Performing at Cork Jazz Fest is a dream come true

THREE young women who went to the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival growing up will have a ‘pinch me’ moment next week, when they take centre stage at the world famous festival themselves.

Ciara Stacey, Leanne Curtin and Diamond Nzekwe are part of ‘projective’, a new seven-piece band that creates a blend of RnB, soul and hip-hop, and represents a diverse pool of musicians with unique styles and tastes.

Vocalist Ciara, 22, was born and raised in Glanmire and has been playing and singing as far as she can remember.

“My mum signed the entire family up for piano lessons and honestly, we were all terrible, but I really loved it and decided to keep going! From there, I learned to play the cello, started to sing, and began playing in school, at mass and busking in Kinsale with my friends. 

After a few gigs, I really fell in love with performing. 

"I was always a pretty shy person, but to my surprise I was a very confident singer and that started to show in all aspects of my life,” she said.

Ciara is in her final year of a BA in Popular Music and recently fell in love with songwriting, and has started gigging her own music.

Diamond, 20, is a singer and trumpeter in projective and is in her final year studying Medical and Health Sciences BSc in UCC. She also has her own band and is a member of acclaimed Irish group Negro Impacto.

Born and raised in the north side of Cork city, she began her musical journey at a very young age, singing and playing piano in church.

“Long before I began, I found myself enthralled with the beauty of the band at church, always wondering what it would be like to play an instrument,” said Diamond.

“My mother indulged my curiosity and placed me in musicianship in Cork School of Music at the age of nine, and by 11 I started my classical grades in piano and trumpet. I continued both until grade 5 and discontinued to focus on the Leaving Cert, whilst my intrigue in different genres such as Jazz, RnB and Gospel grew.

I continued playing at church, and grew my skills by learning from church musicians around me and getting lost in extensive YouTube videos!

Lately, she’s started dabbling in new areas such as rap ‘whilst tipping away with trumpet and keys”.

“I’m extremely excited to see where the journey takes me!” she said.

Last, but not least Leanne, 21, who, like the others, can’t remember a time that music wasn’t in her life.

“Singing and playing music was extremely therapeutic for me growing up in Charleville, whether that was singing with my family, playing for school, masses or ceremonies. 

I grew up performing in musicals and plays and it was here that my passion to perform for others grew.

Leanne originally studied musical theatre: “Those three years taught me so much about respect, discipline, kindness and hard work and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Throughout college, I began saying yes to absolutely everything and then I started making a living from gigging! I’ve been a part of many bands and have had so many amazing opportunities because of this. I took a risk finishing my final year in the popular music degree but projective reinforces me that I made the right decision!”

The three young women, and the other members of projective, had all played with each other at various stages and realised they all had similar mindsets and goals.

“I asked them to come together and play with me for a college recital last May and from the very first rehearsal we all clicked!” said Ciara.

At the beginning of the summer, we all met and immediately new music started to come together. Before we knew it, we had crafted a set of original music.

“It’s amazing watching us all grow, pushing each other to create the highest standard of music we can. I’ve been friends with everyone for years, but these last few months we’ve really stepped out of our comfort zones and have become so much closer because of it. I actually can’t quite believe I’m a part of it, I feel truly blessed,” said Ciara.

“Everyone in the band is passionate, hard-working and creative,” added Leanne.

“Watching all my friends truly loving and enjoying what we’re creating reminds me why we do it. Each person has an input, has been pushed out of their comfort zone, and collectively we create such meaningful music for one another. It’s such a valuable and rewarding experience,” she said.

Diamond described projective as a “collective project that is built on the strengths of seven diverse musicians”.

Constantly evolving, improving and creating new ideas, we have come together to make something that exists outside of the norm, music that is progressive, attention-grabbing, and most importantly, music that we enjoy!

“Consisting of three vocalists, a drummer, bassist, pianist, guitarist and trumpeter, we’ve put our best eggs into this one basket and are proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and where we’ll be in the future.”

Accomplishments so far include selling-out their debut gig in the Green Room in the Opera House, and next up is their performance in the Everyman on Sunday October 29. “Since I was a child, I’ve been going to the Jazz Festival, always dreaming to take part. It still doesn’t feel quite real,” said Ciara. Leanne agreed it was like a dream!

“Last year, I could not have imagined that this was possible. Getting to play alongside my friends is even crazier. It’s such a rewarding opportunity that we have been given and we’re all so grateful for it.”

Diamond added: “All we can say is this is only the beginning and we are more than excited for what is yet to come!”

projective will perform on Sunday, October 29, at 2pm in a matinee show hosted by DJ Stevie G. See everymancork.com for more

For more on the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival see https://guinnesscorkjazz.com/