'5 Questions With': Cero Ismael

Meet Cero Ismael - the Amsterdam-based artist, rapper and singer-songwriter is truly a force to be reckoned with and continues to mesmerize us with his stunningly compelling releases. Only earlier this year, he’s gifted his fans the 8-track debut EP ‘Blue Man’ which further introduced him as an artist, and is now back with his recently released single ‘If It Ends’ - a melancholic yet optimistic offering.

We spoke to him about his early beginnings, and what he’s got planned for the rest of the year.

Read the full interview below…

EQ: How did you first get into music?

C: Music has always played a big role in my family. My dad used to make music and my grandmother was a gospel singer. So ever since I was born, I grew up with a lot of music around me. After listening and studying music for quite some time, I started making music around the age of 11. My dad helped me write my first raps, but that same year I found out about Soulja Boy. He inspired me to start doing everything by myself.

EQ: You are based in Amsterdam, what was the music scene there like when growing up? Did you feel like you fit in when you started out?

C: I wasn’t born in Amsterdam, I was born and raised in Almere. I loved growing up there. Although I grew up being the only one in my friend group making music, my friends supported me as much as they could. Everything started for me in Almere and I couldn’t have done it without them. Around the age of 17 I moved to Amsterdam and that is when a whole new world opened for me. So many talented, creative souls focused on their goals. That was a new environment for me.

“It gets as real as the songs.”

-Cero Ismael