a conversation withCristina Perezmusician, mother, activist<<Scan with phoneto watch Cristina‘smusic videosvivanolamag.com - Page 12
Cristina Perez is a firmbeliever that while life iscomplicated, that is whatmakes it beautiful. As a NewOrleans-based singer and motherto three-year-old special needs sonOscar, she is dedicated to creatingauthentic music inspired by femaleempowerment, untraditionalmotherhood, positivity andinclusivity for all.With an artists’ drive, she isfocused on using her original musicto bring light, love and awareness toher community and to give a loudervoice to mothers of children withdisabilities and rare diseases.Following the release of hersingle, “The Sweetest Thing,” writtenas a love letter to New Orleans,Cristina set her music career asideto care for Oscar full-time. Oscar,or “Oskie,” has endured a one-anda-half-monthstay in NICU and sixsurgeries. His routine consists ofthrice weekly physical, occupational,and speech therapies; he is alsoglobally delayed and tube-fed.As a result, Cristina and herhusband’s lives are forever affected,and she now uses her voice topromote pediatric disability andrare disease awareness. She isOskie’s champion in proving thathe is much more than his medicaldiagnoses and inspires othermothers in her community to raiseawareness, as well.Cristina returned to her musiccareer last year and released“Lessons I’ve Learned” on August22, 2019, as an uplifting anthemfor special needs mothers toturn to when things get rough– a motivation to remain strongdespite what life throws at you. Themusic video includes four otherlocal mothers who have overcomehurdles like Cristina’s.Cristina also authors apopular blog called “It’s Not TooComplicated,” where she breaksdown the trials and tribulationsof motherhood, marriage andeveryday life with a special needschild.Currently splitting her timebetween New Orleans andWashington, D.C., Cristina sat downwith VIVA NOLA to talk about hermusic career:VN: Your biography mentionsMiami and New Orleans being yourtwo homes. Tell us about yourconnection to both cities.CP: I was born in New Orleans andlived there until I was 12, when wemoved to Miami for my dad’s newjob. Although my dad is Cuban,he spent most of his youth inPuerto Rico and eventually went toundergrad and law school at LoyolaNew Orleans. I also attended LoyolaUniversityVN: When did you start your musiccareer?CP: I asked for music lessons atsix or seven years old — the firsttime I touched a piano, I just knewthat’s what I was going to do. Musicwas everything to me. Music andvolleyball. I joined the schools’chamber ensemble in high school.It was the experience of playingin the orchestra pit that made merealize that I had to do music for therest of my life. I ended up choosinga path in Music Therapy at LoyolaUniversity, which is what broughtme back to NOLA in 2006.VN: Which artists have influencedyour music?CP: Growing up, I was obsessedwith Alicia Keys, John Legend, andChristina Aguilera. I used to learntheir songs on piano and belt outsinging my favorite songs when noone was home. I also listened toNorah Jones, Diana Krall, andMichael Bublé. My favorite singerof all time is Ella Fitzgerald - period.She’s everything to me. In college,I was exposed to a lot more jazz— Esperanza Spaulding, GretchenParlato, Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson,Django Reinhardt — to name a few.My primary instrument in schoolwas Classical Piano, and I took VocalJazz lessons from the famous LeahChase.VN: What about your Latin musicinfluence?CP: In New Orleans, I didn’t get theexposure to Cuban culture like I didin Miami.I learned Spanish visiting with mygrandparents in Puerto Rico andmy dad taught us a bit as well.Most of my childhood exposureto Cuban and Latino culture wasthrough music. Every weekend, mydad would drive us out to the poolor to the movies, and he’d playGloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Albita,Gypsy Kings, Thalia — all the greats.I would study the lyrics in the CDinserts (written in Spanish) and singalong, learning phonetically howto pronounce all the words. That’sprobably the most effective way oflearning languages for me — music.When we moved to Miami, wecouldn’t help but to be immersedin Cuban culture. It was there that Ilearned the most about my heritage— Noche Buena, pastelitos, CeliaCruz, Buena Vista Social Club, CarlosVives, reggaeton — these were allnew to me! I was able to build anetwork of friends through playingmusic and playing volleyball, mostlywith other Cubans. To them, I wasthe Southern girl — and in NewOrleans, I’m the “Latina”. Honestly, Iidentify as a little bit of both.VN: How did you start performing inNew Orleans?CP: I was neighbors and goodfriends with trumpet playerGordon Au, who introduced meto my husband. They played in atraditional jazz band called the NewOrleans Moonshiners. There was aperiod where I started performingthat style of music as well. Then, in2012, I landed the lead female rolein Jump Jive and Wail! - the LouisPrima tribute at the National WWIIMuseum. When I wasn’t performingat the museum in one of theirshows, or as a “Victory Belle”, I wasperforming for private events withmy own band. I have a huge placein my heart for music of the 1940s.Louis Prima, Duke Ellington, CountBasie, Glenn Miller — the music istimeless and downright legendary.It’s my favorite era of music.VN: Tell us how your album “TheSweetest Thing” turned into a loveletter for New Orleans?CP: Most of the songs on thealbum were love songs written andperformed in the style of DianaKrall and Norah Jones. It was veryrepresentative of what you wouldget from my live performances. Ilove that album. For the video forthe title track, “The Sweetest Thing,”I was working with a creative team— and we figured turning the songinto a love letter to the city wouldbring about positivity and connectour community through their loveof the city. I’m all about connectingpeople through music.VN: Any memorable localperformances you want to mention?CP: I’ve had some really funexperiences sitting in with myViva NOLA Magazine - Page 13
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