How long have you been interested in music?
I grew up in a musical household so I was always getting sonic stimulation from my parents and the music they played. I remember watching Whitney Houston perform for the first time and feeling overwhelmed by emotion and truly falling in love with the art of music and specifically, singing.
At what age did you become aware that you could have a career as a pop star?
When I saw Jennifer Lopez come on stage at the Grammys with her now famous green dress, that was the moment I knew what pop star meant and that if I wanted to have a career as a pop star I was going to need more than a voice, I needed style, notoriety and drama.
What instruments do you play or what's your favorite instrument?
Right now my favorite instrument is the keyboard. I use it to produce my music and write songs. I can’t live without it!
Where do you come up with your concepts for different music videos?
I think it’s really important to make sure the visuals match the songs and really tell a story so the person watching can deeply feel where I was mentally and emotionally when I wrote the music and they can feel immersed into my world.
Do you write your own music?
Yes, I write my own music but I’m a big believer in collaborating with other creatives.
What's your favorite song ever? Who's your favorite singer or band?
It’s hard to pick a favorite since I have so many favorites, so I’ll give you my top three. Bob Marley - War, Nina Simone - Sinnerman, Chewii - Black Skin Lullaby. Some of my favorite musicians include Billie Holiday, Bob Marley, Babyface and Ron Isley.
Who is in your music collection that you can't live without?
My whole Jay-Z collection, The Isley Brothers, Prince, Charles Aznavour, Nina Simone and the list goes on…
Where do you call home? Where would you love to visit?
Right now my home is South Florida, I love it here and having the beach so close to where I live makes it feel like an eternal vacation. There are so many places I’d love to visit including Ghana, Ethiopia, The Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Antarctica.
How do you stay inspired to stay healthy? What's your beauty routine?
I practice a plant-based diet and have been for the last four years. I stay inspired by making sure everything I cook in the kitchen is not only healthy but delicious. The most important part about my beauty routine is making sure all my beauty products are cruelty-free and have all natural and organic ingredients. I have very sensitive skin so anything with fragrance is a big no no for me. I also make sure to drink at least 9 cups of water a day and get 8 hours of sleep every night so I can perform to the best of my abilities. I also work very hard to stay stress free by living in the present moment and practicing meditation!
Where can fans follow you on social media and do you have any projects for 2021?
My name is Chewii and as far as I know I’m the only one! So if you’re ever searching for my music or videos just type ‘Chewii’ into google and voila! My debut Album is coming in 2021 and I couldn’t be more excited! I hope to also be able to tour but if I can’t because Covid I will plan set up a virtual tour.