Posted by eliza gale on January 9, 2012 - 11:12pm
Christel South is a Los Angeles based rapper. Here is a link to her Reverbnation page:
www.reverbnation.com/christelsouth
1. What do you hope to express through your craft?
My music is where I get to express the most “out there” parts of my personality. It’s where I get to be brutally honest about my experiences and opinions, and at the same time use exaggeration to make it fun and shocking. The rapper Christel that you see in my videos and onstage is a satire and exaggeration of the “real” me…. She gets to let loose and have fun!
I have been singing for much longer than I have been rapping. When I write songs that are sung (as opposed to rapped), they typically express my strongest and rawest emotions – pain, sadness, love, and the high of sexual chemistry. When I rap, it is more about anger or just being silly, and embracing a more “hardcore” persona that isn’t part of my everyday life. My first published rap song, “Holla 818”, is about how I have this fantasy alter ego that’s totally gangsta and hardcore, but in real life I’m just this innocent little white girl from La Crescenta (the small-ish town I grew up in, a suburb of a suburb of the greater Los Angeles area).
My goal is to entertain and inspire people!
2. Who are some of your artistic influences and why?
Eminem has been the biggest influence on my rap music; if I hadn’t spent several years rapping along with my favorites from “The Eminem Show”, I probably never would have started writing my own raps and never would have realized that I have a talent for it! The “white rapper” connection is obvious, but what really inspires me about Eminem is the uniquely clever way he puts together each line of his songs (“…I’m clever when I put together every verse…”, he says in one song, and it’s true). Eminem’s rhymes are complex, original, and more creative than probably any rapper I have ever heard; although to be fair, I really have not been exposed to much rap music! I didn’t even start listening to rap until I was about 18. Lately I have joined the ranks of Nicki Minaj enthusiasts, to a certain extent; I don’t particularly like her newer work (from Pink Friday on), yet I find her fascinating regardless. Her early work was wonderful, totally badass and irreverent, just the way I like it. I wish she would get back to that, but I guess she is appealing to a wider audience with her new persona(s), as she discusses in her song “Dear Old Nicki”. It serves as a lesson for me, that I may not want to go mainstream because it might demand that I dilute or change my personality for the sake of mass appeal. Although in contrast, the mega-success achieved by Eminem was partly BECAUSE he did not dilute his personality, he exaggerated it and shoved it down our throats, and we liked it! ;)
Christina Aguilera was a huge influence for many years, inspiring me to strive to sculpt my voice to emulate her style of singing. As a result, several people have compared me with Christina. I don’t think I need to explain why she is such an inspiration – if you have heard her (and how could you not?), you know that her voice and style are AMAZING!! More recently, I have been obsessed with Lady Gaga ever since I heard her sing “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick” in "Lovegame". Lady Gaga is everything I ever wanted to be in music and more. I identified with her focus on sex and fame, as I was writing similarly-themed music at the time. I am inspired by her incredible skill and talent on the piano, as well as the fact that she has a large hand in the production of all of her music (or did, last I heard) – as a girl who, like Lady Gaga, taught herself to play piano at an early age and went on to write and produce music, I love and appreciate everything Gaga does.
3. What life experiences inspire your lyrics?
Being broke! Lol.
I had a difficult childhood, being subjected to sexual harassment and probably molestation (I don’t remember being touched but may have blocked it out) from the ages of 6-9, at the hands of my grandfather who lived with us until he died -- despite my reporting his inappropriate behavior to my parents from the outset. Irresponsible parenting and emotional neglect left me pretty angry, as did perpetual financial difficulty as a young adult. That anger and frustration comes out in my rap music. My rapper alter ego carries all the fury of a girl who was abused, shunned and scorned by family and peers alike, but unlike the fragile little girl she represents, the rapper Christel stands up for herself, tells it like it is and isn’t afraid to fight to prove her strength.
I have also been known to write lots of songs about sex – wanting it, having it, and the sick pleasure of teasing those I will never give it to (haha). And love and the pain of loneliness.
4. What do you like about Hollywood?
Nothing really, to be honest! I used to be enamored with the glitz and glamour of fame, and on some levels I do still crave the adoration of the masses. I would like to be recognized on a large scale for my abilities and accomplishments. I do love entertainment value! I like to look at beautiful people who dress well and have perfect hair and makeup and put on a compelling show, and imagine myself among the ranks of celebrity. The best thing is that fame would give me an opportunity to speak out on issues that I care about, like equality, education, civil rights, the war on drugs, prison reform, etc.
