We recently connected with Cecilian Dang and have shared our conversation below.

Cecilian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

So, I do not make a full-time living from my creative work right now. I’m currently in the early stages of my career as an artist right now and looking forward to my graduation this Spring! But for sure, I find myself getting closer and closer. A milestone was when I got into NYU’s music business program. Though it wasn’t creatively freeing, I found myself learning about the financial aspects and business of creative industries. This background helped me take a major step, which for me was interning at a major label where I found myself so motivated and excited for the future. I’ve been able to seek wisdom from amazing, seasoned individuals who have been where I am now. She knows who she is, but working at this label, I was told by such a commendable woman to just stay in it — stay in what you love. Doing anything that’s not what you love to do, or not remotely close to it is not where you should spend your time. But, on the other side of the spectrum, there is nothing wrong with hustling to financially support and invest in yourself and your creativity. As someone who hustles as a nail tech, I find myself more able and have given myself relative mobility in investing in my dreams.

On another note, though I don’t hold any regrets in my decisions, I do understand that procrastination is truly the evil of achievement. I can only imagine how much faster or better I would’ve gained the knowledge or experiences that I have now had I not procrastinated. And sometimes it’s easier said than done. Procrastination stems from so many different places, especially within inner dialogue and negative experiences which is the true root of procrastination. I can say that for me, had I taken less time thinking and took more time doing, I most definitely would have sped up the process. But, that’s a lesson that I take with me and have to remind myself of.

Cecilian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello to all who are reading this right now! My name is Cecilian Dang — my artist name is just Cecilian. I am an alternative R&B singer-songwriter born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve been singing all my life and decided to start turning my thoughts into songs around the time of the pandemic. I make music for R&B lovers, specifically those who appreciate contemporary R&B. I play around ethereal beats and melodies as well as alternative rock elements kind of like WILLOW. I’d say that my ethnic background as a Southeast Asian, Vietnamese woman sets me apart from other artists because we aren’t fully present in the industry yet. Love to Thuy and Keshi though who have stepped before me and all other artists with Asian heritage. But back to my music, I hope my listeners are able to indulge in an experience when listening to my music. I want to bring alive the deep feelings that lay dormant within us, I want to bring alive the pretty girl/pretty boy energy we have inside, and the playful, and spicy love that we can share and feel.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think society can best or better support artists and a creative ecosystem at large by showing up for the smaller artists. I think that going to see A-list musicians or big artists is 100% worth your hard-earned money. But, I think that it’s not as common for people to choose to go to a show of an artist that isn’t of that caliber — not unless you’re a music lover. And don’t get me wrong, I am not saying to throw your money just anywhere because I understand the sentiment that small artists are not quite a priority. But, that is to say, if we, collectively as a society, took more time to take part in the big moments of small artists, we could reimagine a larger and more passionate creative ecosystem.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to look back at previous projects and songs as the growth stages of my mind. Essentially, creativity is manifesting ideas, where thoughts take form (whether in fine art, music, film, etc.) In the last few years, I’ve experienced growth exponentially, and being a creative gives me proof of that. I enjoy making things that make me happy or let me capture a feeling that I am experiencing. It’s like a diary but on such a super, multidimensional way. It’s complex in where I was mentally, physically, or details that were contingent on that time alone. There are so many unexplainable feelings and nuances that have yet to be described in words that I find music expresses for me– this goes for listening and creating it. But it’s so rewarding to have these time capsules of ideas that I had.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceciliandang/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilian-dang/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ceciliandang6161

Image Credits
Zoe Mills / @zhmphoto