Christy: Delta Girl Making Waves Abroad

Christy Lynch is a Nigerian-American who has made her mark in singing, fashion and modeling.In a chat with Sony Neme from Canada, Christy, who launched her album, Move Me in May, 2011 said, she started her professional singing career as a teenager with a local band in Lagos.

Can you take us through your journey to stardom?

In the United States, I became a performing member of ‘The Choral’ at Florida Community College on a ‘talent grant’. During my stay in Canada, I performed gigs with the Brian Strand Blues band. I also spent four years in Kazakhstan, during which I won the hearts of many with my performances. In collaboration with popular, local Jazz artists, my first live concert was a back-to-back performance at the Atyrau Philharmonic in September 2004.

In 2005, I gave two consecutive days of live performances at the Atyrau Drama Theater. I also participated in the Aktobe Jazz festival of 2005, in which my group was given the Outstanding Performance Award. My weekly gigs at the upscale FIESTA Restaurant in Atyrau, was very popular among locals. I had also performed for the Kazak government officials.

Is it true that you are also into modeling, fashion and style?

As an authority, my coral jewelry has become famous, especially through my regular column in an Australian-Newzealand Association of the Philippines fashion magazine. I was a regular Fashion writer for their monthly magazine.

I started modeling from the age of 19 in Lagos. I currently model my own jewelry and clothing designs as you can tell from my web site.

Your music career, how did it all begin?

It started as a dream from the Age of five. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, I was known as the class entertainer. Then after high school, I joined a few bands and sang from time to time at local gigs. I met my husband in 1993 in Lagos, and went abroad with him in 1994, in support of his expatriate career in the oil industry. I joined him in Indonesia and sang with local bands there, then to the USA where I formed a band with friends, then to Canada with the Brian Strand Blues band.

The turning point for me was our four years in Kazakhstan. I was the only black singer in the oil city of Atyrau when I started with a popular jazz band. A great friendship and bond was formed between me and the band and most importantly, the love I received from the Kazakh people who embraced my soul/jazz music

I was able to use this opportunity to raise funds for the local music philharmonic and the local musician. I was in great demand locally as an artist. I really loved those years

In fact, those were the best four years of my life. I started to write my lyrics and compose original songs with The Kazakh band and we made our first demo.

Which primary school did you attend and where in Lagos did you grow up? Which bands did you perform with and your regular spots while in Nigeria?

I attended Ideal Girls Primary & High School on Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

I started with a very small group called Godwin & Co. and we only performed at a few local parties in Ikeja, Apapa etc. Then I sang briefly with the resident DJ at the Eko Hotel, Kuramo lodge area sometime in the early 1990s.

In Florida USA, I joined a group called the Lavree, and we sang at local bars. I also sang sometimes with a friend called Kathy King and her then fiancée also in Florida. When I lived in Canada, I performed with The Brian Strand Band in 2000.

In Kazakhstand, our band was called Christy Lynch & The Moslem Band. We performed at the Atyrau Philharmonic and The Atyra Drama Theater for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005). These were sold out solo concerts. We also performed at the 2005 Aktobe Jazz festival, in which we won the outstanding award that year.

At what point did you branch off into fashion and style —- and why?

Fashion and style is something that came naturally to me. It started off with other friends and expatriate wives loving my sense of style.   They would consult with me on what they should wear and always loved to take me shopping with them. So, my husband said to me one day “why don’t you get certification and do this professionally!”

I knew that was my calling, so I took jewelry design classes during our years in the Philippines and added my creativity to designing my own jewelry line. I also received my certification in Fashion styling from a school in Madrid, Spain. These are all far removed from my actual BSC in Inter-disciplinary Social Sciences degree with a major in Sociology from Florida State University.

How many albums do you have now, and how did you become a producer?

This is my debut album, my first and only one. There are more to come! I decided to become a producer, because I wanted to have a say in the kind of songs I love to sing; sort of a foot in the door. I have gotten a lot of feedback and I plan to do some collaboration to capture the Nigerian music market very soon.

I’m impressed with what my fellow Nigerian’s have accomplished in the artistic world, and I’d love to contribute to that. Hopefully produce some up-andcoming Nigerian artistes too!

What is your perception of the Nigerian music industry and which of the artistes would you like to collaborate with?

Our artistes are very fast-paced and resourceful. I especially love Omawumi, I’d love to collaborate with her. She is full of soul… just love her

We hear that you will be shooting a movie in US with Zeb Ejiro, one of Nigeria’s best hands in movie making. What kind of film is this?

Yes, Zeb Ejiro and I are currently planning on a music-based movie. It will feature sound tracks from my debut album. I also have plans to launch my fashion styling business in Nigerian, especially in my specialty, “Fashion Color analysis.”

This is an aspect of fashion that teaches people how to choose the right colours that suits them, because not every colour looks good on everybody

With your very busy schedule, can you take us through what your perfect weekend looks like?

Wow, my perfect weekend? Spending time with my husband and the precious gift of my life, our son, Jano. As Florida residents, we both enjoy taking him to Disney World regularly. I look forward to those perfect moments! My family and I are always on the move. In the Philippines, we took family weekend trips to go sightseeing. Now that my husband is retired and we’re permanently in Florida, I either cook breakfast, or we go out to eat, shop and do playtime with our three year-old son. We give him a lot of attention! That means play, fun, and running around a lot!

I also find time to pamper myself, by getting body massages and pedicures. Spending time in the studios and with fashion clients keeps me on my toes a lot. So on the weekends my family gets my undivided attention.

What is your favourite meal? Are you still in touch with starch and banga soup?

My favorite Nigerian meal is starch and Owo soup! I also love pepper soup. My husband loves them too! He spent five years in Nigeria and eats even Amala and Ewedu with me. I only eat the starch in moderation though, trying to watch my height…