Artists Off Stage - Cusi Collyur

by JAMES A. DURAN

Cusi Collyur has been spending time off-stage in Los Angeles, CA hanging out at cemeteries, making music videos, - and trying to stay creative while her eclectic singing voice heals

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Hello Cusi! How's your week going so far?

My week has been mentally and emotionally difficult. I’ve been having a lot of trouble accepting my voice. It changes from hoarse, to scratchy, to painful, to none at all, to sort of ok throughout a day because of LPR, a throat issue caused by acid re-flux in the stomach. So my week has been sleeping, crying, meditating, finishing a mix of a bare-bones cover song I recorded before my voice got sick, and worrying/trying to not worry about money. And eating delicious fruit my mom gave me - papaya, blackberries, nectarines. Oh and I started re-watching Broad City, so that's been boosting my mood A LOT hahaha.

2. With the closing of music venues and a 'pause' on the live music industry as a whole, we've been asking artists how they've been spending time off-stage. What have you been up to the past few months? Are there any projects you've been working?

The past few months I’ve been busy healing my throat, helping my boyfriend heal from the 4 fevers he caught, and trying to be a person lol. Before my voice got sick I recorded a single, “Welcome to My War,” as well as a dance music video choreographed by Alex Floyd (OdDancity) to go along with it. I also made some belated presents for my parents, one of which was a cover of “Benditas Las Madres,” a Peruvian huayno, for mother’s day. I have trouble releasing songs that aren’t full of production, but this one means a lot to my mom and to my family so I challenged myself to record it and am putting it on my Bandcamp soon:). It is just my voice, charango, and the sound of hitting the back of an acoustic guitar. Besides that, I’ve been hanging out a lot at cemeteries. I’ve found them to be a place where I can slow down, zone out, and feel peace.

3. How have you been able to remain creative through the hectic times we're living in?

In the beginning of the pandemic it was quite easy to stay creative because music was where I found relief. I spent entire days nerding out on YouTube recording and mixing tutorials and creating weird sounds. Took some virtual classes too through Femme House and shesaid.so. I am trying to get back into that as I honestly fell into a deep depression after not having a voice for 4 months and still am struggling with it since my voice isn’t healed. Besides that I have been writing poetry and lyrics in Spanish and Spanglish and drew a portrait of me, my abuelita and my Tía Buldrima who just passed away. 

4. What are you most excited to get back to when we start to return to normal?

I wouldn’t say “get back to” but rather, change. I want to travel to Buenos Aires and possibly move there. I'm obsessed with the poet Alejandra Pizarnik and that is where she is from, so I hope to visit her grave and immerse myself in arts. They also have a pretty wild electronic/experimental music scene. Also, I hope to visit Peru during cherimoya season. It's something my mom always talked about but I have never been able to go during that time. Cherimoyas are rareeee to find here, but they are one of my favorite fruits. I want to dance more, and if my voice allows, perform more. I just want to have fun regardless of my health. 

Plus I promised my cousin he can teach me to make sushi and we'll learn to make tamales from his mom post-pandemic. My Tía Pancha's tamales are the besttttttt Peruvian tamales you'll ever have, and my cousin learned how to make sushi from the pro, my uncle Yoshi. I love learning family recipes, they are always way way way better than at a restaurant.

5. Last but not least, we always gotta ask - what's on your playlist right now? (Please list 3-5 songs, you can include reasons you like the artist/song but isn't required!)

“Sunshine” & “The Girl and the Geese” - Cocorosie 

good for sitting by a lake and watching los cisnes y los gansos.

“It’s a Moot Point“ - Melanie Faye

good for dancing in a cemetery

“Spiral” - Soloveichik

for when I am crying

“Coffee“ - Sylvan Esso

I danced to this when I was frustrated.

“Exhausted” - Kohinoorgasm

all the time.

“Sway” - Thelma

always.

“Qam Hina” - Renata Flores

peruana y quechua pride

“Yo Perreo Sola“ - Bad Bunny

i may have danced to this like club dancing style while simultaneously doing laundry...

“prism / act II” - Ellen Reid

she screams while i can’t

“Two Weeks“ - FKA Twigs

relaxes me.

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This interview is part of Artists Off Stage - a series of snapshot style interviews and photo-stories highlighting how musicians are spending their time during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

All interviews are done remotely as we continue to practice social distancing. For resources and information regarding COVID-19, click here.

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Interview by James A. Duran