Ci Majr’s Reveals Dreams on Queer Pop 'Side Effects' EP

Arts

Apr 16

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Ci Majr’s pop sensibilities are pure sunshine and the underground non-binary artist is anything but amateur. The self-written co-produced 5-track collection of Side Effects showcases the incredible talents of one of the brightest upcoming stars in music. Ci Majr is not an indie pop ingenue; they are an infectious songwriter and memorable vocalist, bolstering new work thanks to the recent socially-distanced downtime.

Hot off the early January dance frenzy “Summer Drug”, the Atlanta-based artist further revealed their hyper-catchy melody-making with March’s follow-up single, “Guillotine”. Its emboldened plea of compassion and change was fashioned from the frustrating circular conversations surrounding the social injustice of 2020, applied to the dynamics of a relationship faltering. Along with a remotely configured music video via Danie Harris, assisted IRL by Ci’s partner Anna, limited circumstances were utilized for true creative induction (shown in the BTS video), all collaborations and photography sessions of the smallest teams providing an intimate result.

Side Effects explores “the unforeseen complexity of the romantic experience”, untangling the web of mess humans enter, not just with our partners, but with ourselves, in love. Ci’s current relationship jump-started an honest realization through these difficult layers. Reaching deep to both analyze and be accountable to the ways in which we can easily become toxic amid tumultuous confrontation, the EP notes the heaviness that bears down on partnerships with the weight of our own lives and even the subconscious programming around us everyday.

“You have TV, movies, and books setting this expectation of just automatic happiness and bliss but in reality building a deep, real, and healthy romantic relationship takes work. And more likely than not, at least one of you is going to mess it up and people are going to get hurt,” Ci explains. “I was always so quick to jump ship as soon as the slightest thing went wrong, and I’ve learned so much in the last 4 years about conflict resolution, unpacking past traumas, and in general, getting comfortable in the moments of discomfort that can occur in healthy relationships. Before, my brain always told me that everything would be effortless once you found ‘the one’, but just because things aren’t perfect it doesn’t mean you aren’t doing things right.”

As a night time creative, late evening euphoric immersion helps to devote fully to writing waves, opening options for raw honesty and for “go time” to strike. Production and songwriting sync hand-in-hand: “Sometimes one comes before the other but the feeling and the energy behind it is always the same. I don’t know what to compare it to, but I think it’s whatever they talk about when athletes ‘get in the zone’. That ‘zone’ is a heightened version of me where I can extend and share pieces of me musically.” Lack of activities and distractions became a help, not a hindrance, for scheduling sessions and feeding innovation.

“Before 2020, I’d say my creative energy was pretty uncertain, but the last year gave me the time and mental space to devote to solidifying. Now my creative energy feels more confident; it has a direction,” Ci shares. “Often, writing a song feels like birthing a part of me... cathartic and pure, but also fragile.” The base layers of their compositions are always made solo in an environment of authenticity. “When people listen too soon or have comments too early in the process it can really kill my excitement about what I’m creating. And that’s my favorite part of the process. That excitement of creating something completely new! It’s like a high!”

Side Effects emits an overarching theme stating, yes, love is a dreamy drug, but to truly experience its fairytale bliss, surrender is necessary and acceptance is key. “You’re going to have to endure your fair share of the side effects,” Ci explains, a nugget of wisdom which provided the inspo for the EP title. Fans of Toro Y Moi and The Weeknd will relish in the tender yet cool hooks throughout. Along with the two earlier 2021 singles, Ci Majr shows both epic range in “After Midnight”, an introspective pure honesty on “Softer” and stirs with “Ultraviolet”. Within, superb storytelling garners full immersion into familiar turmoil, acutely felt by the listener, and yet irresistible to listen to, as only great emotional pop music can do.

The Side Effects EP is released today April 16th, 2021. Follow Ci Majr (similarly pronounced as “C Major”) on Instagram, Spotify and Soundcloud for more music and news.

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Sunni Johnson is the Arts Editor of WUSSY and a writer, zinester, and musician based in Atlanta, GA.

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