Meet Celleste | Recording artist, songwriter, dancer, videographer & creative activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Celleste and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Celleste, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Balancing my work/passion and life has always been a challenge. My partner in crime and I work very well together, we are very creative people, and so we spend most of our time doing art and music, and of course taking care of business related to our art and music. We don’t go on vacation very often, because we’re always busy and excited about the next project… And when we do take a full day off….what do we talk about? Work! Of course lol

To help with balance, four years ago we made sure to live in an inspiring environment close to the ocean and the mountains, so that every time we go out, even if it’s only for an hour, that we get totally energized by our beautiful surroundings. Two years later, we brought a wonderful four-legged fury baby into our lives, his name is Furgus, and now he’s a 2 year old Goldendoodle. He’s such a bundle of joy, he forces me to take breaks and go for walks, run on the beach, go for car rides, play, snuggle in bed, and live a little outside of my work bubble. He simply reminds us to take care of ourselves, and be in the moment. Of course, this means that I get to work a little less… but I get to live a little more.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist, I think what sets me apart is that I put no limit on my creativity. Some musicians are multi-instrumentalists, where I’d call myself a “multi-artist”. I’m a songwriter, dancer, actor, model, and photographer. I also direct, film, and edit my own music videos, as well as for others. Even when it comes to singing, I’ve sang countless different styles in my career – from rock, to crooning and everything in between. Basically, if something interests me, then I want to explore it and become good at it. Sure, writing and recording music has always remained the central focus, but I think my ability to cross over into many other artistic areas is what sets me apart from lots of artists out there.

As far as my journey… well, art and music is my life, and it’s been quite an amazing adventure so far. I started as a singer and dancer in a production show, performing as many as 9 shows a week, and also toured Europe as a backup singer, dancer and assistant choreographer for a very successful artist. From there I did modeling, acting, and lots of performing as a lead singer. When I met producer Eric Dick, we immediately clicked and started songwriting together. We became great friends, and eventually realized we were not only a great working team, but also soul mates. That led to releasing lots of music together, and finally realizing a childhood dream we each had, moving to California in late 2017.

Next on my journey, Eric and I worked on two projects which I’m very proud of. We had always wanted to unite activism with our music, and so in 2018, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we created “We Go On (California Strong)”, a song and video honoring the survivors and first responders of the historical Wolsey Fire, and other natural disasters, to help raise money for the rebuilding of California homes. Then soon after when the pandemic set in, we aligned ourselves with “Teenline Online” in Los Angeles, and “Just for Kids Foundation” in Montreal, and got working on a second huge undertaking: “Breathe!” – a song and video uniting 140 people from both cities, all singing together in support of mental health awareness. The project continues to circulate on social media, raising funds and awareness for mental health.

When it comes to my career, I’ve gambled many times, I’ve put everything on the line, I’ve left people behind, I’ve fallen to the ground and got back on my feet over and over again… all because I truly believe in turning my dreams into reality. But what I’ve learned along the way in this intense, crazy, and amazing roller coaster called life, is that the people who make it to the finish line in any career are not necessarily the most talented ones, but rather the most perseverant, resilient, determined, driven, and passionate ones, who just won’t take “no” for an answer. And while it’s not always easy to be our true, authentic selves, the most important thing for me has always been to listen to my heart, follow my instincts, and live the life I envision, no matter what people think or say about it… and I encourage others to do the same, as an advocate for positivity, self-love, kindness, diversity, and woman empowerment. My latest single, “I’m The Boss”, which has been playing on radio around the globe (yay!), conveys exactly that message… and I hope it inspires people to be confident about themselves, and always shine the way they are meant to – bright and beautiful!

I’m grateful for my journey, but there’s still so much I want to do… Write a book, design a clothing line, film a documentary, host a TV show, start a foundation, work with dogs… My head is always full of ideas and projects! But whatever I get to experience and achieve over the course of my life, I hope that in some way my path will inspire others to pursue their own dreams, never settle for less, and always be true to who they really are.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Malibu is an amazingly beautiful place, with so much to see and do. It’s one of the few places in the world where the ocean is directly alongside towering mountains, so the scenery is unique and spectacular. Outside of California, many people envision Malibu as a chic celebrity town – and sure, many celebrities call Malibu home, but the city life is actually very laid back and casual, and almost has a country/rural feel to it, with one main street, and many farms and ranches scattered throughout. I love showing people around whenever they visit!

