On the back of her recently released single ‘Heartbreak’, we chatted to Princess Sylfronia King Eze, a New York based recording artist who has a fascinating story to tell, read on to see how we got on….

Please tell me who you are and where you come from?  

I am an American, Princess Sylfronia King-Eze raised in The Royal Bahamas who is the wife of Nigerian born Prince David Eze of the Royal Eze Family from the royal line of Queen Justina and King Ignatius Eze of the Igbo speaking people living in Amogbodo, Umuoka, Nigeria. As well as being the co-founder of the Royal Maximus Brand Family Corporation along with Prince David Eze, I am a recording artist and I live on the Upper West Side, Central Park in New York City.  

 

We know you’re called Princess Sylfronia King-Eze, we know that you reside in New York City, and we know that you’re a very talented contemporary pop/rock/soul recording artist, tell me something about you that not many people know... 

Well, a lot of people don’t know that I’m a philanthropist. I support and feed an Orphanage of 30+ children living in the slums in poverty in Pakistan, and I am a businesswoman. I am the co-founder of King Maximus Entertainment along with my husband Prince David Eze of Royal Eze, our parent company.  

I guess the first question I have for you is how did your singing career begin? 

I have been singing since I was a child, at the age of 5, I began music lessons with my mother who taught me musicals. The first musical I learned with my mom was “The Hills Are Alive” by Julie Andrews. I then went on to learn classical, opera and blues styles in primary school while living in Nassau, The Royal Bahamas.  

Would you say that you come from a musical family? 

Absolutely! I learned to play the genre “Rake and Scrape”, which is an island tradition living in Nassau, Bahamas. Scott King, my late brother and I, would prance around the house with pots and pans, playing musical notes from the tones the steel would make. It taught me how to produce my own music. My mother Dorothea Oliver would play great songs from legendary artist such as Al Green, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Barbara Streisand, and countless blues artists.  

You live in NYC, which is an amazing city, what do you LOVE and LOATHE about living there?  

I really enjoy where I live. I live on the Upper West Side in Manhattan in a performing arts community next to Central Park. I loathe going out of Manhattan for any reason other than performing, since everything that I desire, or need is in my neighbourhood. There are tons of restaurants, clothing stores, gyms, entertainment and theatre. It’s as simple as hailing a yellow taxicab to get to any destination!

I guess there are no shortage of places to perform and see other performers? Any favourite places that you frequent more than others?  

Quite often you can catch me at Lincoln Center. There are always international acts, shows and performances in the Atrium, and I have enjoyed many summers watching Opera or seeing a musical. 

Where is the best place to go for food in NYC?  

Visit the Upper East Side for brunch, Jo-Jo by Jean-Georges, Porter House Bar & Grill and Wolfgang’s Steakhouse on the Upper West Side, Central Park.

I read that you have performed at the Lincoln Center, various galas, and for Hillary Clinton, please tell me a bit more about how you got to perform for Hillary?  

First Lady Hillary Clinton was at a luncheon for a charity that I was invited to which was supporting foster & adopted children. At this event, she was intrigued to know what talent the sponsors had to offer. At that point, management turned to me to perform and requested a song. I gave First Lady Hillary Clinton a show and she was very pleased with my performance.

Your beautiful secular music blends smooth vocals and sweet pop harmonies with contemporary Pop/Rock and worldbeat rhythms, were you exposed to a lot of this style of music in your early days?  

As an artist, I am very exposed to world music, I can sing in any language, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Igbo, etc. I can do this because I have a musical brain that understands harmonies, notes and pronunciation. My memory is attached to notes, tones and beats. As a child, I was exposed to Latin, Caribbean, Jazz, Pop and Blues. I am multi-versed.  

Can you play any musical instruments? If so, what are they and have you incorporated any into your own music? 

I can play the Piano and guitar, and I taught myself how to play by ear. When I didn’t own a piano, I would go to Guitar Center and play the instruments on display. My favourite instrument is my voice. A lot of people don’t realize, it requires tuning and practice for smooth transitions and sound release.  

You cite many artists as key influences over the years, if you had to name just one, who would it be and why?  

Whitney Houston is my primary influence due to her sophisticated, poised nature as a live performing artist. I learned a lot from watching her, she was truly my inspiration as a child and teenager growing up in music.

