Finding Us (Interracial Romance)

On the Radio

Cecilia

"Hey, L.A.! You're listening to Heartbeat FM with the gang starring your boy, Terrell!"

"And your girls, Misty and..."

"Chelsea!"

"Today, we are honored to have an artist who is a Spotify Award winner, two-time NAACP Award winner along with an AMA and a BET Award winner!"

"That's right. Everyone, please give it up for my girl and my cousin Cecilia Evans!" My Cousin Misty cheers along with Terrell and Chelsea as the air-horn sound effect goes off.  

"Hey!" I clap enthusiastically. "Good morning, Heartbeat FM and thank you for having me on your show this morning! How are you guys?" 

"We're Gucci, living our best lives." Terrell replies with a chill tone. 

"Are you from New York?" 

"Yep, I'm from Long Island. Terrell grins with content. 

"Are you serious?" He nods. 

"Get out of here!" My Cousin Stella was also from New York, only in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood. "For the past ten years since I've known you, I'm now noticing your New York accent. You sound so chill and relaxed." 

"Thank you. First of all; we want to congratulate you on your accomplishments and positive reviews you have received for your second EP, Flowers!" 

Terrell, Cousin Misty, and Chelsea cheer and clap their hands. "Thanks!" I beam. 

"That album has encompasses a glorious variety of genres that included R&B, alternative pop, gospel, rock, soul, disco, funk, bachata, chill-out, downtempo, and electronic. We want to know, what artists inspired you to create this EP?" 

"I've rediscovered listening to a myriad of eclectic artists such as; Antony Santos, Late Night Alumni, Jamiroquai, Romeo Santos, Frank Reyes, Raulin Rodriguez, Miguel Migs, Lana Del Rey, Marina & the Diamonds, the Cranberries, Massive Attack, Amara La Negra, and Queen. I love Queen! I have been listening to one of their albums called, Hot Space and I'm astounded because the songs are fire! I could definitely hear the Thriller influences because of the drums, synthesizers, and the horns, despite the fact that both albums were released six months apart. They are a legendary band that are versatile including the sub-genres of rock; hard rock, glam rock, art rock, heavy metal, progressive rock, pop, rock, and arena rock as well as gospel, operatic pop, baroque, rockabilly, ragtime, folk music, funk, and dance/disco." I reason. 

"What first got you into music?" Chelsea queries. 

I lean back in my seat with my arms folded behind my head as I look upwards. "What first got me interested in music is watching Selena. J-Lo embodied that role and I really thought she looked so much a lot like the actual Selena Quintanilla-Perez. And I've listened to Cumbia through my aunts from my dad's side of the family as well as learning the dance from my aunts and the movie. I remembered watching her last concert just two months before I turned three and I was blown away when she twists her body and spins around while she was dancing. I was like, 'I wanna dance like that!' I was mesmerized, for sure." I giggle briefly. 

"Now, Flowers was ranked number nine on the Top Ten Trending Albums, number four on iTunes, and number one on the Billboard Hot 100! You even recorded tracks that have profound topics that doesn't shy away from what we're going through. We're still living in the pandemic and one of my favorite songs you recorded happens to be 'Fists Up'. We played that song non-stop during the George Floyd protests and we all cried because the composition sounds so ethereal and uplifting."