Meeting Cabreezzah
by James Roland
Singer-songwriter Rizza Cabrera, 16, hails from Cebu, Philippines. Her original songs, featured in a series of YouTube videos, caught the attention of RedFence and prompted an Artist Spotlight about her work. I interviewed Rizza by email in February 2009.
RedFence: What was your first musical instrument and when/how did you first use it?
Rizza Cabrera: As a kid, I was pretty much already into music. I started whistling songs when I was about three or four. That’s when my mom noticed my inclination to music. My first real instrument was the piano. I started having lessons at home when I was six, but eventually, I lost interest. I didn’t really like the way my teacher taught. I sometimes refused to study the piece she gave me, haha. Instead, I would figure out how to play the songs I heard on the radio or some random song that my mom would sing while cooking.
RF: What’s the first song you remember hearing? How did it influence you?
Rizza: Oh gosh! I’m not sure if I can remember the first song I heard, but I do remember the tunes and melodies of the first few that I actually took the time to listen to. Those were the songs that my mom sang with her band. The most memorable ones (and the only ones whose titles I remember) were “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” because it was the song that the crowd always asked for, and “Zombie,” because I loved the song haha. I’m not really sure how it influenced me, but I’m pretty sure it did. Come to think of it, I think every song that I’ve listened to influenced me one way or another.
RF: If you started playing for church, how does your faith influence your music?
Rizza: I’d have to say that faith is definitely the main thing that got me this far in my music. I can’t really explain how it did, though. Just take my word for it J.
RF: How many languages do you speak, and how do you choose which to sing in?
Rizza: I know a total of five languages, but I’m fluent in only three. I choose to sing in English because it’s a language that I’ve been using ever since I can remember, because I know it more than the other languages I’ve learned, and because I think it’s the language most practiced today. Well, that’s just what I think.
RF: How big a part does YouTube play in your art? Did the internet in general affect you as an artist?
Rizza: YouTube definitely played a huge role in my music. It’s such a great community. Fellow YouTubers helped me grow musically through their comments and suggestions. The internet is such a wonderful thing. It’s where musicians like me can share our music and learn from one another. If it wasn’t for the internet, I think my musical ability would’ve been somewhat limited.
RF: As a 15-year-old girl are you more influenced by the classics or the pop music that’s made today for listeners in your age demographic?
Rizza: I’m actually 16! I hear pop wherever I go, so that’s what probably influences me the most. But I try to expose myself to as much of the classics as I can because I think it’s the classics that have more depth and meaning. As the saying goes, You can’t beat the classics!
RF: When and why did you decide to make music? Will this be your career or simply a hobby?
Rizza: When I was twelve. I dreamt of being a known singer-songwriter, but then it hit me — how sure was I that I would make it in the music industry? So I did some thinking and came to the conclusion that as of now, music will just be a hobby. But I’m hoping it would turn out to be something bigger than that. All I can really do now is give this thing all that I’ve got and leave my fate in the Lord’s hands.
Check out Rizza’s Artist Spotlight.
For More Info:
Rizza’s YouTube Page
Rizza’s Myspace Page
