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Before we begin, I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. I would like to thank Victor Vega for making this possible and JackG for suggesting that I do this interview.
1. For so many years, Freestyle fans everywhere have known you as "Cherée". After releasing 5 songs under that name you are now going by your real name, Fernanda. What made you decide to change your name and do you feel like any of the fans are having trouble accepting the name change?
Ever since I made the choice of going professional I wanted to use my real name "Carmen Fernanda". Unfortunately the record label (Metropolitan Records), producers (LPD Productions), and manager (Barbara Moore Entertainment) felt the name was not marketable. So we came up with the name "Cherée" and I felt comfortable with it.
Do I feel like my fans are having trouble accepting my name change? Well since I really didn't make any noise with my songs I thought I didn't have any fans. Now through CF I realize I was wrong. I feel it's my obligation to let my fans know what name I go under now. If they have supported me for so long, how could I let them down by not keeping them inform. Because of them I am who I am today!!!
2. How old were you when you first decided that you wanted to become a singer?
I have always loved music since a child, but at the age of 17 I decided to go professional.
3. How did you break into the music business?
I broke into the music business through a friend at school (DeWitt Clinton High School). He introduced me to Nereida Medina (Manager and Promoter), who was working with Barbara Moore. Barbara Moore had obtained for me the audition for the song "Stay With Me" with LPD Productions and later the song was picked up by Metropolitan Records and released.
4. When did you decide that you wanted to become a Freestyle artist?
At the time that I made the choice of going Professional the only music I listened to was Freestyle. I felt this was the genre I wanted to enter and hopefully become successful in.
5. Who are some of your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are; Safire, Lisa Lisa, Corina, Coro, George Lemand, Cynthia and others that I fail to remember at this moment. If the song had great music, excellent vocals and a beautiful meaning behind it, guaranteed I was hooked on it.
6. After the release of 1990's "GOT ME LOVING YOU" on Metropolitan Records, you took a hiatus and returned in 1996 with "BABY I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU" on Pryme Tyme Records. What did you focus on during your 6 year absence and did you find it hard to make the transition back to Freestyle music?
After "GOT ME LOVING YOU" many events transpired in my life that had to do with my 6 years absence. First my manager at the time (Al Lee) was incarcerated for murder. My producers and record label were at war so my production was brought to a stand still. Furthermore, I still had 4 years to my record contract with Metropolitan Records, and 2 years to my production contract with LPD Productions and I was going nowhere. So I made a choice to wait out the expirations of the contacts. I obtained a 9 to 5 job, got married and brought into this world my two beautiful daughters (Somalia and Mali).
In 1996, I was free from all my contracts and I began my search on regaining access to the music industry again. I began to work with Brian Wayne (In House Productions), with some help from Albert Laserra (LPD Production). We were then picked up by Pryme Tyme Records and I began recording again. Did I find the transition coming back to Freestyle music hard? Yes I did, because Freestyle has lost its flavor. It was not how I remembered it to be. It was very hard and difficult for me coming back.
7. You released a total of 3 songs with Pryme Tyme Records before they closed their doors. How do you feel that you had grown as an artist between your first release, "STAY WITH ME" back in 1990 and 1999's "SPINNIN‚ ROUND AND ROUND"?
From "STAY WITH ME" to "SPINNIN‚ ROUND AND ROUND" as an artist I feel I've done plenty of growing up. Vocally I've come a long way especially when I listen to my songs from the beginning. I know I've grown vocally and I've gained plenty of experience along this journey to my dream. I had to in order to survive in this business.
8. Are you currently in the studio recording new material and can we expect a full-length Fernanda (a/k/a Cheree) album anytime in the future?
At present I am currently working in the studio recording new material. I am experimenting with different sound, basically searching for the right music and genre for me. I do foresee an album hopefully soon in the future but unfortunately for me Freestyle will be a thing of the past unless a miracle happens. Right now I'm just trying my vocals with different sounds such as R&B and Pop.
