Enfnts Terribles

What have you both been up to these last few weeks now that things are opening up again?

Tonya: Well, I eat a lot. (laughs) I’ve been busy working on new projects. I’m working on a campaign for my boyfriend Chuki Beats, and I’m very excited because it’s my first time doing a campaign for someone else.

It’s nice that we get a busy schedule now after a long time of being stuck at home. Do you think that being home has limited you in being creative, or was it a nice way to discover new aspects of your creativity?

Cyra: For me, it had two sides. On the one hand, it was very difficult to be creative in my own house; I didn’t find the motivation to work from home when it was a total lockdown. I was watching series the whole time and doing nothing at all. But on the other hand, I feel blessed that it happened because, at the same time, I feel like I missed socializing with a lot of people. I struggled with a bit of social anxiety before, but I feel like it’s getting better now because I’ve missed it so much to be in touch with other people. So it’s like a curse and a blessing at the same time.

As a performer, you get to be on stage and connect with people in real life; did you miss having that connection, or do you like the aspect of being home and getting feedback via messages and taking your time to be responsive on social media?

Cyra: That’s a really hard one because I think I have two sides. I like to be alone and have me-time all the time, but I like socializing as well. I definitely missed performing in front of people because I’ve had a few performances during the lockdown, and it’s so weird to perform without people; you can’t feel the vibe.

You have to fend for yourself. 

Cyra: Yeah, exactly, and then at the end of the song, there’s no sound, and you’re like, “Okay, let’s go to the next one.” It’s really …

It’s impersonal, maybe?

Cyra: Oh yeah, definitely. It’s really two sides: I like it, but I also missed people around me.

And is there someone or something specific that has inspired you to make that shift?

Tonya: Actually, my dad. He used to do campaigns for big brands, and he was so creative and had the biggest imagination, and was so driven.

It’s infectious.

Tonya: Yeah, and I have to say, people who knew my dad will say to me, “We see your dad in you,” so I got it from my dad. (laughs) He inspired me, but I also inherited it from him.

And where does your passion come from, Cyra? Were you always a dancer and singer?

Cyra: Always yeah. I started singing when I was five or six years old because in the Filipino culture, singing and dancing are super popular; we always do it at parties, so it’s really in our culture. When I was a bit older—like nine or ten—I really started to dance in front of my mirror and imagining that I was on stage with a lot of people. It’s always been a huge dream to be on stage just vibing with an audience.

And the last question is maybe the most difficult one: based on your own story, what kind of advice would you give to someone else?

Cyra: Just believe in yourself and be yourself, and don’t let anyone else say something else. Don’t listen to people that don’t believe in you because at the end of the day, you’re alone in this. You’re the one that needs to believe.

And you know yourself the best as well. 

Cyra: Yeah, that’s the thing; just find yourself and do you.

Tonya: I wanted to say the same: believe in yourself, and you know best what you want to do. Everybody’s going to have an opinion, but you are doing it, so you know best what you want to do. Stay focused and love yourself, and do you, exactly. Thank you, Cyra.

Thanks for the interview, girls! Let’s cheers with a Bulldog gin and tonic. 

— make sure to check out our Instagram for a video with Tonya and Cyra —