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Cecile Biography
For years the
dancehall has been dominated a male voice. With deejays and singers,
it has been a relatively tough business for a woman to enter. To
be a female contender you must have a tight package. Style, flair,
lyrics, performance and can either really sing or deejay. This budding
artist fits the bill! Ce'Cile strikes a balance between confidence
and humility. A visually astounding woman with a sultry sound, the
twenty something year old exhibits wisdom beyond her years.
Born and raised
in the parish of Manchester, Ce'Cile attended Bishop Gibson High
School. Surrounded by a family of singer Ce'Cile extends the highest
praises to her sisters, whom she boasts have amazing voices. Releasing
her first recording at the youthful age of fifteen, she follow-up
shortly thereafter with "Beat of My Heart" for Ibo Cooper,
then a member of Third World.
A woman full
of multifaceted talent, Ce'Cile used to work for Celestial Sounds,
where she took care of running the business as well as vocal arrangements
in the production studio. With a history of harmonizing in and out
of the recording studio for artists like Spanner Banner, Norris
Man, Chrisinti and a host of others, Ce'Cile had been patiently
making the strategic moves sure to insure herself on top in the
Dancehall community!
Nevertheless,
in doing all this, Ce'Cile miraculously leaves room for more, being
the first and foremost an accomplished singer and songwriter. To
her distinct credit Ce'Cile represents an emerging pro-originality
female component in the music industry. A poet in her young days,
Ce'Cile has evolved into a talented songwriter. Writing for herself
and the voices of her peers, Ce'Cile refuses to sell her creative
abilities short. Inspired by Anita Baker's "Sweet Love"
in the 80s. She brings a unique dimension of R&B, to reggae
music. Ce'Cile's voice naturally fuses R&B, Pop, and Reggae,
creating a powerful sound diversity.
The year 2000
marked a distinct change in direction and focus of her career. Voicing
several combinations for JAMDOWN Records such as: "Silent River"
with Nadz & Danny English, "Let's Get It On" with
Mega Banton and "Girls Fi Get Love" a combination with
Saba, Ce'Cile began to get international recognition for her signature
voice. She has voiced a few covers in the last year including the
popular "If You Had My Love" originally recorded by Jennifer
Lopez on the mega hit LATINO riddim from King Of Kings. This riddim
boasted Capleton's "Crazy Looks" (a Dancehall favorite)
and provided great exposure for Ce'Cile. Recognizing the importance
of being in the public eye for the sake of pushing her career forward,
Ce'Cile was behind the shooting of the video for the Latino riddim.
The video featured a combination of songs "If You Had My Love"
the remix which featured the deejay Saba, "Hanky Panky"
from Heather Cummnings, "A Wha Dis God" by Danny English
and Egg Nog, "How U Fi Dis" by Zebra and of course the
hit on the riddim - "Crazy Looks" by Capleton.
Ce'Cile doesn't
favor the cover song road and her desire to pursue an original path
does give her a steep mountain to climb with the average producer.
"They don't want original stuff," she states bluntly.
In the past she's voiced with producers like: Steven Ventura for
M-Phatic Productions. These days she's managed to record with Jermey
Harding of 2 Hard Records (responsible for the International Beenie
Man hit 'Simma Simma'), Snowcone for Natural Bridge Records, Mark
Hudson for Stone Cold Records, Christopher Birtch for LongMan Records
and more.
Not distracted
by the demand for cover songs and the hardships of voicing with
quality producers, she is motivated by female artists like Lauryn
Hill who found success in staying true to themselves and their musical
vision. This type of inspiration has been the motivation that has
sparked her production debut on the Kings Of Kings Records with
her first riddim release. Her spoof song "CHANGEZ" released
in the year 2000 on the "Chinygal riddim, made her a household
name in Jamaica. This song uses humor to explain her reasoning for
not engaging in sexual relations with other artists mashed up Jamaica.
It was unheard of for a woman in the business to bluntly put out
the observations that were commonly felt by others. The song "Changez"
swept threw Jamaica and the entire Dancehall community securely
establishing Ce'Cile as a female artist who has arrived!
This self-produced
riddim release featured the songs; "Best of Me" by AISHA
(yes a cover of Mya), "Don't Do Me That" by FRISCO KID,
"Free Speech" by Merciless, "Bun Part II" by
Danny English, "Hot Work" by Egg Nog and New Product,
"Yardie Way" by Ce'Cile, "Still As Sweet" by
Heather Cummings and General B, "Pretty Dunce" by Mr Vegas"
and "New Application" by Elephant Man which is actually
a male counteraction to her song "Changez".
Gracing stages
both locally & Internationally, excellent performances at Cactus
Night Club and Reggae Sunsplash in 1998 served as a catalyst for
the young singer. The end of 1999 and beginning of 2000 was full
of growth as she was gracing stages; in Canada, at Miami's AT&T
Amphitheater, Vermont's for the annual Roots based 'Vermont Reggae
Festival', California's famous Bob Marley Festival 2003 - where
she won a new legion of fans, a variety of local shows in Jamaica
and she was requested by Beenie Man to perform MYA's vocals in the
remix to "Girls Dem Sugar" for the BET Harlem Block party
which aired on their worldwide network.
Just returning
from a European Tour she's preparing a new video for one of her
latest singles "Rude Boy Thug Life" that has hit the Hip-Hop
charts in Germany. She's already been featured in a spread for Riddim
Magazine in Germany and appeared on the top Entertainment program
performing this song.
Looking at Ce'Cile,
the ambition shines brightly in her eyes, yet she exudes a very
human and compassionate side as well. A side that is most evident
in her life's motto: DO UNTO OTHERS AS U WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO
YOU". "If we live by this it covers everything,"
she says. A resilient rose, Ce'Cile grows with a necessary caution.
Prepared for
what must certainly come, she takes a refreshingly holistic approach
to her music. Undoubtedly Ce'Cile defines versatility often lacking
in the Dancehall. In last two years she has focused on recording
a variety of contrasts that will make her debut album, coming from
Delicious Vinyl/Lickshott in the 2003 another chapter in the history
books of women in Dancehall.
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