Today we’d like to introduce you to Cera Gibson
Hi Cera, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Cera Gibson and I’m a Salt Lake City based Musician. I’ve been making music since elementary school, but it wasn’t until 2013 that I started doing it professionally. That year I flew out to Nashville with my father, and recorded my first EP in RCA studio A. This first record is very different than anything you’d see from me today, being fully blues rock. In 2016, I decided to try my hand at pop music and got with a local producer, Jay Kaye to realize that goal. Together we made my first EP under this project titled “Crushed Velvet”. Since then I have dropped tracks ranging from dark, brooding synth pop, to upbeat alternative rock. Instead of committing to a genre, I’ve committed to letting my writing take me where it wants to go. This has resulted in a growing, eclectic discography that still very much sounds like me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My musical journey has been anything, but smooth. My first brush with the industry in Nashville, resulted in a four year recording contract that nearly resulted in me dropping out of high school. My parents were gracious enough to help fund that first EP with some money left from my grandmother’s passing. Due to the predatory nature of the contract, I ended up having to pay for much of it myself, and took on three jobs to make that happen. This is what initially inspired me to strike out on my own with Jay Kaye, and drastically depart from the first project. I wanted the control back in my hands. Since then, there have been too many highs and lows to count. The most recent following a viral video of me holding a tape measure saying, “I don’t think you know how big twelve inches is.” This video blew up to the point that it reached over one billion views across platforms. This incredible boost in visibility did expand my reach and audience, but created an unexpected obstacle. Those who blow up for pee pee jokes, are bound by the pee pee jokes they tell. When I started promoting my music again, I did reap the benefits of my newfound visibility, but it was closely followed by a barrage of hatred from the men who’d felt empowered by my video. They didn’t want music. They wanted pee pee positive content. I refused to niche in that particular way, and found that where I was better off than I’d started, it was difficult to climb the hill of tape measures laid out in front of me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do a whole slew of different kinds of work. Music is my passion and my focus, but over the past few years, and as audience grew, I found myself becoming a content creator, which opened doors to voice acting, traditional acting and professional comedy. What I’m known for will change depending on who you’re asking. Some may know me from my audio erotica work with Quinn, other’s from the tape measure video, and some from my music. I’ve been told the thing that sets me apart most is my candor. I approach all things from a place of authenticity. Sometimes I receive a fair amount of backlash from angered men who want more content centered around their nether regions. Sometimes I’m able to connect with people who’ve otherwise felt unheard.
I was recently told by a fellow content creator that the path I’ve chosen is the hardest one. I don’t niche. I don’t follow the trends, I don’t hold my punches when it comes to my values or causes that are meaningful to me, but I resonate with people regardless. My hope is that I’m able to continue to create art that I’m proud of, and when I look back on all I’ve done, silly videos included, I’ll know I was on the right side of history.
Right now I am most proud of my release show on August 23rd at Soundwell in SLC. It’s in partnership with Mind the Gap, and has been the most work I’ve ever put into a live show in my life. It will be a level no ones ever seen from me. I am so excited to unveil what we’ve been working on.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t be afraid of criticism. When it’s coming from people that want to see you grow and succeed, it should be carefully mined through for nuggets of wisdom that you can apply to your process. Even if someone isn’t a musician themselves, people know what they enjoy. They know what separates a mind-blowing live performance from a mediocre one. Your internal voice is the one that matters most, but other voices matter too. If you want to make music or art that people resonate with, seek to understand the people you’re speaking to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ceragibson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceragibson
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/ceragibson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063616721328
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ceragibson?lang=en