5. What don't you like about it?
Hollywood can be so shallow, with the most popular music promoting partying, promiscuity and frivolous spending to a generation of TV-addicted young people who are growing up to be uneducated consumers. I’m so sick of Reality TV! And as for the music scene, UGH. It is hard to find a gig that isn’t pay-for-play. And if I do become famous and use that fame as a platform to speak out on important social issues, people may view my opinions as invalid because they see me only as my onstage persona and do not realize the depth of my character and intelligence. I was already told to "shut up and sing" a couple of years ago!
6. What made you choose rap music?
I kind of stumbled into it, actually! Like I said, I spent several years rapping along with Eminem and got really good at that. I identified with the frustration and anger in Eminem’s songs, and enjoyed the twisted humor in his more “lighthearted” songs such as “Without Me”. I wrote a couple of rap songs to express some anger that I was feeling, but didn’t think they were much good – it was just to get my feelings out in a way that was more satisfying than singing. I didn’t start thinking seriously about incorporating rap into the music I was promoting until I made the video for “Holla 818” and it blew up. It never went viral as I hoped, but it gained enough popularity that I felt encouraged to continue. At first I only made funny rap songs, because I still didn’t really take myself seriously as a rap artist, seeing rap more as a comedic side project. However, as I continued to hone my skills of writing and performing raps, I have found that I enjoy it perhaps more than singing. Plus, I stand out more as a rapper than as a singer.
7. What is your craziest Hollywood story?
I don’t think I have any, really… I stay away from Hollywood (the city) as much as possible. I guess the craziest story involving a Hollywood name would be the year my two friends and I became obsessed with James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (so hot!) and we stalked him and his band, Ghost of the Robot, so that we could meet him. (They are actually a really good band, and are apparently still making music ten years later!) We drove all the way to Sacramento to see them play at a little bar in Orangevale because we were under 21 and it was an all ages venue. We went there several hours early and waited in the parking lot to catch them as they were unloading their equipment. Unexpectedly, we actually got to hang out with them when they included us in their trip to Carl’s Jr.! But the best part was after the show. We had read online that James would kiss his fans upon request, so we had a mission to elicit our own kisses from him! We almost chickened out, but as he was getting in his car, I took the initiative. It turned out well. ;)
8. What jobs have you had outside of the entertainment industry and how have they influenced your work?
I’ve had lots of jobs, and I’ve been fired from most of them! I have attitude problems. I've worked in food service & at Starbucks, as a pharmacy technician, did a brief stint in Real Estate (still licensed!), had some sales jobs and have had intermittent success as a Mary Kay Consultant (my success in Mary Kay would be more consistent if my efforts were), and I just started working part time at a wig shop which is pretty awesome. Oh, and I was a stripper for a little while! My music has been influenced not by specific jobs but by perpetual dissatisfaction with “normal” work. I find it immensely frustrating to be stuck doing someone else’s bidding for low hourly wages when I would rather be writing and performing music, and I have written at least one song entirely about that. That frustration fuels some of the anger that comes out in my rap music. And I did write a few songs specifically about working as a stripper, all of them focused on the abundance of men who come in wanting a free show and won't tip or buy lap dances. They either don't realize or don't care that strippers don't get paid, they owe money to the club the moment they walk in the door. The managers, DJ's and dance counters are mostly sleazy pimps who will actively work to keep business away from you if you don't tip them to their satisfaction. The worst was that it was really insulting to have guys raping me with their eyes who wouldn't put down a single dollar to show their appreciation that they got to see me naked in this provocative live show! So beyond rude. So yeah, I have a few songs about that. At least one of them will be on my upcoming full-length CD (to follow the release of a 5-song EP which is scheduled to drop in January 2012).
9. What makes you fameworthy?
I bring something fresh to the scene at a time when it has gotten very stagnant. My music embodies elements of what I love about my favorite artists, with my own special twist. It’s funny, it’s sexy, it’s catchy, at times shocking and irreverent, in other instances deeply emotional and poignant. I record and produce my own songs at home. I create all of my music videos from scratch, usually with no real budget to speak of (“Rock Hard Juicy” was the only video on which I spent more than $200), and starting with “Rock Hard Juicy” I now edit my own music videos as well. Those that like me, LOVE me. My fans are amazing, awesome people. But the most important thing is that I have a vision for the world that I want to share; I want to inspire people to come together to create lasting change.
10. What well known song sums up the way you feel about life?
That’s a tough question, because it would depend on my ever-changing mood! With where I’m at in my personal growth process and my current situation, I’d say I’m wavering between “Rock Bottom” by Eminem and “Marry the Night” by Lady Gaga.