9. Recently, Freestyle music has come under a lot of criticism. Many people feel that the quality of our music is not what it once used to be. There are Freestyle purists that believe Freestyle needs to return to it‚s original "OLD SCHOOL" sound of the 1980's and early 1990's while other believe that Freestyle has become stale and needs to go in a new direction in order to survive. Being as though you began your career during Freestyle's "glory years", what are your feelings on the current state of our music and what do you think needs to be done in order for Freestyle to stay alive?
Wow, I've always thought about this question and found it difficult to answer. To me I believe that the scars in this genre are still fresh. It's hard to move forward when the wounds are still open. Too much damage was done in this genre and the damages continue still to this day. Until this does not change, Freestyle will never be the same. Also Freestyle does not have the support that it deserves. We are seen as mirioca singers and not as professionals. We don't have enough support from the fans and the industry to stay alive. All I can say is that I feel proud of being part of something so great had it been given the opportunity and that was never given the chance.
10. Where would you like to see your career go over the next 5 years?
I try to live my life day by day. Not really planning for the future but hopefully in the next 5 years I am further then what I am today. If things don't go as planned with the music business, I still have my CPA that I am also working towards to fall back on.
11. "STAY WITH ME" will always be my favorite Cheree song. Out of all of your songs, do you have a favorite?
I have to be honest with you, but I enjoyed "GOT ME LOVING YOU" because of the response I received from when it first came out. But I love all my songs because they all have a special meaning to me.
12. Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Of course I do!
To my fans, thank you so much for your support over the past 12 years. You have made me believe that dreams do come true. It doesn't matter how big or small they are, but the fact that they do come true. Never give up on a dream and always believe you can make it. No one said it would be easy. Cause if they were then everyone would be doing it. Just know that anything is possible so long as you believe in the dream and especially believe in yourself. Reach for the stars, cause they each have our names written on them and they wait patiently to be reached. God bless you all and never give up on a dream!!!
Always your friend,
Fernanda a/k/a Cherée
1. For so many years, Freestyle fans everywhere have known you as "Cherée". After releasing 5 songs under that name you are now going by your real name, Fernanda. What made you decide to change your name and do you feel like any of the fans are having trouble accepting the name change?
Ever since I made the choice of going professional I wanted to use my real name "Carmen Fernanda". Unfortunately the record label (Metropolitan Records), producers (LPD Productions), and manager (Barbara Moore Entertainment) felt the name was not marketable. So we came up with the name "Cherée" and I felt comfortable with it.
Do I feel like my fans are having trouble accepting my name change? Well since I really didn't make any noise with my songs I thought I didn't have any fans. Now through CF I realize I was wrong. I feel it's my obligation to let my fans know what name I go under now. If they have supported me for so long, how could I let them down by not keeping them inform. Because of them I am who I am today!!!
2. How old were you when you first decided that you wanted to become a singer?
I have always loved music since a child, but at the age of 17 I decided to go professional.
3. How did you break into the music business?
I broke into the music business through a friend at school (DeWitt Clinton High School). He introduced me to Nereida Medina (Manager and Promoter), who was working with Barbara Moore. Barbara Moore had obtained for me the audition for the song "Stay With Me" with LPD Productions and later the song was picked up by Metropolitan Records and released.
4. When did you decide that you wanted to become a Freestyle artist?
At the time that I made the choice of going Professional the only music I listened to was Freestyle. I felt this was the genre I wanted to enter and hopefully become successful in.
5. Who are some of your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are; Safire, Lisa Lisa, Corina, Coro, George Lemand, Cynthia and others that I fail to remember at this moment. If the song had great music, excellent vocals and a beautiful meaning behind it, guaranteed I was hooked on it.
6. After the release of 1990's "GOT ME LOVING YOU" on Metropolitan Records, you took a hiatus and returned in 1996 with "BABY I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU" on Pryme Tyme Records. What did you focus on during your 6 year absence and did you find it hard to make the transition back to Freestyle music?
