By Isaiah Smith/reporter
(MCT) In less than four years, 21-year-old Ciara Princess Harris has become such a successful multimedia star (TV, film, music), she is known strictly by her first name.
The platinum-selling singer/songwriter/producer will soon star in the film version of the Broadway musical Mama, I Want to Sing.
This summer, however, she is one of the headliners in the music tour Screamfest ’07. She spoke about her music and the messages she hopes it conveys to her diverse audience.
When she records a song, she is very aware of the image she may be communicating to her younger fans.
“ I’m very conscious of what I write about. It’s all about what message I’m trying to get across on the record,” she said. “I’m very aware of my audience. I try my best to write music that caters to that audience. I hopeit goes beyond my core fan base.”
Harris said her music appeals to all demographics.
“ I have some of the youth audience; they have been a very supportive part of my core fan base. But it also appeals to my peers, those who are from 21 to 30, somewhere in there,” she said. “Basically, it’s fans of all ages and all races.”
Harris wants her fans to know what happened to her can happen to them.
“ You can live your dream if you believe in yourself. I want to be an example of the power of self-confidence and having faith in yourself.”
The singer said she always tries to be a good representative of women.
“ But music comes down to whatever you want to make of the lyrics. Music to me is like a fantasy. It’s not real, so you can’t take it literally,” she said. “When I listen to certain records, I know what words and language apply to me. I never allowed the music to influence me or who I was. I just enjoyed the music for what it was.”
Harris said people have to take responsibility for how music affects them.
“ They have to know what’s right and what’s wrong. It would be wrong to let certain songs influence me and who I am and what I say or how I speak. I’m the one who has control over what I say, not music.”
