Freeing the Cvgebird

By Lanaa Dantzler

“A caged bird never really feels free, even when they’re outside of that cage, because they know what it’s like.” 

Selina Carerra, also known as Cvgebird, is a musician, poet, and filmmaker. A Philadelphia native, she began her career in the early 2010s freestyle rap scene. Juggling her music and education was a challenge. As a result, Selina’s academic journey was non-linear, but she chose to pursue university. 

While at Temple, Carerra had the opportunity to study in Los Angeles for her last semester. She volunteered as a youth mentor, hoping to get involved with the local community; unbeknownst to her, this work was based out of a youth prison. During a visit, a verbal altercation between two students seemed to be escalating physically. Carrera decided to freestyle in a last-ditch effort to diffuse the situation: “I couldn’t tell you what I said, but I just remember freestyling to them–singing about what was happening and giving them a larger perspective. When I finished… they were like, ‘Miss, you just came up with that?’ They completely forgot what they were about to fight about.” It was through this surreal moment that Cvgebird discovered her calling. Since then, youth incarceration has been heavily featured in Carrera’s work, reinforcing the theme of captivity and freedom while inciting change through her art.

The concept of being imprisoned or captured is fleshed out in her celebrated 2020 single “Frida Trap,” infusing the vibrant visuals of the iconic Frida Kahlo with the rhythmic influence of trap and hip hop. The song and its accompanying short film music video gained notoriety for its social commentary, earning five official film selections. This response to her single was deeply fulfilling for Carerra, in part due to the sheer investment required. Working on “Frida Trap” as an independent passion project meant stepping into a new level of vulnerability for the artist.

“The projects that I pour a lot of love and intention into, like “Frida Trap” – I’m coming from a place that’s bigger than myself. It ends up becoming way more successful than I even thought it was going to be.” Even though she appreciates the recognition, Carrera reminds us that the significance of one’s work isn’t always numbers. Falling in love with the artistic process comes with filling a need for others’ recognition. In order to be comfortable enough to give to your art, you have to be able to give to yourself, and sometimes that gift is grace. 

“I think the deeper connection you have with yourself will allow you to have more connection with your work,” said Selina when asked about her creative process. 

Last year, Carerra lost her grandmother, who she describes as an emotional rock whose home embodied an acceptance she didn’t feel elsewhere. Afterward, she found it extremely difficult to create, but Carrera soon found love in a new medium and rekindled her love for another while metabolizing her grief. She began DJing and returned to her roots of freestyle singing as a way to offer prayers to her grandmother. In processing her loss, Carerra channeled her effort into the music. “When I had no one else, when I would feel lonely or misunderstood, or that I had no friends… I always had my music. I always had my art.” Carrera finds inspiration in situations that seem dim or hopeless, and its impact on her and the community is beyond impressive.

Cvgebird takes social and systemic issues, and makes them sonically compelling, as well as being informed and interesting. Everything is intentional, whether it be for Selina, the listener, or both. The meaning of the music as a whole is to recognize the voices who go unsung and the people who go unseen. “[I hope] that people will have the courage to tell their story, that people will feel the validation and importance of that. I hope my legacy allows others to feel confident in being who they are.” Carrera wants to shine light in the places that aren’t shown. She believes it’s her responsibility to do so, allowing people to be freed and seen in a world set on obscuring them. 

Reflecting on the theme of freedom, Carrera references Assata Shakur’s infamous quote: “The way I see it, freedom is–is the right to grow… the right to blossom. Freedom is the right to be yourself.” Similar to Shakur, Carrera’s message resonates in its optimism. “[Freedom is] the right to be who we are without society telling us what it’s supposed to look like.” Hope and faith are deeply powerful emotions, shining brightly throughout current and future Cvgebird projects. For Cvgebird, it always comes back to the right to be yourself: creative, unjudged, and free.

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Cvgebird is the inaugural artist in residence at Vintage Wine Bar and Bistro. She’ll be entertaining and curating as a DJ next on October 24th at TULIPS, a BIPOC queer-centered gathering for music lovers. More information at @tulipsphilly.