First things first – to get a great overall look at the beauty the Malibu coast has to offer, a drive out to Point Mugu is essential. Starting at Leo Carrillo beach and driving north for about 20 minutes, the ocean and mountain scenery is on par with some of the nicest coastal drives in the world. Along the way, we could catch the surfers at County Line Beach, or get some exercise by climbing the famous Sandy Dune incline alongside the road. Point Mugu is best known by its huge “rock”, which was created when the Pacific Coast Highway was carved through the mountain. There’s also a beach where you might get lucky and catch horseback riders on the shore! The drive back is equally beautiful, and the scenery feels very different from the opposite direction.

Next, everyone needs some beach time to decompress… and Western Malibu is the place! Coming back from Point Mugu, we could visit iconic beaches like El Matador, Leo Carrillo, Zuma, and Westward beach, where many movies and TV shows were filmed. We’d stop at the cozy Trancas Country Mart, because Vintage Grocers has a food bar and lots of prepared food to go, so it’s perfect for a beach picnic! You might even see Lady Gaga shopping for fruits there… it’s her neighborhood after all!

After any day spent at the beach, a short hike to check out the cliff at Point Dume is a must, for an extraordinary view of the coast… and it’s particularly beautiful at sunset. We’d end the night back at Trancas Country Mart, with a delicious meal and glass of wine on the terrace at Kristy’s Grill and bar.

Next, we would check out central Malibu and go for a walk on the Pier, where we’d have a healthy lunch at Malibu Farm Restaurant or their casual Cafe. We might also catch a glimpse of some whales, but we’d definitely see lots of surfers.

Most people drive right through Malibu because it’s basically a one highway city… but there’s so much more to see when you visit in-land. So next we’d drive up Malibu Canyon, continue onto Mulholland, and come back down via Kanan Dume… the views are fabulous! On that route, we could stop at Cornell Winery & Tasting Room for a fun afternoon of wine tasting, and also visit The Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch for a special outdoor California barbecue dining experience.

On our next outing, the Malibu Village is a must for any tourist, so we’d have lunch at the famous Malibu Kitchen in the Country Mart, and then do some shopping while enjoying a gelato. I love Italian food, so pizza, pasta, and wine on the terrace of Tra di Noi would be a treat, and we could end the night next door at Café Habana for drinks and music.

Next day we could visit Pepperdine University, perched on a mountain in the center of Malibu, with an amazing view of the city and ocean! Coming back down the mountain we’d grab lunch at Ollo, where they serve breakfast until 3pm – I love it! Then we’d check out the Getty Museum or maybe the Hindu Temple… a bit outside of Malibu, closer to Calabasas. I still haven’t had a chance to visit… but it’s on my list. Then, dinner at V’s is always a feast, because I’m a truffle fan and they make an incredible appetizer of mushroom flatbread with truffle oil, and an awesome truffle pasta entree as well. Highly recommended!

Before the week is over, we’d make sure to put aside a day and drive to Santa Monica to check out the Pier, walk on the boardwalk, and under the palm trees of Ocean Avenue. We’d have a special sushi goodbye dinner… of course Nobu in Malibu is legendary for it’s food, views, and celebrity sightings… but one of my favorite places to dine or take out is BUI Sushi. The staff are super-friendly and the food is always amazing – delicious! It’s also very popular amongst the locals, and way easier to get a reservation! 🙂

Many visitors pass through Malibu and often spend only a day or two visiting… but as you can tell, I think it’s a destination that merits more time to fully appreciate the lifestyle, vibe, and all the other amazing stuff it has to offer!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to two wonderful men in my life… First, my dad in heaven, who was a singer and musician… a constant source of encouragement and positivity in my life. Second, my soul mate and music partner/producer, who pushes me to be a better artist and songwriter, and who always believed in me… especially at times when I was deeply doubting myself.

Website: https://www.celleste.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celleste_music

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cellestemusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cellestemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/cellesteTV

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cellestemusic

Image Credits
Mighty Music