Daily Inspiration: Meet Cye Pie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cye Pie. 

Hi Cye, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It’s funny. Life has turned out to be somewhat of a living boomerang. The things I did for fun to express myself as a young person like sing, braid hair, providing space for friends to just “be” and piano lessons have turned into lifelong passions that fund and energize my life. I spent years on each creative thing I was drawn to until I became confident enough to share and grow in them. Although I felt some shame in not being focused on one thing at time, I’m so proud call myself a multidisciplinary creative, entrepreneur, educator, and activist from Detroit.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road has had quite a few bumps and potholes in it. I’ve tripped and been stuck for longer than I wanted. I had to learn to push through these obstacles if what I really wanted was important to me. Sometimes, I have to muster up everything in me and snatch life up by the neck. Go for what I want in the midst of everything seemingly going downhill. I’m still struggling with this but I’m proud of the growth I’m making; even if it is an inch. I’m grateful to have accumulated things in my mental toolbox that help me regain clarity and confidence when things get tough. Creating and therapy has played an enormous part in that.

I struggled with recovering from rejection and failures of all sorts since around 20 years old. Whether it was a relationship/friendship breakup, band breakup, or rejection letter, I equated that to my worth. I’d have periodic bouts of depression where I pretty much lived in my bed. While also struggling with seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.), anxiety, and ADD, managing my mental health especially during that time of year is HARD. Making music and connecting with the people I’m closest to helps tremendously. There’s something so emotionally filling that I get from cooking and eating with the people I love. Jam sessions and music collaborations are like gold to me because I get to connect, form relationships and be vulnerable with other artists. Being an artist can feel isolating, a lot of the time. Spaces like that debunk the lies anxiety tell me when I’m pushing my art solo. Community is everything to me. So, to feel connected to people through something as personal as music charges me up when I’m having a difficult time pushing through. Community has been my bridge to hopefulness in many ways and I am forever grateful for that.

Making close friends and socializing has always been very difficult. Since quarantine happened, it’s magnified. I push through because I love genuine human connection and to go dancing. Pushing through looks like initiating more intentional conversation and meet ups. Pushing through also looks like not overthinking before reaching out to a loved one I haven’t spoken to in a while. I’m learning to create/hold more space for my relationships and to take time to express the love I have for them. Loud. My tribe reminds me that I am loved and supported That is enough sometimes to hop over any bump in the road.

I’ve struggled with fully trusting myself and my creative gifts. Trying new forms of expression and releasing them into the world is not easy. I found that when I finally do release my art into the world, it helps end a mental cycle of a project not being “ready” or “good enough to put out.” Leaning into the “self” and public part of being a creative has always been challenging because I can’t hide; Like this interview. Every time, I make a decision to show up. For that alone, I am proud. I’m proud to be out of my own way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do quite a few things!

I’m a singer, songwriter, producer, and musician. I’ve released two singles this year on Bandcamp and streaming platforms! Looking forward to live shows I have coming up! My sets are usually high energy and interactive with the audience. Anyone who’s ever seen me play know to prepare to shake something. I also host and curate an in-person music and art experience celebrating femme black bodies since 2019 called Rise Of The Booty. Looking forward to ROTB happening in August 2022!

I have a visual and wearable art program called “Art Squad” for young people ages 8-13 on Detroit’s east side. This is year 5 of my art classes at Say Detroit Play Center.

My natural hair studio, HairHut Detroit, has been in business since 2014. I specialize in hair health and education along with enhancing natural curls. We offer most natural and protective styling, loc services, color treatments, specialty hair repair treatments, and cuts on all hair lengths & types. I’m also a student barber.

I love to creative direct visual projects. I’ve fallen in love with photography and fashion. I share my photography through @pieperazzi on IG. I’m looking forward to sharing my work in fashion and collaborations in the works with the general public late summer ‘22.

I am currently working to get free mental health therapy for black people. My goal is to radically help increase access to therapy by compiling resources, through online community discourse and an ongoing fund and initiative to get black people in front of a therapist as it becomes available. Ultimately, I believe the need for mental health in the black community is a structural issue that is the financial responsibility of the government. I’m working to change this issue by demanding just that and spreading awareness of the need for free therapy for black people in America until a structural change is made. To stay updated on developments, community wide conversations and how to contribute follow my social media handles.

I’m most proud of my confidence to create and release because at one point, I was painfully insecure in my art. I wouldn’t express it. Navigating impostor syndrome before that proud feeling is hard but not impossible to beat. So, these days, I’m proud of getting through more anxious freeze-ups than ever! Also, my therapist is a VERY hard-working woman. Bless her for walking me through these moments. Haha!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Apps/Books/Podcasts that help me do my best:

1. THERAPY APP: Pride Counseling via Better Help! It gets me through. I could be having a meltdown right now and I’d be able to message my therapist and hear back within the day. It’s very clutch especially when I’m in between sessions.

2. The Read Podcast is my go-to if I want to laugh and get out of my head for a while. Anyone who knows me know that this is my version of “stories” (soap operas) every week. Been in my rotation for like 7 years now.

3. In Bibi’s Kitchen is a beautifully written and composed cookbook by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen. This book has interviews and recipes orally delivered from grandmothers from the Indian Ocean Coast of Africa. Cooking is healing for me and I love great photographic documentation so this book is a real treat!

4. Voice Memos App: This app gets all my thoughts, song ideas, rehearsals, sound bites. I use it to express as raw as I need to. Like an audio diary!

4. Therapy For Black Girls Podcast: I love the host Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and the many topics she touches on surrounding black women and mental health. There’s always a gem to take away when I listen.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://linktr.ee/CyePie
• Instagram: Instagram.com/cyepie
• Facebook: Facebook.com/cyepieart
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cyepie
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/tmfSkPSYb9raEgwt6
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/1279131862?si=ONXOjRj0Sre5-qXpcESB_g

Image Credits
Brian Oscar
Takeisha Pack
Desmond Love
Rae Love