Please note; Eliza's interviews are done by email. All answers are unedited and come right from the lovely fingertips of her subjects:)
www.reverbnation.com/christelsouth
1. What do you hope to express through your craft?
My music is where I get to express the most “out there” parts of my personality. It’s where I get to be brutally honest about my experiences and opinions, and at the same time use exaggeration to make it fun and shocking. The rapper Christel that you see in my videos and onstage is a satire and exaggeration of the “real” me…. She gets to let loose and have fun!
I have been singing for much longer than I have been rapping. When I write songs that are sung (as opposed to rapped), they typically express my strongest and rawest emotions – pain, sadness, love, and the high of sexual chemistry. When I rap, it is more about anger or just being silly, and embracing a more “hardcore” persona that isn’t part of my everyday life. My first published rap song, “Holla 818”, is about how I have this fantasy alter ego that’s totally gangsta and hardcore, but in real life I’m just this innocent little white girl from La Crescenta (the small-ish town I grew up in, a suburb of a suburb of the greater Los Angeles area).
My goal is to entertain and inspire people!
2. Who are some of your artistic influences and why?
Eminem has been the biggest influence on my rap music; if I hadn’t spent several years rapping along with my favorites from “The Eminem Show”, I probably never would have started writing my own raps and never would have realized that I have a talent for it! The “white rapper” connection is obvious, but what really inspires me about Eminem is the uniquely clever way he puts together each line of his songs (“…I’m clever when I put together every verse…”, he says in one song, and it’s true). Eminem’s rhymes are complex, original, and more creative than probably any rapper I have ever heard; although to be fair, I really have not been exposed to much rap music! I didn’t even start listening to rap until I was about 18. Lately I have joined the ranks of Nicki Minaj enthusiasts, to a certain extent; I don’t particularly like her newer work (from Pink Friday on), yet I find her fascinating regardless. Her early work was wonderful, totally badass and irreverent, just the way I like it. I wish she would get back to that, but I guess she is appealing to a wider audience with her new persona(s), as she discusses in her song “Dear Old Nicki”. It serves as a lesson for me, that I may not want to go mainstream because it might demand that I dilute or change my personality for the sake of mass appeal. Although in contrast, the mega-success achieved by Eminem was partly BECAUSE he did not dilute his personality, he exaggerated it and shoved it down our throats, and we liked it! ;)
Christina Aguilera was a huge influence for many years, inspiring me to strive to sculpt my voice to emulate her style of singing. As a result, several people have compared me with Christina. I don’t think I need to explain why she is such an inspiration – if you have heard her (and how could you not?), you know that her voice and style are AMAZING!! More recently, I have been obsessed with Lady Gaga ever since I heard her sing “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick” in "Lovegame". Lady Gaga is everything I ever wanted to be in music and more. I identified with her focus on sex and fame, as I was writing similarly-themed music at the time. I am inspired by her incredible skill and talent on the piano, as well as the fact that she has a large hand in the production of all of her music (or did, last I heard) – as a girl who, like Lady Gaga, taught herself to play piano at an early age and went on to write and produce music, I love and appreciate everything Gaga does.
3. What life experiences inspire your lyrics?
Being broke! Lol.
I had a difficult childhood, being subjected to sexual harassment and probably molestation (I don’t remember being touched but may have blocked it out) from the ages of 6-9, at the hands of my grandfather who lived with us until he died -- despite my reporting his inappropriate behavior to my parents from the outset. Irresponsible parenting and emotional neglect left me pretty angry, as did perpetual financial difficulty as a young adult. That anger and frustration comes out in my rap music. My rapper alter ego carries all the fury of a girl who was abused, shunned and scorned by family and peers alike, but unlike the fragile little girl she represents, the rapper Christel stands up for herself, tells it like it is and isn’t afraid to fight to prove her strength.
I have also been known to write lots of songs about sex – wanting it, having it, and the sick pleasure of teasing those I will never give it to (haha). And love and the pain of loneliness.
4. What do you like about Hollywood?
Nothing really, to be honest! I used to be enamored with the glitz and glamour of fame, and on some levels I do still crave the adoration of the masses. I would like to be recognized on a large scale for my abilities and accomplishments. I do love entertainment value! I like to look at beautiful people who dress well and have perfect hair and makeup and put on a compelling show, and imagine myself among the ranks of celebrity. The best thing is that fame would give me an opportunity to speak out on issues that I care about, like equality, education, civil rights, the war on drugs, prison reform, etc.
