NYVC Singer Spotlight: Cin Forster

How did you discover your passion for singing?

I’ve had a passion for singing for as long as I can remember, but I was able to develop it much further while attending Brooklyn High School of the Arts. Being surrounded by other creative students and having the chance to train in a focused environment helped me grow as both a performer and an artist.

What’s something recent or exciting in your singing journey? 

Right now, I’m in the exciting process of creating my own professional home recording studio. It’s been a dream of mine for a while, and once it’s finished, I’ll finally be able to start recording my first album. The idea of bringing my own music to life in a space I built for myself makes this stage of my journey especially meaningful.

What is an interesting or funny fact about you?

I became a vegetarian at seven years old after learning that the food I was eating came from animals I had seen on farms. My parents thought it was just a phase, but I’ve now been a vegetarian for over a decade.

What led you to studying at NYVC?

I realized that my college music classes and lessons were no longer advanced enough for me. That’s when I started looking for opportunities outside of school and, through my research, discovered NYVC. I walked into my first lesson with an open mind, since I believe that even the best vocal coaches aren’t always the right fit for every student. I feel very lucky that the very first coach I worked with here, Andy King, turned out to be the perfect coach for me and has helped me grow tremendously as a singer.

Who or what are your biggest musical influences?

My biggest musical influences include Mothica, Melanie Martinez, Maggie Lindemann, Demi Lovato, Grandson, Billie Eilish, and Skydxddy. I really couldn’t narrow it down more than that, because I draw inspiration from so many different unique styles. When it comes to my lyrics specifically, my biggest influence is definitely my own life experiences - I’ve always believed in the idea of ‘write what you know.

What styles of music do you sing?

I mostly sing pop, dark pop, rock, and punk - those are the styles I connect with most. But I also like to keep things interesting by branching out and trying new genres every once in a while.

What is one piece of advice you’d love all singers to know? 

A good teacher is important, but so is practicing on your own with intention and learning to give yourself both positive and constructive feedback. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced as an artist was starting much later than I would have liked. I was raised in the Ultra-Orthodox community, where women weren’t allowed to sing in front of men or pursue singing as a serious career. Even after I left, I had to work through a lot of internalized shame before I could fully commit to pursuing my passion.

What has been your greatest victory as an artist?

My greatest victory as an artist was getting signed with AWAL’s distribution label (not to be confused with a record label). It was such a meaningful milestone for me.

Where can people find more about you and your music?

 You can find my most recent single, Adrenaline Addict (A.A.) by Cindy Forster, on YouTube and all music streaming platforms, along with my other songs. If you’d like to keep up with my upcoming releases or hear some casual song covers, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok at @cin_sings!

Listen to Cin's music on Spotify or Apple Music.