What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences?

Our band name is my personal name because I started off as a solo artist with my first single release in 2016. So when I started the band in February 2019 we kept my name because it’s too expensive to start over with re-branding and I already had a decent sized and committed fan base started.
My biggest influences are Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Patti Smith because they are also accomplished writers and have such a unique and authenic music style that incorporates thier poetry as well. I also am currently obsessed with Asaf Avidan and LP for the same reasons. Lastly, Kovacs because she is also a visual artist and her music and videos incorporate her visual art background. She even designs and screen prints her own merch by hand.  I really identify with these artists and respect them because I also am a poet and visual artist so I admire other artists that utilize all their talents in their work.

How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to
explore when you start off?

My surroundings certainly facilitate my songwriting, but I get the majority of my ideas while driving or traveling and I do most of my songwriting in the car. Sometimes I record a lyric or melody line on my phone while driving or I pull over to the side of the road to write something down. In Malta, where I live, I also have a few places I go to park and write near cliffs overlooking the sea. I usually write the song and melody lines then work with one my band guys to find the chords, then work with a producer to further develop the song.

 

Reaccuring themes I write about are my life experiences, losses, my romantic relationships, and empowerment.  I’ll give some examples: My most recent single ‘Happy New Year” was inspired by the one year anniversary of my cousin’s death. He died on Christmas Eve in a motorcycle accident, hit and dragged by a semi-truck on a highway in California. We grew up together and were neighbors for some years. He was only a few years older than me and his death really struck a deep chord with me.  Then I thought about all my many family and friends who have died and felt like I could end up, eventually, being the last one left at this party we call life. So I used a New Years Eve party as a metaphor for life and death. The song is my way of processing all of this and a tribute to those who have gone before me. https://youtu.be/Ky_bMNb3jWI
 

Secondly: My 4 track concept EP ‘Black Water’ is a narrative of my life, my anger, loss and my love from 1990’s to 2010 with some underlying women’s empowerment themes. It ends with a poem that sums it all up. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4dErtA5tN1wSeAFAPKdVSs?si=tMjUz2hcRV6tUKfuzzV7ug

 

Then my songs ‘Cross the Line’, ‘Black Water’, ‘Bad Love, and ‘Vixen’ are all about empowerment of either women, minorities, or for  LGBTQ. 

How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to
explore when you start off?

My surroundings certainly facilitate my songwriting, but I get the majority of my ideas while driving or traveling and I do most of my songwriting in the car. Sometimes I record a lyric or melody line on my phone while driving or I pull over to the side of the road to write something down. In Malta, where I live, I also have a few places I go to park and write near cliffs overlooking the sea. I usually write the song and melody lines then work with one my band guys to find the chords, then work with a producer to further develop the song.

 

Reaccuring themes I write about are my life experiences, losses, my romantic relationships, and empowerment.  I’ll give some examples: My most recent single ‘Happy New Year” was inspired by the one year anniversary of my cousin’s death. He died on Christmas Eve in a motorcycle accident, hit and dragged by a semi-truck on a highway in California. We grew up together and were neighbors for some years. He was only a few years older than me and his death really struck a deep chord with me.  Then I thought about all my many family and friends who have died and felt like I could end up, eventually, being the last one left at this party we call life. So I used a New Years Eve party as a metaphor for life and death. The song is my way of processing all of this and a tribute to those who have gone before me. https://youtu.be/Ky_bMNb3jWI
 
Secondly: My 4 track concept EP ‘Black Water’ is a narrative of my life, my anger, loss and my love from 1990’s to 2010 with some underlying women’s empowerment themes. It ends with a poem that sums it all up. 
 
Then my songs ‘Cross the Line’, ‘Black Water’, ‘Bad Love, and ‘Vixen’ are all about empowerment of either women, minorities, or for  LGBTQ. 

Why do you write the sort of music that you do?

My mission as an artist is to create relatable music, poetry and art that is authentic, honest, deeply personal, inspirational, and empowering; that speaks to people and touches an emotional chord. Music that has a lot of symbolism with multiple layers of meaning and depth. I believe it is my job as an artist is to express that which is unspoken, to express the intangible. I also strive to be inventive, to think out of the box and remain genre-less; to create free from the constraints of artistic ‘rules’ and to challenge societal ‘norms’. I feel that the audience can relate to my music and my life and connect with my music and me on a deep level.

How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them
into that live setting?

Well it really depends on the venue and type of performance, if it’s full band or acoustic duo, trio, quartet etc. As not all songs sound good acoustically and vice versa. Also, the type of event. If it’s a lively music festival where the audience can dance we will choose a more high octane set list. If it’s a chillax restaurant or bluesy lounge we would choose a more relaxed set. We are always adjusting the vibe of the songs to fit the venue as well with more mellow versions, stripped down versions or fully plugged high energy versions.

How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them
into that live setting?

Well it really depends on the venue and type of performance, if it’s full band or acoustic duo, trio, quartet etc. As not all songs sound good acoustically and vice versa. Also, the type of event. If it’s a lively music festival where the audience can dance we will choose a more high octane set list. If it’s a chillax restaurant or bluesy lounge we would choose a more relaxed set. We are always adjusting the vibe of the songs to fit the venue as well with more mellow versions, stripped down versions or fully plugged high energy versions.

What plans do you have for the future?

Coming up next on March 4th we’ll be releasing a new alternative rock single called ‘Fleshbot Prison’. An angry rock song with an artistic theory about human existence.  We are also writing and producing our first full LP. It will include some poetry as my Black Water EP did. Watch here for our new music or check out our music and vidios: https://linktr.ee/ChellcyReitsma
We are hoping to get some bookings started up again for Spring and Summer 2022 as soon as the pandemic situation calms down and restrictions ease. Last year we did quite well despite the pandemic and managed to land 2 festivals and headlined a decent sized local concert.  We had our last performance in November because  all our December and January bookings were cancelled due to covid. We do have some TV and radio appearances scheduled for March 2022 for both local and USA stations already, which we are really excited about.