs, “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. The profound response from the audience motivated me to think of my art and passion as a career and hone my craft even further.
My other musical influences include Whitney Houston, Dua Lipa, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus and Toni Braxton. 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.
Do you have any plans for live performances this year, or anything else we can look forward to?
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. 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.
While the rest of 2021 still seems a little bleak right now, I hope to go on tours, perhaps drive-in shows with some sanitizer shots – haha – hoping it would be safe enough to do so soon. I am working on a couple of different projects and am stoked about sharing it 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.
Give ‘Ready To Run’ a listen below and for more information on Cmagic5, give her page a like on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
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