Tracy Cruz and Carrying On the Authenticity of Filipino Creativity
Tracy Cruz
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Kreative Growth Recipient
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Singer and songwriter
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Tracy Cruz 〰️ Kreative Growth Recipient 〰️ Singer and songwriter 〰️
Born in Quezon City, Philippines and raised in the Bay Area, Tracy Cruz is a multi-award winning singer, songwriter, recording artist, music advocate, and vocal coach. Her illustrative sophisticated sound of sultry hurdling breaths of piercingly clear reverberating mezzo-soprano melodies, will cleanse your soul in a dream-like wonder. She has an earnest sound that comes deep within her soul, enthralled by the playful melodic upbeat rhythmic Soul, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and Filipino fusions.
“Don't be hesitant to keep creating and to share what's inside your heart because your art is a part of you and it will always be a part of who you are”
Tracy is just one of six recipients of the Kreative Growth Grant, a $3,000 to $6,000 grant Balay Kreative gives to Filipinx artists in the Bay Area, in order to launch new works of art and culture in the Filipino Cultural District in San Francisco.
In an interview with Iggy Mora and Jimmie Gabiola, Tracy talks about her upcoming project, what it means to be Filipino in the entertainment industry, and how she anticipates her journey with the Balay Kreative Grant might help make a mark on the SOMA Pilipinas community.
Profile by Tianna Mae Andresen
We also have an exclusive listen to one of Tracys new songs!
Introduce yourself and your project
Hello my name is Tracy Cruz my program track is music. My project is titled “Sun After the Reign”
What drew you to the Balay Kreative Kreative Growth Program?
What drew me to the Balay Kreative Growth program was that it highlights Filipino creatives and their stories. I really love the fact that it also enriches artistry and allows creatives to gain knowledge through the master classes.
How did it feel learning you were selected to be a recipient?
I was elated. I was honored. I was so grateful. I actually saw it on my email on my phone and I started crying, I cried a lot. I cried for like 10 minutes, honestly. And I was just thanking God for the beautiful opportunity. I just feel truly blessed to be able to have this opportunity to showcase what's in my heart. It's been brewing in my heart for about three to four years now. And I wanted to create and share music and lyrics with the world. So yes, I'm completely overjoyed.
What do you hope to gain from your experience?
I'm really excited about having the space at the Balay Kreative Studios to be able to write new music and see other creatives be immersed in their own art. It’s so inspiring to see that it's a space where it fosters creativity. I feel like being in that safe space will allow me to have a clear mind, a clear heart, a clear spirit to be able to create and be able to just be free with expressing myself.
It's very important for us to create because as Filipinos we're very creative, we love music. We love art, we love dancing, we love writing, we love film, and so forth. And so it's important for us to create because we need to represent our culture and we have to have more visibility and representation not only in our community but in the media and in the world as a whole and so the more Filipinos create the bigger noise that we make.
Photo courtesy of Tracy Cruz
What kind of statements are you looking to make with your art?
The statements that I would like to make with my art is that it is essential to be authentic with who you are. And not be confined to what others think or say, and to be anchored in your art and also your identity as a creative. I also want to promote love, unity, community, peace, being proud of your culture, being proud of who you are promoting kindness and also just making the statement that when you are authentic with your art people will see the truth and while you're speaking your truth
What would you say to aspiring Filipino artists? Why is it important for Filipinos to create?
I would say to the aspiring Filipino artists to be themselves and to not be afraid to go for their dreams. As a creative, it may be difficult at times. There might be times where you might want to give up because you don't see the end results. But with every effort that you make, it's going to keep pushing you forward even though it might be baby steps to getting to your destination. Just keep pushing forward because your hard work is not in vain.
What does it mean to be Filipino within the entertainment industry?
What it means to be a Filipino in the entertainment industry is exuding strength and grace, poise and respect, pride and being true to your expression and your calling. Having the freedom to represent for your people and being strong and what you believe in. Also being able to unify people through your art!
What can we expect from you during your time as a Kreative Growth Resident Artist?
What you can expect from me as a Balay Kreative Growth artists is more content, new music, new videos, new lyrics, and just different versions of myself as an artist and also as a content creator. I want to be able to share my vulnerability as well as my artistry and a deeper level and also be able to showcase the songwriting process, the creative process, the ups and downs of being an artist and so forth. I want to give I want to give my audience behind the scenes look into my music journey creative process that was.
You'll be doing so much this year as a resident artist from masterclass to developing your project. What would you tell yourself at the end of 2023?
I know that I'm going to be doing a lot with this beautiful program. And what I would tell myself after the completion of my project at the end of 2023 would be:
you did it, you did it. It was very, very, very, very intense and it was also very inspiring and it was also very motivating and enlightening and just keep doing your art, keep on creating and keep on encouraging those that are also creating art as well. And don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
SONG:
First verse
Open up your mind
Relax, unwind
Hear my voice through your speakers
Lay it on the line
Press rewind
Allow yourself to feel
Pre-Chorus
Let my melodies take your breath away
Let my harmonies be your escape
Bask in the sun and sound waves
Get lost in serenade
This is our special place
Chorus:
Music paradise
Leave your cares behind
Feels so good inside
It’s just you and I
We will be documenting Tracy and all the other recipients journeys, follow @Balaykreative to keep updated and be the first to see what each recipient's final project is!
You can also keep updated with Tracy through the following platforms:
www.Facebook.com/tracycruzmusicpage
www.Twitter.com/tracycruzmusic