Mo$hpit Cindy Weaves A Tale of Modern Romance in Her EP “21st Century Luv”
20-year-old Zimbabwean-born singer and songwriter Mo$hpit Cindy has jumped onto the music scene with the release of her debut EP titled 21st Century Luv. Since its initial release on the 25th June, Mo$hpit Cindy has been tapped as one of the most promising new voices to emerge in South Africas burgeoning R&B scene.
The 8- track EP is a narration of love in all its forms: “It’s a 21st Century love, love in all its facets; self-love; love of others (platonic love), romantic love. Every kind of love is encompassed in that”, she shares.
The Johannesburg-based artist further explains that through storytelling she wanted to place emphasis on self-love, loving others, and unrequited love, “I wanted to tell a story about loving yourself, loving others and dealing with how other people love you or when that love is not reciprocated”.
Each track authentically showcases Cindy’s unique sound, her versatility as an artist as well as her impressive lyricism. When asked about her songwriting process Mo$hpit Cindy notes it is mainly influenced by different experiences, “A lot of my songs are really just fragments of a whole bunch of experiences. So no one song will necessarily be about one person. I like to use my different experiences as a guide”.
Authentic and unapologetic, Mo$hpit Cindy lets me know that trying to manage people’s opinions while staying true to herself has been one of the biggest challenges she had to face, “This [EP] is a bigger body of work, so people often gave me a bunch of unsolicited advice; telling me what I should do, what’s best in the industry and most of the time it was at the expense of compromising my own authenticity, which was a no go for me. I don’t compromise anything when it comes to my sound or look”.
For more on Mo$hpit Cindy, her inspirations, and future plans, have a look at our full interview below.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, who is Mo$hpit Cindy?
I am Mo$hpit Cindy. My name is Nono. I have been Mo$hpit Cindy for about a year now. I started making music last year (2020) during Lockdown. I started working with a producer called Lee Global who produced all the singles I released last year. Since then I have slowly started growing and getting attention from the likes of Ayanda MVP. She actually invited me to her MVP Sunday’s space to perform. And from there on there’s just been so much growth.
How did your musical journey start?
I was 9 when I started singing and 13 years old when I started writing my own music. My friend actually encouraged me to participate in our school talent show. I was doubtful; however, I went for the audition and made it through! From there on I started singing at many other school talent shows, plays, church, and corporate events. The whole persona/Alter Ego is just kind of taking over now.
Oh wow, how did your parents take this? What were their reactions when you told them you wanted to pursue music?
Just before attending University, I wanted to take a gap year and my parents were like, “No, you need to study”. Halfway into my first year, I wanted to study Graphic Design and they were like, “No, just finish your business degree”.
I am a very creative person. I’ve always been creatively inclined. So when it came to my music despite them not wanting me to take a gap year or change my qualification, my parents have always been very supportive. They believe in the fact that I can sing. And now that I’m getting attention, it’s kinda a shocker to them. But all in all, they’ve been super supportive, they fund it as much as possible and they also come to my shows. They’re definitely my biggest fans.
How would you describe your sound to someone who is new/ unfamiliar to your music?
I would describe my sound as a combination of Trap Soul and Neo-Soul. I like to lean into Hip Hop influences, but I’m also very inspired by R&B, old school R&B. However when it comes to the writing that’s where it gets a bit more Hip Hop, mainly because I like to say a lot in a short amount of time.
So all in all my sound is very Trap Soul sometimes Neo-Soul.
So you recently released your Debut EP titled, 21st Century Luv. What was the inspiration behind the creative and production process of this project?
After releasing a few songs during lockdown last year, a lot of people were like “You need to release an EP!” And I was like “OKAY! I guess that’s the next step for me to work on. In December of last year (2020), I then met a producer called Jordan Klem. We then worked on a track titled, 21st Century Luv, and initially when we created it, it sounded completely different. Super different from what it sounds like now. It sounded very mellow, to a certain extent it sounded like Mind Games, with just the piano keys.
So fast forward to January of this year, Jordan, unfortunately, lost it as his laptop crashed. That was a bit of a setback, but we went back into the studio and basically set up a plan to be done with recording by March 2021. That’s how we started with 21st Century Luv, again. (giggles).
I wanted this body of work to showcase everything and not be subjected to Trap only or R&B only. I wanted this project to be something that you could listen to from beginning to end without feeling hesitation and feeling like “Okay, I listened to a project that was intentional”. Even with my visuals, I wanted it to be a movie of some sort, instead of separate scenes. I wanted to tell a story about loving yourself, loving others, and dealing with how other people love you or when that love is not reciprocated.
What was the inspiration behind the name of your EP, 21st Century Luv?
So as I mentioned before, the first track we worked on was 21st Century Luv, and even when he re-recorded it I just didn’t want it to go on the EP, mainly because I felt demotivated. I just didn’t care about love or the idea of Romance. And Jordan was like, “Girl you have to put it on the EP!” and so I did.
Then we had to figure out a name for the EP. I had so many names and after about a month or two, when the final version for 21st Century Luv came back, I was like “Let’s just do that! Let’s name this EP 21st Century Luv”.
Because this (EP) is just that! It’s a 21st Century love, love in all its facets; self-love; love of others (platonic love), romantic love. Every kind of love is encompassed in that.
The reason why I made it “L-U-V” instead of “L-O-V-E”, is because it just doesn’t feel like real love. It’s not “love-love”, it’s more so a fun love, you know?
Before releasing your debut EP, You released a few singles here and there. How does this new project reflect on your growth as an artist?
This new project has certainly allowed me to be more vulnerable and a lot more open in my music. As someone who is generally not very lovey-dovey and touchy, expressing myself more and speaking about how I feel when I am in love and just showing the softer side to MO$HPIT CINDY was really cool mainly because that’s what so many people are responding to.
Who would you cite as your biggest musical?
Definitely Brandy, Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, and Missy Elliot. Those are my ultimate icons. Lauryn Hill too, she’s a huge inspiration for my writing. The more modern artists that I like are NONAME, Kendrick Lamar
Talk to me about your songwriting process. Where do you draw inspiration from?
A lot of my songs are really just fragments of a whole bunch of experiences. So no one song will necessarily be about one person. I like to use my different experiences as a guide, or anything my friends telling me what they’re going through with their girlfriends or boyfriends. A lot of the time the lyrics come from the beat itself, and how that beat makes me feel, my mood.
What are some of the challenges you face as an up-and-coming artist?
Oh my gosh! All of them! (laughs) One of the biggest challenges was trying to manage people’s opinions and still remaining true to myself and my personal journey.
Now that this is a bigger body of work, a lot of people often gave me a lot of unsolicited advice; telling me what I should do, what’s best in the industry, and most of the time it was at the expense of compromising my own authenticity, which was a NO GO for me. I don’t compromise anything when it comes to my sound or look.
It was definitely a struggle trying to relay to people that this is my own journey and that I would like to take it a slow as possible and in turn, learn everything along the way at my own pace.
Do you have any Dream collaborations?
Uhm… Oh my gosh I would love to work with Kendrick Lamar, Smino, Sza and Doja Cat. I just feel like we could make really good jamz.
What’s the one quote/ mantra that you live by?
“Life is not a rehearsal” My mom always says that to me, “Life’s not a rehearsal, you’re here, you only get one shot so just make the best of it, every single day. Do it like it’s your last because it’s not a practice run.
What’s next for Mo$hpit Cindy?
So I’m working on my visuals, trying to work on collaborations as well. But honestly… I want MO$HPIT CINDY to come together and form everything I’ve ever dreamt of musically and business-wise. Not limited to just being a musician but to be an artist in all facets.
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