Today we’d like to introduce you to Caziah Franklin.
Caziah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
What really got me into doing music was my family and the environment in which I grew up in. My father grew up doing gospel music, and my mother was in a R&B group in her early twenties, so I like to believe that a passion for music was forged inside of me before I ever stepped foot on the Earth. My parents did all they needed to do to cultivate my God-given gift, and they also left more than enough room for me to grow not only in my gift but in my faith, which resulted in my gift turning into a passion.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up, it was very difficult to develop my own sound and voice. Having an established artist as a parent is actually more challenging than it is enriching; in a favorable way. It has taught me to not always rely on my father as a tool or gateway, but as a teacher that will always be more than honest, however, the concept of self-confidence was always replaced with the deception of comparison.
Entering my first year of high school, I set music down as I quickly became slave to the lies: “You aren’t good enough”, “You are nothing like your father”. “People only like you because of your father”. These were the thoughts I had on a daily basis, and although I knew that they were lies from the enemy, I believed them.
I picked the drums back up after deciding that Belmont University was my desired school of choice (for it had been my dream school since the seventh grade), and I practiced day and night to catch back up with my peers, as it felt like learning to walk again. I wanted to make sure that I was not only feeding my flesh with my own self-recognition, but I wanted to also feed my soul, so I started to serve at multiple churches within the area, and with that my love for ministry grew. At the same time, I began to do more session work for others, as well as for my father, and I also began to start to write and produce my own music.
What else should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from others?
I am an independent musician, songwriter, and producer who specializes in Exaltation from Artistry. Exaltation from Artistry implies that whatever work I do, is to be a reflection of my faith and my character. I want whatever work I conjure up to be crafted with time and care, and most importantly, I want it to have a message with positive attributes.
I am most proud of my faith, for it acts as a catalyst for all of my works. I also believe that it is my faith that enhances and influences my sound, and sets me apart, for it is my main tool for originality.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment in my life so far has been embracing the struggle of being who I am. Despite all of my accomplishments, I feel like you are proud when you are making God proud. In the music and art industry, it is so easy to get lost in the spotlight, or lost in the fame and recognition, but I personally feel like my most proudest moment was when I embraced the fact that I would not be who I am, nor would I be where I am at, if it wasn’t for a God that believed in me, and loved me unconditionally.
Contact Info:
- Email: craftby.caz@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSKLETPN4t2oI2Dvj8H1X5w
Image Credit:
Abby Dalton. Austin Chick
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