Cici Isenia

My name is Jeandrelyse Jacobino-Isenia, but all of my friends call me Cici and since you're here you can call me Cici too. I was born on the beautiful island of Curacao, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters, right off the coast of Venezuela. Growing up on such a multicultural island exposed me to different languages, but also a variety of musical genres and a deep love and passion for the arts. This has had an influence on the type of music I make and the languages I speak and sing.

At first I was quite hesitant to start a career in music, but I was thought by my parents to pursue my passion. That's how I ended up moving to Rotterdam in 2012 to study Music Education at Codarts (Rotterdam Conservatory). I wasn't sure I would love teaching, but as it turned out I fell in love with all the intricacies of the voice. I wanted to teach others how to feel confident in their voice, their sound and their abilities. I wanted to teach them that there wasn't necessarily a right way to sing, just a healthier and technical way to use their voice.

Although teaching is a big passion of mine, I also consider myself to be an artist. That is why I still perform. Performing is more than just entertaining to me, it's telling a story through lyrics and melody. Singing gives me the room to express myself through song and allows me to connect with the audience, with their fears, their hopes and dreams.