Cecilia Stalin: I Am
Interview conducted on Feb. 24, 2020
by Dan Locke
Jazz singer Cecilia Stalin’s new album I.Am is one of her most honest one – it’s about her introspective journey of knowing herself,understanding her stories, about failing and getting back up again and fully embracing what’s in front of you. You’ll be taken through a groovy and uplifting journey from The Lesson, a song about how peoples life stories can motivate you to a cheeky ‘Didn’t you know’ about how women secretly emotionally run relationships to Brave, a song about facing your failures and getting back up to try again to Blunt-ly, a song about not holding back but saying what you think.
Dan Locke: How did you get interested in jazz music?
Stalin Cecilia: I was introduced to jazz music when I was in my mother’s belly. My dad is a stride pianist and used to have a 10piece Dixieland band. As a baby, my parents would put me under the grand piano while my dad played standards to make me fall asleep.
On your YouTube Channel, you make the statement “Some serious music and inspiration for you to do your thing and Step Like A Giant”. What was your inspiration growing up?
I joined Amnesty International as an 11-year-old and wrote letters to dictators and decision-makers all over the world, and I think that made me very aware that we have the power to affect change as long as we stick together. I felt like I had a voice and realized that we can impact lives daily just by acknowledging each other – and so I created my phrase Step like a Giant.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
A huge mixture from my dad’s early jazz to my mum’s classical music to Abba to Tribe Called Quest to Whitney Houston to Stevie Wonder and lots of Swedish pop artists. I loved lyrics and the sentiment that music gave me and listened to everything from jazz to hard rock to funk.
How was your music picked for Woody Allen’s “Match Point” film soundtrack?
I sang with a group called Koop and when they signed their record deal for the Waltz for Koop album, they also got a sync agency in America that got us lots of placements. And from there I think Woody Allen heard that song and wanted to use it.
In 2018, you were commission to write for a 200-piece choir for the Women of the world Festival ta Royal Festival Hall. How does one write for some many parts?
Thankfully I didn’t have to write different harmonies for all of them – but a 4-piece harmony with lots of layers and counterpoints is so much to write. I listened a lot to classical music (the romantics especially) as a young person and also to composers like Arvo Part (and his choir works) and I studied music history at The Academy of Music in Stockholm, so I have a lot of references. I adore hearing a lot of voices together – it’s very soothing to me.
You have toured all around the world including mainland China, how was it to perform in Beijing China? Any difference in the way you tour the country vs. touring in another part of the world?
I loved performing in Beijing. We played this super cool jazz bar run by the most famous Jazz Radio promoter in China. Touring is the same in most countries but the transport ways differ: China/Japan has super cool bullet trains, America you fly, Sweden/Europe you drive and Brazil you do it all 🙂
You just started working on your first crowdfund video. How is that coming along. Why are you doing it in Brazil?
It’s scary and exciting. I luckily had people to work within Sao Paulo, so this time I knew a few people who was really lovely. Big cities are quite intimidating so I always try to connect to friends of friends, or other musicians to get an introduction. I wanted to film the video in Salvador partly because I was going there for my friend’s wedding but also because I had worked with a filmmaker there before – and the bonus is that the scenery is stunning.
Do you still do home concerts?
I still gig in London – and love the UK audience. Ronnie Scotts and Love supreme is 2 of my most emotionally connected performances so far. Just amazing!
Did you ever learn how to play the bass i.e. My first Bass- Jam!! 2010 video? And did you ever recorded the song that you performed in the video (Valerie)?
Hahahahaha…. no, I never did (and I think that was for the best…lol). I, unfortunately, stopped taking bass classes and therefore I stopped playing bass 🙁 But I have the bass and who knows – I might pick it up again.
You have just released your new album I Am. Tell me about the creation of the album and what is your favorite track on the album?
I decided that I wanted to record a live album with my band with original music so I went to my sister’s house in the countryside and wrote 2 songs a day for a week & then introduced the music to my band. We rehearsed and co-wrote 2 more songs and then we all recorded the music together in the studio in one day! Phu… Ooooh….my favorite… that’s too hard cos I would never put a song on my album that I didn’t like. I like Brave at the moment because it’s not focused around singing but around a poem, I wrote about being Brave and facing your vulnerabilities (witch, by the way, is very hard…lol).
There are many types of jazz. What is your favorite to listen to?
And you’re favorite to perform? Now that’s a good question…. but I go through different moods throughout a week and I think that sets a president for what type of jazz I will listen too. Sometimes I need modal jazz to sleep to and sometimes I need contemporary jazz to get hyped to and sometimes I need big band jazz to cook to and sometimes Latin jazz to dance to. When I perform, I very much look at the venue, audience and choose my repertoire very carefully. I want everyone to have a great experience – both the band & the audience.
What are your top five favorite songs to perform?
Wow… now, this is pressure! LOL. All my own songs of course – but besides them some songs I love to perform are Naima by John Coltrane, Vera Cruz by Milton Nascimento, I can’t help it by Stevie Wonder (Esperanza Spalding version), Baby this love I have by Minnie Riperton, Infant eyes by Wayne Shorter.
How do yourself in five years?
Active on the music scene as always – writing, performing, teaching – all over the world!
Can you see yourself winning a Grammy?
Absolutely. I love writing music and want to continue writing all my life.
Anything you like to say in closing?
Thanks for supporting independent artists doing their thing! I hope to see you in Chicago/the US next year…
