Showing the very signs of passion for music in her infancy, Cici reaches some premature accomplishments at only 16. As a factotum in music with her ability in picturing music in colors and texture as well as having lots of adventurous dreams, Cici is explaining how music has become an integral part of her life.

bassist

Cici Powell 🇬🇧

How long have you been involved with music?

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. Apparently as a baby I would tap my foot to music before I could even hold myself up! So music has always been a big part of my life, despite being the only musician in my family. I first picked up an instrument, bass, just before my 12th birthday, and haven’t looked back since!

Do you play for any bands? Who? Did you join/form them?

I currently play with Nancy And The Dolls, as well as collaborating with various people. I’m also working on putting together my own collective project!

Have you been self-taught or studied music academically?

I didn’t go to college, in fact I was homeschooled in a very non-formal way from the age of 8, because that’s what suited me the most. But I did have bass lessons, and still have the occasional one with various people. I think it’s good to learn from as many different people as you can. Everybody has their own take on something, and I don’t believe you ever stop learning.

Have you composed any songs/albums?

I co-wrote songs in my first two bands from around age 13, but wrote my first solo track aged 16, a solo bass piece called ‘Moth’. I’ve now written a solo album, which I’ve played bass, guitar, drums, keyboard and vocals on. The release has been delayed due to Covid-19, but hopefully it won’t be too long. In the meantime, I’m working on my second album!

Do you have any near future or further plans for your music? Whether a project on your own or any other music related collaboration? Where are you going with music?

I’m working on putting together a collective project, as well as starting to do solo gigs.

“As a female musician, you often have to be twice as good and work twice as hard in order to prove your worth„

Tell us about your favorite musicians/bands. Who were your main influences?

I love all genres, and could go on forever about artists and bands who have influenced or inspired me in some way. But one of my biggest influences is Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds, which I fell in love with when I was two years old. David Bergeaud, John Frusciante, Shez Raja, Pink Floyd, Tool, Tears For Fears, Slipknot, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers and System Of A Down are a few of the artists and bands who have inspired me.

What does music mean to you and what are your expectations?

Music has always been an integral part of me. I’m always thinking about it. Although it’s difficult to put the experience into words, it means the world to me. It’s such an intense experience that if I listen to music in sleep, I’ll often wake up to find tears in my eyes, regardless of whether the music was happy or sad. I also see music in colors and textures; the song as a whole has its own color and texture, as well as each individual instrument, including each individual drum, if I focus on it specifically.

How do you get inspired to make music?

It can really vary. Sometimes I write songs in my dreams, and sometimes I wake up and suddenly know exactly what I need to do, like a message from the universe. Sometimes I see a musical performance or discover a new artist who inspires me, and sometimes I fall in love with something totally unrelated, such as a film or a video game, which fills me with all different kinds of energy and inspiration. Sometimes l write without even planning or meaning to, and sometimes, I just feel like writing!

How do you see your audience? What do you wanna tell them and what do you expect from them?

I don’t expect anything from them, I just want them to know how grateful I am that they’ve taken the time to follow what I do, and how much I appreciate their love and support. It means more than I can put into words.

What are some of the challenges as a musician, especially a female musician?

As a musician, it can be difficult to be valued outside the music community. A lot of people don’t see music as a ‘real’ job, and often don’t think about the amount of time and energy that goes into it, in many different ways. They often don’t realize how much of a role music plays in their own life as well. As a female musician, it can be difficult to be valued even within the music community. You often have to be twice as good and work twice as hard in order to prove your worth, and in some cases, any success you have is often put down to ‘people only like it because they’re female’, as if there’s no way it could possibly be because they’re just a good musician. It can be frustrating to put so much love and effort into something and then see it downgraded to that. There’s also the opposite side of the spectrum, where you can put your heart and soul into something, and only get comments on your looks. Music is my world, and I’d like people to know that.

“Music is my world, and I’d like people to know that„

Do you believe in paying to see an amateur newly-formed band even though you can pay the same money for a much better performance in town?

Yes, I think it’s important to support the artists as well as the venues. Everybody starts somewhere, and if nobody gave them a chance, then there would never be any new artists. Some of my favourite gigs have been watching unsigned bands!

Do you believe in bad music? If so, what is bad music?

I don’t believe in bad music. There will always be someone who gets something positive out of any piece of music, whether it’s the creator or the listener. Everything has its own valuein some form, no matter the motive behind its creation.

When and where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in the West Midlands, England, on the 22nd May, 1999.

What are some of your hobbies (obviously apart from music)?

I love video games, and exploring the nature, going for walks, or just generally being in nature.

Whose concert that you’ve attended has been the most memorable to you?

The Presidents Of The USA! It was my first big concert, I was at the front row aged 12, and at the end of the concert the guitarist ran across the front row giving everybody a high five, but stopped at me to ask if I was okay and whether I had been too squished throughout the gig before he carried on down the row. Thankfully I hadn’t, but gestures like that can mean so much to people, I know it did to me.

“I was at the front row aged 12, and at the end of the concert the guitarist ran across the front row giving everybody a high five, but stopped at me to ask if I was okay!„

Are you the kind of musician who wants to change the world? How?

I haven’t set out to change the world, but if my music has some sort of positive impact on anybody or anything, then that’s fantastic!