Meet Classique | Violinist & Singer/Songwriter

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

Hi Classique, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The scariest part about a risk taking is the unknown. What will happen? What will people think of me? Will I fail? Will I succeed. As a creative you always wonder what will happen. But the truth is you never know until you try. If I never taught myself how to play the viola and violin, I would’ve never been able to share my melodies with those who needed it most. If I never picked up a pen and paper to begin writing songs, I would’ve never shared my stories with those who needed to hear it. If I never sang those songs, I would’ve never shared my truth with those who could relate and be inspired by it. If I never shared any of it and received constructive criticism, I would’ve not aimed to be better. Risk taking has been my life and the inspiration for my career. I’ve always been optimistic and fascinated by the “What If?” If I hadn’t taken those risks and stepped out of my comfort zone, I don’t think I would have the opportunity to even answer this question. That to me is the most beautiful thing. Risk taking leads to the beautiful world of discovery.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Artistically I go by the name Classique and I am a Violinist/Singer-Songwriter and event Curator. I create music and songs that reflect my experience as a musician and as a human. My music compositions and production are a cross between sophistication and a whole vibe you can bop to. My song lyrics although known to be coded, are relatable on the surface and expand on the narrative that we are all having a human experience with ups and downs but most important of all, it’s ok to BE YOU. What sets me a part form others is simply the fact that I am one of one. I cannot be recreated or duplicated. I am the only me that exists. I taught myself how to play the violin at the age of 7 and from there I continued to dive deeper into my natural ability to create. As my passion grew so did my free-spirited vision and so here I am. I am extremely excited about the rest of my story but even more so, having the opportunity to watch it unfold. My upcoming project, an album, will share pieces of that story for the very first time. This project will be a product of my growth as a musician, a goal that I set and saw through to the end. I’ve created and curated an event called “Classified” that provides a space for the audience to enjoy exclusive access to live performances of some of my songs as well as performances from a few other talented creatives. The anticipation of sharing this body of work in its entirety brings me the most excitement.

Professionally, I got to where I am by not only believing in myself but taking risks. I was scared of failure like everybody else but I was even more scared to blend in with the crowd. Therefore, I found strength and courage by being the odd ball out and not following the crowd, I always just did my own thing, what felt right. This journey has not been easy at all. I wanted to quit and give up so many times. But I realized that there is such a power in sharing and the significance of quality over quantity. If I touched just one person with my artistry and made a difference in their world, then every step I take it is worth it. Every tear I shed, every challenge I face becomes worth it. I am able to push through by keeping those people in mind. I’ve learned along the way that the key to success is not others believing in you, it’s you believing in yourself each time. Your success is only measured by how you define it. When it comes to my story I want people to know that it is never ending and I am just getting started.

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?
Spending time with my best friend is always great but a whole week!? I don’t think we would be in the country lol! But if we are going to hang out locally, food and drinks will surely be involved. Bayview Kitchen in Amityville is definitely one of the stops on our list, their salmon burger is the bomb! We’d visit the store for items to make our own mimosas and cook brunch at home. For another outing we’d visit Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre for great food, music, and my absolute favorite their Rum Punch! Live Music is a must so we’d take a trip to Brooklyn and go to The Cafe Open Mic. I’d also join the band to perform and jam out for the night. My best friend and I are both creatives that are usually out and about amongst crowds professionally so we adore quiet time. A trip to the beach, a park or The Pier in the city would be staple. We’d be able to enjoy quiet time in nature and admire the scenery. Positive vibes and energy are always a must so to wrap up the week we’d link up with some of our mutual friends and enjoy a fun filled game night with, drinks, jokes, laughter, and love.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutouts to my Higher Power for blessing me with creative gifts, my dad Prof. Adesegun A Labinjo the first person to believe in my dream and vision, my middle school orchestra teacher and mentor Ms. Oween Davis who saw something in me and pushed me to share my light, my best friend and manager Glen Roxanne who aligned with my purpose and saw me through some difficult times, my friend Lee England Jr. who reminded me that I am great, every supporter that I’ve known since childhood or met a long the way, and last but not least my friend and fellow musician Brittany Harris for nominating me for this opportunity.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Classique516

Instagram: www.instagram.com/Classique516

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Classique516

Image Credits
@frc.photos @dmcvlz @gardy.go @domdoesthemost @a.zapmusik_ @cerdafye.sm