STAR on the Rise: C-Diva wants to win Grammy after Grammy

C-Diva has always envisioned herself as a shining star, copping international awards and being ranked among the great ‘divas’ like Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.

But growing up in a strict Christian household, there was pressure for her to sing gospel music to please her parents.

Following the beat of her own drum, the singer embarked on a secular career as part of a girl group in the 1990s, but her glory days were short-lived when she found out she was pregnant.

Now offered a second chance working with Inferno Camp label, C-Diva has released her debut single, Broken, inspired by a failed relationship.

“I’m so happy with the feedback so far. Music was always on my mind all these years but I had to take care of my kids,” she told THE STAR. “Now that I am doing music again, I see myself getting Grammys after Grammys. I want my music to reach the whole world cause I think I have some great music now and more crazy stuff in my head.”

The playfield is a bit different today for C-Diva, whose given name is Cassandra Smith. She said adjusting to performing on a track instead of with a live band has been tedious, but said other elements work in her favour.

“It’s more digital now and there are a lot of sounds in music today, but because I have kids, I’ve adapted to the popular sounds which I fuse in my music like reggae and R&B,” she said.

This blended sound is expected on her debut EP which will feature Broken, and five new songs for release by year-end.

She is also gearing up to release her sophomore single New Man in My Life this month.

FUTURE NAME CHANGE

Though she earned the ‘diva’ moniker from her cousin, she said that she plans to use Cassandra as her performance name eventually, as the diva title carries negative connotations.

“In Jamaica, they think of diva and think of fake butts and breasts, they expect you to look a certain way,” she said. “It’s hard for females in the industry and we get a lot of pressure from men cause once you go to someone for help they are not listening to your voice, they are looking at your body and everybody wants a piece of you. I want to fade out the name in time, but I’ll remain a fighter because I want my music to comfort people and uplift them despite what they are going through.”