Cymcole
It’s hard to believe that Cymcolé is only nineteen years old. The stunning singer, songwriter, athlete, and model arrives with a unique blend of R&B and pop, sprinkled with island and Latin influences, which comes vividly to life on Shadows, her upcoming EP.
Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cymcolé’s mother, Lisa Larkin, was interested in theater and Broadway while her father, Barry Larkin, played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds. Cymcolé took after both of her parents, developing talents as both a musician and an athlete. Coming from a long line of professional athletes, Cymcolé was unsure whether to pursue music, or carry on the famous Larkin name in the world of sports like her older brother, Shane Larkin. At the tender age of five, she began taking dance lessons in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tap. But dancing proved not to be enough for the multi-talented artist. Cymcolé wanted to be more than just a dancer. She wanted to be a star.
When she was twelve, Cymcolé began doing musical theater and teaching herself to play the guitar. This is when she and her parents realized that she had true talent as a singer and songwriter. With the encouragement of her family, she began taking vocal lessons from esteemed vocal coach, Gerry Williams. Soon after, she released her first album, and began performing on her own and doing shows in Orlando, Florida. When she was fifteen, the budding star got the opportunity to work overseas in Brazil with DJ Mister Jam. Together, they created a record called “Bring on the Night,” which ended up reaching #4 on the charts in Brazil and appeared in the Brazilian primetime telenovela, Avenida Brasil.
Cymcolé was convinced that music was her true calling. So in June of 2015, she packed up her bags and moved to Los Angeles, California with her sister and creative director, Brielle Larkin. After about six months, Cymcolé had the opportunity to do some work in New York, and the two girls fell in love with the city. New York proved to have that push she was looking for, so they decided it would be their new home. Since being here, Cymcolé has tapped in to a career that is all her own, a topic heavily referred to in her new EP, Shadows.
This is where she was really able to grow and develop as an artist. “Finding my sound now is probably the best thing I’ve done musically,” she says. “I feel like an artist now. In Brazil, I felt like an artist but at the same time didn’t know my sound. I wasn’t in the creative mindset that I wanted and needed to be in. When we moved to New York, I felt like this is what I really want to be doing. I’ve finally found it and now I’m just going to keep running with it”.
Shadows will be Cymcolé’s introduction to the world. She no longer wants to be hidden behind the name of her famous father, National Baseball Hall of Famer, Barry Larkin. First single and video “Bombs Away,” is full of edginess and female bravado. With musical production from Rebirth Entertainment – (Beyoncé, P. Diddy, and Missy Elliott) the songs rhythm and pulse is intoxicating. The edginess and sexiness continue throughout the EP, with songs like “No Difference” and the club hit “Gunplay” featuring Atlanta’s super star, Rich Homie Quan. Shadows also features collaborations with songwriters and producers – Liana Bank$, Jai “Rocc” Yung, J. Dot, Vekz, and YOBO. She’s a natural performer and dancer, who transforms when the music is on. “It’s about me breaking out and having a name for myself,” she proclaims. “Now it’s my turn. I’m coming out of that shadow and saying: this is me and nobody can change that”.