After "GOT ME LOVING YOU" many events transpired in my life that had to do with my 6 years absence. First my manager at the time (Al Lee) was incarcerated for murder. My producers and record label were at war so my production was brought to a stand still. Furthermore, I still had 4 years to my record contract with Metropolitan Records, and 2 years to my production contract with LPD Productions and I was going nowhere. So I made a choice to wait out the expirations of the contacts. I obtained a 9 to 5 job, got married and brought into this world my two beautiful daughters (Somalia and Mali).
In 1996, I was free from all my contracts and I began my search on regaining access to the music industry again. I began to work with Brian Wayne (In House Productions), with some help from Albert Laserra (LPD Production). We were then picked up by Pryme Tyme Records and I began recording again. Did I find the transition coming back to Freestyle music hard? Yes I did, because Freestyle has lost its flavor. It was not how I remembered it to be. It was very hard and difficult for me coming back.
7. You released a total of 3 songs with Pryme Tyme Records before they closed their doors. How do you feel that you had grown as an artist between your first release, "STAY WITH ME" back in 1990 and 1999's "SPINNIN‚ ROUND AND ROUND"?
From "STAY WITH ME" to "SPINNIN‚ ROUND AND ROUND" as an artist I feel I've done plenty of growing up. Vocally I've come a long way especially when I listen to my songs from the beginning. I know I've grown vocally and I've gained plenty of experience along this journey to my dream. I had to in order to survive in this business.
8. Are you currently in the studio recording new material and can we expect a full-length Fernanda (a/k/a Cheree) album anytime in the future?
At present I am currently working in the studio recording new material. I am experimenting with different sound, basically searching for the right music and genre for me. I do foresee an album hopefully soon in the future but unfortunately for me Freestyle will be a thing of the past unless a miracle happens. Right now I'm just trying my vocals with different sounds such as R&B and Pop.
9. Recently, Freestyle music has come under a lot of criticism. Many people feel that the quality of our music is not what it once used to be. There are Freestyle purists that believe Freestyle needs to return to it‚s original "OLD SCHOOL" sound of the 1980's and early 1990's while other believe that Freestyle has become stale and needs to go in a new direction in order to survive. Being as though you began your career during Freestyle's "glory years", what are your feelings on the current state of our music and what do you think needs to be done in order for Freestyle to stay alive?
Wow, I've always thought about this question and found it difficult to answer. To me I believe that the scars in this genre are still fresh. It's hard to move forward when the wounds are still open. Too much damage was done in this genre and the damages continue still to this day. Until this does not change, Freestyle will never be the same. Also Freestyle does not have the support that it deserves. We are seen as mirioca singers and not as professionals. We don't have enough support from the fans and the industry to stay alive. All I can say is that I feel proud of being part of something so great had it been given the opportunity and that was never given the chance.
10. Where would you like to see your career go over the next 5 years?
I try to live my life day by day. Not really planning for the future but hopefully in the next 5 years I am further then what I am today. If things don't go as planned with the music business, I still have my CPA that I am also working towards to fall back on.
11. "STAY WITH ME" will always be my favorite Cheree song. Out of all of your songs, do you have a favorite?
I have to be honest with you, but I enjoyed "GOT ME LOVING YOU" because of the response I received from when it first came out. But I love all my songs because they all have a special meaning to me.
12. Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Of course I do!
To my fans, thank you so much for your support over the past 12 years. You have made me believe that dreams do come true. It doesn't matter how big or small they are, but the fact that they do come true. Never give up on a dream and always believe you can make it. No one said it would be easy. Cause if they were then everyone would be doing it. Just know that anything is possible so long as you believe in the dream and especially believe in yourself. Reach for the stars, cause they each have our names written on them and they wait patiently to be reached. God bless you all and never give up on a dream!!!
Always your friend,
Fernanda a/k/a Cherée
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