Talent and Extra-Terrestrial Girl Power
By Christine R. Walsh

Chiki is sexy, talented, and claims to be from outer space. She is a founder of the musical genre EclectroSonic. She wears outrageously hot and high shoes upon which most women can only dream of teetering. At 26, this singer/performer/dancer diva has numerous credits to her name and works her energetic butt off to wow each crowd ~ as she did, sweating deliciously, at a recent show at the Lucky Dog here in Worcester, Planet Earth.

But no one ever said that being an alien was all fun and games.

Chiki (who landed on Earth and grew up in Somerville, MA) now calls Central MA home, and loves nothing more than rocking out for her beloved earthling fans.

“Through my music, I hope I express that nothing is so bad in life that it can’t be overcome,” said Chiki in our recent interview. “I hope people can feel the joy I have in making the music and then carry some of that joy in their lives, and if there are any messages, it’s just to enjoy the music, and accept and love themselves just as who they are.”

The genre EclectroSonic, as Chiki describes it, is a mix of pop/electro/rock and fuses elements of jazz too. The space senorita and her co-writer/producer Marcus Rap took a brief creative break before giving birth to a unique pop sound that keeps listeners happily bopping to the beat. Chiki’s songs inspire imagination, creation, and sheer joy amongst the crowds that pack into MA and New York venues to see her.

“It’s exciting because I always wanted to be part of something that has never been done before!” Chiki says of the genre. “I’m happy with the way it turned out and I can’t wait to keep building on it.”

Now let’s be honest, earthlings. We’ve seen many talented singers take the stage with an acoustic guitar, grab a stool, sit, strum and croon for about 90 minutes or so. But Chiki is more than just a singer ~ way more, in fact…she is a performance artist extraordinaire. With her outrageous costumes that must be from the sexiest shoppe on Mars, her crazily-colored hair extensions and sensational makeup, Chiki bounces around the stage performing intricately choreographed dances that can only be described as candy for soul. Her dancer troupe, EclectroBOTT, shake and step in perfect time and look sassy with every twist and turn.

Chiki, the sushi-lovin’ Libra, has always been a performer at heart, dancing herself dizzy at family parties. She has fond memories of cutting a rug with her aunt and organizing street theatrics with her young friends. Even as a young spacegirl, she had big dreams and high hopes. “In kindergarten, I was a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz,” mused Chiki. “I remember watching the girl playing Dorothy who was older than me and saying to myself ‘I want to do that part next time!’”

But Chiki set her heights higher than a rendition of L. Frank Baum’s fiction. At 17, she wrote and directed a full-length musical, “Chill On Broadway.” She wanted to make the idea of “Broadway” more accessible to young people by giving it a cool comprehensive edge and using hip hop as a guiding light. It was a feat for any person, but according to Chiki, some parents were not supportive.

“At the time [of the show], I was in a hip-hop girl group and wanted to incorporate both of my ‘loves’ into one show,” said Chiki. “I think the parents and teachers were ‘unsure’ of the direction until they saw the final product. Some parents still didn’t get it though, and thought that the cute little hip hop/pop act was really ‘a gang.’. Too funny!”

Chiki has overcome a number of obstacles during her journey to the top, but she continues to keep an open mind and an accepting heart. Vivacious, curious and always awaiting the next musical adventure, the humble space homegirl has big plans for the future.

“I hope to someday do something for children and the arts,” said Chiki. “The arts are so important to society because you can express anger, frustration, sadness as well as positive feelings like happiness and excitement in a way that brings people closer.”

Connect with Chiki at www.chikimusic.com and myspace/officialchikimusic.com

Photo of Chiki by Tiffany Krzywicki, www.tkexpressions.com