Cindy-Louise's debut album takes a deeper look at humanity

MAKE IT OUT HERE ALIVE tells the story of feeling like you don’t belong; a tale cleverly told through the eyes of a high school student who is constantly bullied and looking to get away from it all.

“The song is about a teenager who sees life in a totally different and creative way and as a result is ignored in class. While it hurts, blocking it out and trying to escape reality seems to be the only option,” she explains. “The song explores the fine balance between survival and being driven over the edge.”

While the theme is universal, MAKE IT OUT HERE ALIVE is very personal, says Cindy-Louise. She was inspired to pen the Indie Rock track after thinking about her own school journey. “Life is about finding out who you are, but it’s hard to accept yourself when your peers don’t support or understand you. Although the emotional wounds may heal, the scars will always be there. This single is my message to the world to show that life is full of good and bad memories – it is what makes each of us who we are. Sometimes, showing our weakness is the strongest thing we can do.”

She believes, however, that the message is open to interpretation and that listeners of all ages will be able to relate. “Situations don’t have to be identical for people to find meaning in a song. We are often able to see ourselves in the lyrics – that doesn’t necessarily mean we went through the same experience.”

MAKE IT OUT HERE ALIVE is complemented by a music video directed by Zowik Abramov of Klein Media. It emphasises the feeling of being trapped versus finding freedom.

The album, HUMANITY, which will be officially released in South Africa on 19 March 2021 is unique in that while it centres around a central theme – human nature and the emotions people experience: love, sadness, happiness, rebellion, stress, disappointment, and change – it offers an intriguing blend of genres, including indie rock, pop, jazz, classical and electro-pop. What further sets it apart is the fact that Cindy-Louise has no peer in terms of sound. “My sound is just as unique as my musical structure and methods,” she says.

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The artist, who currently lives in the Netherlands, worked closely with Clinton Nicholas Watts (chief mixer) and Andre Remesses Scheepers (arrangement and additional instrumentation). “I was unable to return to South Africa for the recording sessions, so it was done at Hal 5 Studio with FRANK DE JONG. I then sent the files to Andre and Clint. It was an unusual project and, despite the various obstacles we faced, it was super fun to do. The entire album took about nine months to complete.”

As for which song is her favourite, she says that it changes depending on her mood. “At the moment I am really enjoying ‘The Mask’, which has a jazzy vibe, and ‘Loving Me In Everyway’, which is a great ballad.” She believes the same will apply to listeners. “Every song has merit, but who listens to it, and when, will determine how popular each song is. After all, as human beings, our moods are constantly changing.”

Alongside the release of HUMANITY, on 19 March 2021, Cindy-Louise has also announced the release of the second single off the album. LOVING ME IN EVERYWAY is a pop ballad about being on the receiving end of unconditional love.

LOVING ME IN EVERYWAY is also accompanied by a music video. It was directed by Monika Vaskorova and shot in Amsterdam. “Monika chose the most beautiful location and despite a lot of open space, we kept it simple yet intimate. The lighting in the video is particularly captivating.”

Her album HUMANITY, has already been launched online, but will now be released to media worldwide on 19 March 2021.

Download the album here.