ABM What is your stage name? What inspired your stage name?
Cali Cazanova: Cali Cazanova is my stage name. What inspired it was being born and raised in California. Thats where “Cali” comes from obviously. Then Cazanova was inspired by my father. I was always a ladies man so thats what he would call me sometimes. I changed the spelling a bit because I felt like it made it stand out a bit more. Just unique.
ABM: What is your story in terms of music, when did you start making music?
Cali Cazanova: I started making music after I graduated college. I wrote my first song ever while I was in college, but did not hit the recording booth until I returned to the Bay.
ABM: How did your upbringing in San Francisco, CA influence your career? .
Cali Cazanova: Being diverse and being around diversity. San Francisco has any and everything you wanna look for. You got gangs, ghettos/projects, suburban neighborhoods, public schools and catholic schools, college campuses, different nationalities with many different languages. Also the high school I attended was the 4th most diverse school in the nation. So I wanted to make sure my music reach a world wide audience.
ABM: Do you have any music visuals in the works?
Cali Cazanova: Yes I do. We just released my song “Fast Life”. Next we have “Victim Role” dropping this week. Currently, I have my song “Be The One For You” and my song “Hour Glass” in the following line up.
ABM: Do you have any other projects in the works?
Cali Cazanova: Yes I do. I am definitely keeping busy. I will be releasing a single called “Trust Issues” ft Lil Dame as well. I’m currently working on the second album which is titled “Show No Love and Trust No One: Moon”
ABM: What inspired you to pursue being an artist professionally? Also, Tell us about your father and what role he played to inspire you.
Cali Cazanova: Honestly, what inspired me was the people around me who gave me some good feedback on my writing skills. I write all my music from the heart. So when I knew there was an avenue for that I figured once someone hears my music they may want me to ghost write or help them put a song together. My father believe it or not was a major local bay area rapper and basketball player out of Hunters Point. He goes by Dee Mack. I always looked up to my dad because he was well rounded and multi talented and still is to this day. I knew once I got his stamp of approval that I could do anything. He’s my best friend and my role dog.
ABM: Do you have any other lanes in music that interest you?
Cali Cazanova: I do. I want to try them all. My goal with music is to make the music awards whether it be BET, MTV, CMT, iHeartRadio, be forced to make a new category. And that category would be “Best Undefined Music Artist”. I’m just an overall artist at the end of the day.
ABM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
Cali Cazanova: 5 years from now I see myself having 3-4 projects released, more visuals, being signed to a major label that believes in my vision. I see myself winning grammy awards, Oscars, and Daytime Emmy awards. Yes, a lot of folks probably don’t know I’ve been acting since age 9. So acting and performing was my first love.
ABM: Who are some of the musical influences that have inspired you?
Cali Cazanova: Chris Brown, Jason Derulo, Yatta, Lil Yase, Dee Mack (my pops), Big Rich, E-40, Too Short, Lil Blood, Amber Pacific, The Boys Like Girls, Daughtry, Trey Songz
ABM: Is there any artists you would like to work with in the future?
Cali Cazanova: Every artist listed above Id like to work with one day.
ABM: Is there any last words or shout outs?
Cali Cazanova : I’d like to give a shout out to my producers and engineers Glenn, Bryan, my uncle Leonard. My producers NGeezy and Dswish Productions. My mother and father for being supportive of me. My little cousins and little brothers for being at videoshoots when others flaked. And of course models Nia, June, and Black Ice, and Ree for being some pretty ladies to help turn my visuals up. Big shout to All Bay Music Magazine for even letting me have this awesome opportunity to even use their platform. It means the world to me.
