Meet GiGi Cesare

Today we’d like to introduce you to GiGi Cesare.

2019 has already been an amazing year for emerging and breakout talent GiGi. Known professionally as GiGi Cesare before a recent shortening to a simpler GiGi for her music, the talented singer has been garnering fans with new music and visuals, getting signed in the midst. Hershey, Pennsylvania bred and a current west coast resident, astonishingly Gigi is only 13 years old. Without a doubt, she has an incredible future ahead of her.

An already established actress as well, GiGi has been featured in films and on television, even garnering a nomination for the 2017 (Norman Lear) Imagen Awards. Additionally, she has a number of film projects in the works, so it’s only a matter of time before she’s a household name.

Earlier this year GiGi signed with Gary Salzman, of Big Management NYC, together they are carving out her niche as the first teenage face of new music genre trap pop. Her days are filled with studio sessions, collaborations with musical legendary songwriters, producers, engineers, as well as sharpening her public image and launching her debut trap pop music video for her single “Obsessed.”

(She began modeling at six, acting in commercials at seven, cast in her first TV series at eight, first film at nine. She began living bi-coastally by age nine, working between NYC and LA. She had been professional vocal training from an early age and at age 12 decided to make launching her music the primary focus of her career.)

Challenges have been schooling, moving around/loss of friendships and finding an agent/manager who shared her artistic vision, which many simply did not understand.

GiGi is razor sharp in her vision and execution of her sound and image, getting the adults on board took some time.)

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles, as mentioned on the previous page were not being placed in a box, struggling to find my voice at the same time, convincing everyone around me that I knew what I wanted creatively if everyone would give me the chance to prove it.

Friends – finding true friends in the days of Instafamous everything and everyone wanting to be verified. It’s hard to tell sometimes if someone wants to know you for you or for what you can offer in clout.

Loneliness can creep in sometimes with life on the road and missing out on regular teen things – but then its a choice and I have been given the options many times to quit. I choose this. I choose my career, and thankfully my family support is everything a rising artist could ask for

School is challenging, trying to stay motivated to learn algebra when I am in the studio concentrating on my passions: recording, vocals, songs, and art – it’s really hard to want to jump into an online algebra lesson with my amazing teacher JanElle Hoffman 🙂

I am typically judged by most before I ever meet them or say hi. But I have found ways to work through this where I can and just accept it where I can’t.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I came up as an actress. I am also a recording artist. Acting is my heart, singing is my soul – I couldn’t nor wouldn’t want to ever have to choose between them. I tend to lean towards darker, gritty Indie film roles, versus more commercial films.

Not to say that I don’t want to be mainstream, there are a few shows I’d kill to be on! (Riverdale are you listening? hah) But my brand is outside the teenage girl norm box, I lean to the unexpected, the artistic, the human side of things and the same with my music.

You won’t hear me singing about being saved by a prince, not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just not my vibe, and thankfully my songwriting collaborators (Alicia Madison, Lachi, Ayo, Jared Lee Gosselin) get me, get my vision and help to nail the sounds of fierce trap artist I am, and my songs reflect that.

I am most proud that I have faced a lot of criticism, bullying – if you will, negativity surrounding my desired image and vision. It’s not an act. Its who I am. Having my age and looks meet up with my vibe/sound took forever but its starting to happen now.

I’ve never taken roles based on money or because an agent wanted me to.. I don’t compromise on my values. That has made me unpopular at times, (I got a callback for the role of Eleven in Stranger Things but didn’t want to shave my head – that was it for me). I have been completely in control of my career with the support of my parents and team. I am in the driver’s seat even though I can’t drive for three more years!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Being nominated at the age of 12 for BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM and the other three people competing in my category were Salma Hayek, Eva Longoria, and Edy Ganem.

Also Finding Gary Salzman, my manager and having him track me down to sign me because he said no teen had ever asked for the things (career-wise) that I was looking to accomplish.

Contact Info:

• Address: 11 Broadway Suite 800 Suite 800 New York, NY 10004
• Website: https://spark.adobe.com/page/0McD98mJEtkew/
• Phone: 212-742-0816
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @gigicesare
• Facebook: @gigivcesare
• Twitter: @gigivcesare

Image Credit:
Adam Hendershott, Getty Images, Nolen Ryan Photography

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