Meet Cleöcrt | Singer/Performer – Sensual rights activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cleöcrt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cleöcrt, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
The single most important decision I made that contributes to my success daily is to trust in myself -while being myself- to follow my heart and believe that my steps are ordered. The world is so colorful and full of noise,
I find that it is important especially for me as an active creative thinker to listen to my intuition and tune out the none sense.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been a bit of a ‘Love Maniac’. Whether it be plutonic artistic or romantic. As a black woman/girl this was not something to receive praise for. It became especially hard to exhibit that deep passion for love considering the disdain that was placed on my expression, this began to affect the ways that I showed up in the world. I experienced an intense internal struggle of what was appropriate what was right or wrong worried about how I was to be perceived and this directly effected the art I made.
After enduring deep reflection in my short time of being an adult, life found a way to show me love again, that spark I once had for love in itself was relit and i began to express it through music (my personal favorite language). In this moment I am most proud of myself for this. It is very hard to get back to your inner child, it’s a constant battle -even now as respond to this question- of unlearning all that was projected onto you but I continue to put myself first in a way that screams “THIS IS WHO I AM AND THIS IS HOW I WANT TO SHOW UP” except me or get lost, you know? I call that self love, one of the greatest kinds of love and for this I give myself a standing ovation, “Yay Cleöcrt” , that’s me and my ancestors rooting for me!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay so imagine this. It’s been a little over 10 years now since my dad passed away (He is one of my closest friends). If he were to come back and visit earth in the flesh the first place we’d go is to the Art Museum! I can proudly give my dad credit for my love of art. He used to take my siblings and I there every weekend to enjoy the children’s creative space. After that we’d go grab a bite! We LOVE food! But it would have to be sweets, even tho my taste buds have since changed I’d be more than happy to indulge in a day of sugar for old times sake. We’d go to the ice cream parlor in Mt Healthy! I’d surprise him with glazed donuts and oatmeal cream pies too. After grabbing a bite to eat I’d probably be overwhelmed with the nostalgia of hanging out with him as his little girl. I’d cry for at least an hour or 2. And spend a good portion of our time hugging him. Then I’d take him to Michael’s to get some art supplies and watch him paint me a master piece, a sentimental piece, one that I’d cherish deeply. I’d talk his head off about what’s been going on the last 10 years, how I got that scar, who taught me to drive, how I didn’t wait till I was 40 to get a boyfriend. And then we’d go to the Levi catch a movie and when it’s done we’d stargaze over the river in silence. I’m not crying it’s my allergies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to take this moment to give thanks to two of my Best friends, My Daddy – Dino, and my little brother Montez (my little tezzy wezzy) it is because of them that I am filled with confidence and love. They are responsible for the conviction I have for music.
They live on through the art I create and the legacy I soon leave behind.

Website: Cleocrt.com

Instagram: @Cleocrt

Twitter: @Xleocrt

Youtube: @Cleocrt.

Image Credits
Cortez True P.B.L photography Isaiah Armstrong Mike Aflito Cadence Photographic