CYN

One young female artist from Michigan is about to blow up the the pop world in the most genuine and unique way. With a curly bob and an infectious voice, CYN is taking a fresh approach to pop music. Mentored by Katy Perry and recently signed to Unsub Records, in a matter of a couple of years CYN has gone from recording music on her laptop to being in a room with some of the most talented producers in the pop industry. So, how did she do it? How did CYN end up in front of a piano at Katy Perry’s home in California? Well, it wasn’t an easy journey. But it was a journey that surrounded doing what you love, not being afraid to make your voice heard, and never giving up on your dream.

Writing and performing music always came naturally to CYN, starting at a very young age she was sure that music would be her life’s work. As a kid, she would constantly be singing out loud to her family, and around the age of 12 she started taking piano lessons that eventually led to the writing of her own music. “When I was probably about 5, my Mom had Jewel’s’ Pieces of You album. I knew all of the songs by heart, I loved the emotion in her voice when she sings.” After hearing and loving Jewel’s music for so much of her childhood, CYN knew that she wanted to make music that would deliver the emotion that she held so close to her heart when listening to music such as Jewel.

Actually making music as a career was definitely the dream, but it didn’t come without it’s challenges along the way. “It wasn’t something that I always thought was possible, being from Michigan and not knowing anyone in the industry.” Around the age of 15, CYN learned to record herself on her computer, posting some of her earliest projects out on Myspace. Thousands of kids every day put their music out on the internet, but it doesn’t always stick. So, what made CYN different? How did she stand out?

“Back when Twitter was just becoming a thing, I went to Katy Perry’s California Dreams tour and noticed her opening DJ’s name on the marquee, DJ Skeet Skeet. I thought that maybe he was someone that could connect me to other people.” In a perfect story, she tweets him a demo, he listens and loves it, and boom, CYN is a star. But this is not a totally perfect story. After about 4 years of Cyn sending DJ Skeet Skeet demos, the long awaited email finally came. Katy Perry wanted CYN to come to her home and play some music. “It was so normal and not normal at the same time, it felt like I was playing piano for my grandma, except that it was Katy Perry.” And just like that, Katy Perry fell in love with the voice, the songs, and the personality. She signed CYN with Unsub Records, and it is all just beginning.

On Spotify, CYN has three singles out, “Together”, “Something”, and “The Only Lo Lo Lo”. While all three of them will make you fall in love three separate times, “Together” definitely has a different sound, and happens to be the only single CYN has released under Unsub Records. Signing with Unsub Records changed the way that CYN could produce music. “What really contributed to the change was the resources that I have now. I get to be in a room working with really great pop producers. I get to hand pick what tracks I want in my songs instead of looking for tracks that I could work off of. I have some jazzy roots, some funky roots, I have some songs coming out later that are not as pop, but a mix of so many things.”

CYN takes inspiration from all around her when she writes her music. She definitely takes inspiration from her fellow female artists, including musicians such as Tove Lo and Lorde. “Tove Lo has this thing of like I’m going to do whatever I want. She embraces her sexuality, she’s really firm in her passions, and she’s unapologetic.” Music is not the only place that CYN looks to when writing music. In fact, her love of language drove her desire to write her single, “Together”. “I was really inspired by the one word, ‘together’. I wanted to talk about things that really went together, and I sat and thought hard about the comparisons in the verses. I wanted to do something that made people think as well, about being together in today’s social climate.” CYN strives to make music that is emotional and beautiful, while also relating to her audience that knows every word by heart.

Social media has become a place for artists to not only share their journey through music, but also to voice their opinions and make change through their influence. CYN uses Twitter in order to convey some really strong messages, and many of them surround feminism. Being outspoken in a world that can be so cruel is something that CYN really takes to heart, both in her music and in her words. She once tweeted a definition of the word outspoken, nothing else, just the definition left to resonate with the Twitter world. “I have always been outspoken. I think I tweeted this after being at a party, when I was wondering if I say too much? Did I say the wrong thing? Sometimes I have so many ideas coming out of my mouth, and I wonder, should I keep some things to just to myself?” Being outspoken, as a woman, has traditionally been looked down upon, and for CYN, being outspoken is something that comes with grace. “It takes an emotionally smart person to know when to share and when not to share.”

Feminism is something that CYN has spent a lot of time thinking about. She once tweeted a page from the book Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay. Being a “bad feminist” might seem off putting to some people, but as both Roxanne Gay and CYN expressed, no human is perfect, and therefore no feminist can be perfect.

“Feminism is a movement that comes from people, and to expect people to be perfect is ridiculous… You have to know when it’s time to be a strong and outspoken feminist and when it isn’t, there’s a big gray area.” CYN believes it is important to be outspoken and declare yourself a feminist, but also having the emotional and intellectual ability to know when the timing is right to express those beliefs.

Young women every day face the hardships that come with trying to make it in the music industry. While everyone’s journey is different, CYN hopes that young women will keep striving to do huge things, no matter what obstacles they have to face to get there. As a young artist who truly made her way through the internet, CYN encourages young artists to take their internet presence seriously. “Right now it is really important to make sure that you have a good internet presence, you want to look like an investment. That doesn’t mean you can’t be yourself, it just means you have to put yourself out there for people to see and hear.” Of course, having an internet presence is not the only advice CYN gives to young artists. She keeps a journal that she tries to practice and work in every day. When she writes, she says that she tries not to give herself any guidelines, she just lets her creativity speak to her and works out the technicalities later on. “Practicing every day is so important; have 5 bad ideas, and maybe the 6th will be a good one.”

There is a whole lot in store for CYN in the near future. With Katy Perry as a mentor and all of the talent that is available under Unsub Records, there is no place to go but up for this Michigan born artist. “My mind is on music, I’m looking forward to releasing another single before the EP, maybe some music videos. I have also started rehearsing for live shows, I’m just moving forward with my dream.” While no official tour dates have been released, CYN always encourages her fans to stay up to date with her Twitter page. CYN is on the brink of capturing the entire music industry’s heart with her bubbly voice and outspoken lyrics, and her career is just getting started.

Written by Maddi Cole | Photography by Ashley Seryn