Meet Cxmi | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cxmi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cxmi, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I think figuring out a work life balance is one of the most important aspects of the music and entertainment industry. Having worked a corporate job up until recently, I struggled drawing the line between what was work and what was personal. I often confused anything that wasn’t related to my corporate job as personal. This led to work from musical career infusing with my personal life. As creatives, a lot of the work environments we are thrown into inevitably overlap with our personal recreation environments- resulting in a potential gray area between the two. In complete transparency, I think finding this balance is still a work in progress for me and as I immerse myself further into this career path I learn what does and does not work for me. Although i’m still learning to find this balance, there are things I know work for certain. I stand by the importance of learning to say no, the importance of sacrifice, the importance of setting boundaries, and the importance of prioritizing your personal needs because if those are not in check nothing will be.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s always challenging to define your artistry in a world where the definition of art and what’s “in” is constantly evolving and conforming to the times. I pride myself on my ability to quickly adapt to these sudden changes through my fusion of sounds and authenticity. I grew up on the sounds of Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, and other R&B/jazz icons. I believe this has set up my sound to be heavily infused by these rhythms and cadences. Having initially started my career in the electronic genre sparked an idea within me to create a happy-medium sound clash with my roots. As i’m working on new music, I think this is something you all will start to hear and i’m excited to see how it all unfolds. To get to where I am today I had to do overcome a lot self-inflicted restrain and practice the art of letting go. Music has been embedded in me since the womb, and it only took me 21 years and a global pandemic to accept that. During the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown I began uploading covers on my instagram page and before I knew it I was interacting with some of my favorite artists. Everything began to escalate quickly after that and soon enough I turned back to my inner child and began composing music again and collaborating with people I really admired. I guess I always knew that this was the path I wanted to follow, but I was too wrapped up in all the little things- making me question how bad I wanted it. I quickly learned this industry is all about being consistent and how bad you really want it. Was it easy? No. Is it ever going to be easy? Probably not. Nothing is going to be handed to you on a silver platter if you don’t want it, and nothing is going to be handed to you period if you don’t put yourself out there. I’ve learned these lessons amongst many others. My biggest take away is to always turn back to your inner child and be who you would have looked up to when you first knew this was your dream.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is in its cultural peak right now, making it the perfect place to come explore its eccentric people, cuisines, music scene, art scene, fashion scene, and architecture. The list of places for good food and drinks is ever-growing here but some of my favorites include KoSushi, Doma, La Natural, LungYai Thai Tapas by Chef Bas, Kyu, Uchi, Matsuri, and the list goes on! For a good time look no further than ATV Records, Boho House, Club Space, Floyd, and Do Not Sit on the Furniture. Mac’s Club Deuce is also a fun dive-bar if you’re looking to really diverge from Miami’s usual scene. Lagniappe is great wine bar in the area too. There are also a handful of underground event companies offering incredible experiences. Miami thrives off of its vibrant neighborhoods and I would take anyone to experience that in Coconut Grove, Design District, and Wynwood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Putting yourself out there and publicly showcasing your vulnerability is never an easy journey, but surrounding yourself with the right people definitely helps. I am so blessed to say that this has been my case, and I couldn’t ask for a better support system. As my team continues to grow, I would like to give a big shout out to Vero x Lam for helping me find myself as a creative more everyday and expanding my artistic vision. Her constant commitment to helping her artists explore their creative horizons will forever blow my mind. I would also like to express my never ending gratitude to the Gorgon City boys and the Palm Artists family for the opportunities they have presented me with and for their mentorship. Lastly, I feel forever indebted to my mom and dad for their unconditional pillar of love and understanding, and for always allowing me to follow my dreams. This relays over to my friends and those who continue to follow me on this ride and demonstrate nothing but perpetual love and loyalty.

Website: https://linktr.ee/cxmimusic

Instagram: @cxmi.music

Twitter: @cxmiizquierdo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPVlDJ3_gzH3Czb4L17aeA

Image Credits
Mila Gama, Elisa Lopez, Angelica Bourland, Victoria Giacian, Conor Olmsted