Tell me about any pre-show rituals that you have? Do you huddle with the band? Say a prayer? Or just drink lemon tea and look after your vocal cords 

Before I do a show, I practice, do a sound check and warm my vocal cords up. I drink room temperature water, and then I psyche and amp myself up with positive self-talk, motivation and reinforcement. I thank everyone on my team for their support and I possess an attitude of gratitude and gratefulness toward myself and others. We pray together, and then I go onto the stage with high hopes, energy and expectations.  

Let’s imagine you’re hosting a dinner party at your place, what will your guests be eating?  

At my dinner party, my guest will eat the finest of foods offered from different countries, Ghanian & Nigerian meats, French brasserie, Thailand cuisine and American fare.  

And who would you invite? 

I would invite DoJa Cat; she has that hit song out called “Woman” that is really amazing. Lizzo, I know we’d have a ball and Miley Cyrus, she looks really fun to hangout with. 

I understand that you’re working on a new album called ‘Heartbreak’, please tell me when it will be released.  

Heartbreak will be release in the Summer of 2023, right before The Heartbreak Tour in the U.S and Canada by Michael of Harding Live Agency and publicity by Victor Hart of Mega Buzz Music Promotions, both are my celebrity booking agent and music publicist with offices in London and Los Angeles, California.  

Where was it recorded?

The album Heartbreak was recorded at Royal Eze Studios, on the Upper West Side, Central Park and my producers were Music Town, Pieper Beats, Fantom, Black Lionz Beats and BigBadBeats producers from LA, Chicago and New York. I’d like to shout our Fat Joe from Terror Squad for his musical support inspiration and efforts toward me and helping me with my career, I appreciate him.  

Did you enjoy the recording process? Did you get involved with the knobs and sliders or did you simply do your but and let the experts earn their money?  

I am always hands on in the studio, I am at the mixing board, behind the microphone and in the creative directors’ office working on visual marketing. I 100% enjoyed the process.  

Is there a theme that flows through the entire album?  

The theme for the entire album that of having a broken heart from a failed relationship. A relationship filled with promise, but shattered hopes and expectations.

Can you choose one track from the album and break it down for me?  

I would like to breakdown “Lovers”, it’s a track that was completely freestyled, and emotionally driven from the soul. The lyrics go on to say….”Lovers were just friends, who fell in love, and don’t know what to do. We’re lovers, best of there is no end, to the love we make, baby all night long”. It was created from certain sexual urges that I would have but couldn’t satisfy.  

What are you hoping your music brings to listeners?  

I am hoping that my music brings listeners peace and touches their souls.  

Will you be performing any album launch gigs when it is released?  

Absolutely, I am going on The Heartbreak Tour in June 2023-August 2023. I will be performing at various Hotels, Casinos and Resorts and for major Festivals in U.S and Canada.  

Do you have any shows booked in the near/distant future? What about festivals?  

Yes, the Harding Live Agency is putting together an array of show performances and booking major Festivals for the Princess Sylfronia King Heartbreak Tour in the Summer of 2023. In the distant future, Prince David Eze of the Royal Eze Company will be managing the “Princess Sylfronia King Eze Sudan Tour” which will kick off in South Africa and work its way through Zambia, Tanzania, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, Namibia, Egypt and Zimbabwe.  

Is there such a thing as ‘the perfect record’, if so, what would you say it is and why?  

The perfect record is one that touches your soul and has found its way to it via expression and beats. The rest is up to the listener to decide what is genuine and authentic.  

Please tell me the best place to connect with you via social media.  

Friends, fans and family can connect with me through my Instagram page

There are millions of bands and artists out there, please tell me the names of a few that you are excited about now?  

I can really dig Lizzo, Rihanna and Beyonce. They are leading the feminine music scene in Hip-Hop and R&B, and I appreciate Harry Styles and Adele. In rap, I appreciate Fat Joe for his incredible energy and delivery in his musical style of rap.

We’d like to thank Princess Sylfronia King Eze for sparing the time to chat to us and we wish her every success for her forthcoming album ‘Heartbreak’ and her ‘Sudan Tour’ which sounds incredible. Keep up to date with her musical exploits on Instagram

Interview by Steve Muscutt