“Trust yourself – you don’t know what you're capable of doing until you let yourself go,” a sentiment from Montauk, New York based hip-hop artist, personal trainer, athlete, and father. Cenyc shares that so much of his process in actualizing each of these roles in his life is about trust and showing up. Not only is 2+ decades of discipline packed into one man, but he’s present within himself, his work, and his journey. Symbolically, his artist name, Cenyc, is a blend of his initials, Chris Nick, NYC, where he comes from and which has shaped him, and the “scenic” view of who he is and the bigger picture ahead. The name itself alludes to how he carries himself in his music, entrepreneurship, and fatherhood. To commemorate another revolution around the sun, and a snapshot of his life now, he’s releasing his new track, “More to Life” on his birthday, November 1st.
When asked about creating “More to Life,” he jokes, “[I didn’t have an idea for the song, didn’t know what it was gonna be about, I just showed up at the studio, and then kind of just blacked out and a song came out].” He shares that part of the process of creating is trusting yourself, letting go, and once you open up in that way, creativity just floods through. "Let go and let God" is a phrase he shared that he didn’t used to understand on a visceral level, but after much reflection, he now sees its prevalence and application in many areas of his life.
From an early age, Cenyc was that kid in your elementary school class, with 2 pencils who turned any surface into a drumkit, much to his teachers’ dismay. But at home, he was encouraged; his dad even built him a drum set out of PVC pipe. Through a chance connection of his mom’s, Cenyc had the unique experience of playing guest drums at a Grateful Dead concert when he was a mere eight year old. This early support led him to study music more seriously, though he eventually found that music theory didn’t resonate with him— as he learned best by ear. Inspired by Brian McKnight, he taught himself piano, joking that he still can’t read music but found his own way to create it.
In later years, Cenyc also played professional arena football as a receiver and linebacker, tapping into a flow state, similar to his experiences in the studio. He reflects how that intense “letting go” feeling has impacted different parts of his life and how important it is to learn this. Training as a high level athlete, Cenyc's trajectory embodies discipline in both mind and body. This experience and skill set also benefit his clients, as he also works now as a personal trainer for high-profile individuals. He frequently travels to cities all over the U.S. to support their fitness goals and lifestyle changes, and offers 1–1 or group training workout programs remotely as well.
As a dedicated father of a 2 year-old baby girl, Cenyc believes that modeling perseverance and trust in yourself is essential. By showing up for his own goals, he leads by example, ‘cause he wants to teach his daughter that life’s possibilities and your potential are limitless, when you stick with yourself. He shared that even when he abandoned music for a period while playing football, he always had that itch to come back, and what’s important, regardless of the detours, is not giving up.
This belief in perseverance ties back to "More to Life," Cenyc ’s latest single, where his melodic rapping delivery, and a storytelling piano melody convey what he holds closest. In the chorus lyrics, “time is of the essence, I keep close to what I’m blessed with,” he shares the importance of keeping family and money close to him. Despite doubts from others close to him, the song also highlights how he overcomes the odds stacked against him. The beauty in sticking with something you love doing, is first you prove to yourself that you won’t let others derail you, while also proving those same people wrong. As a father and provider, he prioritizes this example, protects what matters most, and recognizes that how he spends his time shapes who he is, and that ultimately reflects his "Cenyc " view.
As he embodies, Cenyc encourages everyone to “[just keep going and ride the wave—trust yourself. You’re going to doubt yourself, but it's that 1% chance of succeeding that motivates us to keep going—and that’s living].”
Catch “More To Life” on November 1st on Spotify.
Connect with Cenyc on socials for updates about his upcoming EP, and to watch behind-the-scenes studio footage!
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