5. What don't you like about it?
Hollywood can be so shallow, with the most popular music promoting partying, promiscuity and frivolous spending to a generation of TV-addicted young people who are growing up to be uneducated consumers. I’m so sick of Reality TV! And as for the music scene, UGH. It is hard to find a gig that isn’t pay-for-play. And if I do become famous and use that fame as a platform to speak out on important social issues, people may view my opinions as invalid because they see me only as my onstage persona and do not realize the depth of my character and intelligence. I was already told to "shut up and sing" a couple of years ago!
6. What made you choose rap music?
I kind of stumbled into it, actually! Like I said, I spent several years rapping along with Eminem and got really good at that. I identified with the frustration and anger in Eminem’s songs, and enjoyed the twisted humor in his more “lighthearted” songs such as “Without Me”. I wrote a couple of rap songs to express some anger that I was feeling, but didn’t think they were much good – it was just to get my feelings out in a way that was more satisfying than singing. I didn’t start thinking seriously about incorporating rap into the music I was promoting until I made the video for “Holla 818” and it blew up. It never went viral as I hoped, but it gained enough popularity that I felt encouraged to continue. At first I only made funny rap songs, because I still didn’t really take myself seriously as a rap artist, seeing rap more as a comedic side project. However, as I continued to hone my skills of writing and performing raps, I have found that I enjoy it perhaps more than singing. Plus, I stand out more as a rapper than as a singer.
7. What is your craziest Hollywood story?
I don’t think I have any, really… I stay away from Hollywood (the city) as much as possible. I guess the craziest story involving a Hollywood name would be the year my two friends and I became obsessed with James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (so hot!) and we stalked him and his band, Ghost of the Robot, so that we could meet him. (They are actually a really good band, and are apparently still making music ten years later!) We drove all the way to Sacramento to see them play at a little bar in Orangevale because we were under 21 and it was an all ages venue. We went there several hours early and waited in the parking lot to catch them as they were unloading their equipment. Unexpectedly, we actually got to hang out with them when they included us in their trip to Carl’s Jr.! But the best part was after the show. We had read online that James would kiss his fans upon request, so we had a mission to elicit our own kisses from him! We almost chickened out, but as he was getting in his car, I took the initiative. It turned out well. ;)
8. What jobs have you had outside of the entertainment industry and how have they influenced your work?
I’ve had lots of jobs, and I’ve been fired from most of them! I have attitude problems. I've worked in food service & at Starbucks, as a pharmacy technician, did a brief stint in Real Estate (still licensed!), had some sales jobs and have had intermittent success as a Mary Kay Consultant (my success in Mary Kay would be more consistent if my efforts were), and I just started working part time at a wig shop which is pretty awesome. Oh, and I was a stripper for a little while! My music has been influenced not by specific jobs but by perpetual dissatisfaction with “normal” work. I find it immensely frustrating to be stuck doing someone else’s bidding for low hourly wages when I would rather be writing and performing music, and I have written at least one song entirely about that. That frustration fuels some of the anger that comes out in my rap music. And I did write a few songs specifically about working as a stripper, all of them focused on the abundance of men who come in wanting a free show and won't tip or buy lap dances. They either don't realize or don't care that strippers don't get paid, they owe money to the club the moment they walk in the door. The managers, DJ's and dance counters are mostly sleazy pimps who will actively work to keep business away from you if you don't tip them to their satisfaction. The worst was that it was really insulting to have guys raping me with their eyes who wouldn't put down a single dollar to show their appreciation that they got to see me naked in this provocative live show! So beyond rude. So yeah, I have a few songs about that. At least one of them will be on my upcoming full-length CD (to follow the release of a 5-song EP which is scheduled to drop in January 2012).
9. What makes you fameworthy?
I bring something fresh to the scene at a time when it has gotten very stagnant. My music embodies elements of what I love about my favorite artists, with my own special twist. It’s funny, it’s sexy, it’s catchy, at times shocking and irreverent, in other instances deeply emotional and poignant. I record and produce my own songs at home. I create all of my music videos from scratch, usually with no real budget to speak of (“Rock Hard Juicy” was the only video on which I spent more than $200), and starting with “Rock Hard Juicy” I now edit my own music videos as well. Those that like me, LOVE me. My fans are amazing, awesome people. But the most important thing is that I have a vision for the world that I want to share; I want to inspire people to come together to create lasting change.
10. What well known song sums up the way you feel about life?
That’s a tough question, because it would depend on my ever-changing mood! With where I’m at in my personal growth process and my current situation, I’d say I’m wavering between “Rock Bottom” by Eminem and “Marry the Night” by Lady Gaga.
Please note; Eliza's interviews are done by email. All answers are unedited and come right from the lovely fingertips of her subjects:)
Comments (4)
Here's hoping she comes out with more songs where she spits fire like that!