Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceenami .
Hi Ceenami, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a passion and talent for music. Since I was a child, I would sit at a piano and teach myself to play, and I have always had a fascination with creative music. It’s the ability to inspire different emotions in anyone who listens to it. I studied music theory in high school and joined band and chorus, soon auditioning for and making it into the All-County, All-State, and Tri-State levels. Even though the music was where my heart was, I decided to join the military out of high school, enlisting in the US Navy and then the Nuclear Submarine Force. During my time there, I learned very valuable life lessons. I learned what it means to work hard, to spend every minute of your life working for something and someone else, and how quickly time and youth can pass you. I spoke with many service members who had been serving for 10-20 years. Many had similar regrets: working over 100 hours per week and going on a 6-month deployment every year meant they never had time to follow their dreams, enjoy their youth, spend time with their family, or try new hobbies and jobs. After thinking deeply about this, I decided I never wanted to have these regrets. Once I finished my contract, I moved back home to Florida and committed to spending all my time writing and producing music, becoming a better rapper and singer, and dancing. I have been doing this for a year and a half now, and I plan to continue this until I achieve the success I can.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle I encountered was convincing my friends, family, and anyone I met that I should be taken seriously with my music. At first, everyone looked at me as “someone they know who is ‘trying’ to make music.” But you would never look at an artist you listen to on your own this way. I wanted to be seen as a true artist who IS making music and is worth listening to. Everyone’s first question when I told them I would be focusing on a music career now the same question: “What is your backup plan?”. I have been working hard to show them this IS what I am doing and will continue to do. And the more music I release and perform, the more they believe in me. But it is still a work in progress, bringing everyone to trust me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My production style is varied. I don’t focus on making any specific genre of music. I have hundreds of ideas in my head for what music I want to hear, and then I make it, and in the end, it becomes whatever genre it is meant to be, which is usually a mixture. This results in my songs sounding different from each other and other rappers’ music. I would be unhappy with my songs if they sounded like everything you hear from other rappers. It’s not enough to do the same thing as everyone else and say I should be successful because I am Me. I need to show what new ideas and creativity I can bring to the music scene and show that I deserve any success that comes to me. I work hard to earn it.
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
I am being authentic and unique. I write only lyrics that matter to me deeply, which shines through in my performances. I want to go on a journey with my listeners and those who watch me perform. If I continue to be 100% me in my music and not just try to be like other artists, I will be recognized as an artist and an individual.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theceenami
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ceenami
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/sVKKz5VGGY9nzaeJ8
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3R9k93fDYlO9fMpy3kCHj8 si=6CAQBUO_RhyXSa2sVdq93g&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ceenami
