Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Cece Vee
Cece Vee BIOGRAPHY
Cece Vee is a trailblazing South African singer and multi-instrumentalist with powerfully emotive music that features a blend of confessional lyrics underpinned by a refreshing modern pop style.
Cece has fast been making her mark in the music industry with her music landing placements on Spotify’s New Music Friday South Africa, GLOW, and Indie GO playlists, local and international blog coverage, radio airplay and chart success as well as on-air interviews on some of South Africa’s biggest radio stations. Recent career highlights include the use of her single, “Wild Hearts”, in an episode of the US TV series Good Trouble, as well as a SAMA (South African Music Awards) nomination in the public-voted category, Artist of the Year. Two of her singles, “Sucker” and “Wishes” reached the number 1 spot on the Jacaranda FM SA Top 10 chart, and “BITE” reached number 1 on the 5FM Pop Chart.
Stylistically, her music walks a tidy tightrope between a retro 80s influence and modern alternative pop, culminating into her signature sound. Oscillating between playful and heart-breaking, the music is upbeat, the lyrics captivating, and the combination thereof easy to get lost in. It’s personal, but it still manages to make you want to move – a type of ecstatic escapism that these times call for.
With two successful EP releases under her belt and performances at renowned festivals such as Cape Town Pride Mardi Gras and Up The Creek, Cece Vee is ready to take on the world with her captivating alternative pop prowess.
Praise for Cece Vee:
“Pitching delicacy allows her to fully mourn the loss of the relationship which cast her into this very wasteland, as Vee demonstrates her versatility with impressive finesse.” – Texx and the City (2023 – Review of This Wasteland EP)
“South Africa-based alternative-pop artist Cece Vee’s newest release “Holiday” is another stamp of her distinct experimental pop-infused style we are fond of.” – EARMILK (2023 – Review of Holiday)
“Cece Vee is only making her debut and we can already tell she will be a singer to listen to in the next few months, so let’s lookout for this new talent that is proving herself more and more to the music industry.” – Conversations about Her (2021 – Review of Wild Hearts)
Social Media links:
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
When I was a kid, I didn’t get what the appeal of music was until the day 10-year-old me saw an Ashlee Simpson music video on TV and thought she was unbelievably cool and the song was so catchy (L.O.V.E., anyone?). That led to discovering Avril Lavigne, and the rest is history.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
After becoming obsessed with music as per my previous answer, I sang karaoke at a friend’s birthday party when I was 10 years old and the feeling of ‘performing’ was like nothing I’d ever felt before, and that, combined with my love for music, was enough for me to realise this is what I wanted to do. A few years later I convinced my parents to get me an electric guitar and drum kit and my passion grew from there.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I started this project in 2020 after performing under a different name for a few years. My previous project was a bit more pop-rock and blues-oriented and I got tired of making that kind of music and it didn’t feel like it was working for me anymore. Plus, my name was Celine and it was impossible to find on Google and streaming services (I’m sure you can imagine why) which caused so many problems. I really wanted to transition into something darker and more synth-based, and I couldn’t delay the inevitability of having to start fresh with a new name. Someone recommended I get in touch with Paul Gala (my producer), and I took the chance and we ended up working together and building this project from scratch. I was scared to “start over”, but it was honestly one of the best things I have ever done for myself.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Modern alt-pop meets retro synthwave.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
This might sound unconventional, but the fact that most artists don’t (or don’t necessarily need to write their own songs). For a long time I felt like I had no idea what I was doing when it came to writing songs, it is its own skillset after all, and when I started working with my producer, he suggested that I work with the songwriter that he works with. It was difficult for me to “take a step back” from songwriting but something told me that I needed to try it. What the writer told me is that a songwriter is a channel and it doesn’t matter whether that channel is you or someone else, as long as the song and what you are trying to say gets brought to life. I have still always been heavily involved in the creative process and the input into the themes of the songs, etc., and the way she wrote songs for me, it was as if she was in my head! I also saw this as a learning opportunity where I could learn from this songwriter and improve my skills. Now I actually co-write a lot of my tracks with her and I feel much more confident in my own songwriting abilities.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Acoustic and electric guitar, good old pen and paper, and my laptop.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Maggie Lindemann, and also MARINA who has recently gone independent.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I often joke and say that you can dance and cry to my music at the same time because the songs tend to be quite upbeat but the lyrics are usually on the darker side. I am a sensitive person and I struggled to fit in growing up. I have experienced heartbreak, loneliness, and anxiety, and I have had to learn how to find hope amidst my fears. I feel like all of this seeps through into the themes of my music and the way I present it. I am also an openly queer artist, which it took me a while to feel ready to be open about it as I grew up in an era that was way less accepting, so a big part of my message in my music and brand is inclusivity and being unapologetically yourself.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
My music is quite personal and reflective and I think many people can relate to the themes I sing about such as heartbreak, anxiety, darker social commentary, and even hope. With its retro-meets-modern production style, some of the songs can make listeners feel like they are in a movie or in a futuristic world, and I hope that these songs can be a form of escapism that can make people look forward to the future even while reminiscing on the past.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I think just to be bold. I was very shy and more on the timid side when I was younger and I was afraid to speak up for myself. Out of sheer necessity in my music career, I have had to force myself to be bolder and to just go for things. It’s almost like exposure therapy because only by going through and experiencing that did I learn that it’s not so scary after all and I gained confidence. I think without music, I would not be who I am today. My motto is be nice, be bold, and just ask. All they can say is no, and is that really the end of the world?
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Locally in South Africa, I would love to perform at Calabash. Internationally, Coachella (Aim for the stars, right?)
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Rina Sawayama. I LOVE her music and artistry and I think her sound is so interesting. I feel like we could make such a cool song together with our mix of styles.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Instagram (@ceceveemusic): https://www.instagram.com/ceceveemusic/?hl=en
TikTok (@cecevee): https://www.tiktok.com/@cecevee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ybaN-hlzaVIbDB4sFob5w
Website: https://www.cecevee.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0f26bNon1mjIqBn1MxgxZp
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/za/artist/cece-vee/1543400958
Bandcamp: https://cecevee.bandcamp.com/
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My music is not too widely-known yet and I really want to reach more listeners, so I am working to keep growing my listeners and community online, as well as perform at more festivals locally, and eventually, be able to perform abroad.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Music is a huge part of who I am, BUT I am not just a musician. I also love gaming, reading, cosplay, and anime, and I love to connect with communities related to these hobbies.
