Cheri Lyn is a force of nature – an unapologetic powerhouse with heart, soul, and fire in every note. Her live shows are no backdrop – they’re a full-body experience.
After leaving everything behind in 2016 to move to London, she recorded her first EP at the legendary Metropolis Studios and quickly became part of the UK’s vibrant blues/rock scene. Since then, she has performed internationally, shared the stage with Ed Sheeran, and was featured on the international rock album, Circle of Friends, alongside legends like Doro Pesch. Her debut album, Saviours, landed in the Top 20 of the IBBA Charts (UK) and was awarded Best Rock Album at the German Pop/Rock Association.
Musically, Cheri Lyn fuses powerful rock vocals with pop hooks, cinematic depth, and the earthy soul of blues. Her sound is raw, modern, and emotionally charged – always aiming to move something in the crowd. From deep Nordic atmospheres to bold 808s, she builds sonic bridges between genres and generations.
But, Cheri Lyn is more than a singer – she’s a storyteller, a rebel with purpose, and a voice for those who need one. Her lyrics speak of female empowerment, equality, social awakening, and the courage to own your path.
What drives her? The belief that music can shift perspectives, connect people, and ignite something real.
If you’ve never seen her live – now’s the time.
With “Selfmade Woman” out now, we took some time to hear from Cheri Lyn. Read below to learn more about Cheri Lyn, the story behind “Selfmade Woman,” and what’s to come.
Hi Cheri Lyn! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
That is actually my real name. 🙂 I was born as Cherilyn. Many people here in Germany think I am American, which is not true. But, the name is American. When my mom grew up, there was a US Army family living in her neighborhood. They once gave her a book of names. Then moons later, when she became pregnant with me, she found my name in the book. Since my dad’s artist name was Sony, she thought it would be a great combination. Also, the singer Cher was originally born as Cherilyn too.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I am originally from a very small village in the south of Germany, with only about 5,000 people living there. I lived there for a long time, but I also spent several years living in London. Recently, I moved very close to Frankfurt, Germany.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
Since both of my parents are musicians, I always knew that I wanted to pursue music. I have been a professional singer since I was 20 years old, but I only started pursuing my own original music around the age of 26 when I moved to London to become an artist.
I had always written my own songs — I actually started writing music when I was six years old. But, I began focusing more seriously on original music after moving to London to study at the legendary Metropolis Studios. There I had the chance to work closely with people from the industry and met many contacts in the blues and rock scene.
How has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound?
I grew up in a family of musicians. Many times during my childhood our house was full of my parents’ music colleagues and we had many jam sessions at home. That definitely shaped my creativity because I was always part of those music sessions.
Personally, I was also very inspired by watching Tina Turner on stage, and later Britney Spears. Both are fantastic and unique performers with very special careers. Their stage aura captivated me — powerful voices and incredible performers. I knew that I wanted to become a combination of both of them.
I love blues and rock, but I also love pop and soul sounds. And, I love a good show.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My sound has its roots in blues and rock music, so you can expect a powerful and passionate voice. But when you discover my music, you quickly realize that it’s very diverse.
Talking about my latest single, “Selfmade Woman,” it is quite poppy and soulful — some people even hear jazz elements — while other songs can be full blues-rock ballads with epic sounds.
What I try to create as a signature is combining elements of roots music like blues or soul with modern production elements such as 808s, powerful vocals and rich harmonies.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Yes, I do. I love sports and I am a very active person. I enjoy weightlifting, running and dancing. But, I also have a business career in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation.
I am a founder myself, and I love new technologies and the higher education sector. As much as I enjoy being creative, I also enjoy intellectual challenges. I think this balance actually helps me stay creative. After using one side of my brain a lot, I need to switch to the other.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Tina Turner and Britney Spears — mostly for the reasons that I mentioned before. For me, both were musical innovators and women who shaped music history forever: Tina Turner in rock music and Britney Spears in pop music.
I was never very good at following someone else’s path. I always wanted to create my own way, and I think both Tina and Britney are great role models for that.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I once ended up singing on stage with Ed Sheeran. 😄 That was very cool.
It happened during a cover gig in Frankfurt at the Oktoberfest where I was booked as a singer, and Ed decided to join us after his tour show. Ed Sheeran was actually one of the main reasons that I moved to London in 2016.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
That there is never just one way or the only way. I hate when people try to put you into a lane that you don’t want to be in.
I have always been a strong and independent woman, and I never let people decide for me if something doesn’t feel right.
So, I realized in my life that there is always another way — and often that way is your own. Especially in this industry, where business and art are still very separated, many people take advantage of artists’ lack of knowledge.
I want to change that and empower artists to become the best version of themselves — not only as artists, but also as entrepreneurs.
Now onto your release, “Selfmade Woman.” What inspired this song?
It follows the idea from the previous question.
I was often told: Cheri, if you want to be an artist, you cannot have a career in business. And when I pursued a business career, people questioned whether I was capable enough.
I proved them wrong.
I continue to pursue my music while also building a professional career. I try to leverage all of my talents.
“Selfmade Woman” is meant to empower women not to let anyone talk them down. Especially women often face challenges when building strong careers, and I want to encourage them to become whoever they want to be — independent and proud in their own way.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “Selfmade Woman?”
Great question.
I have a very talented friend who is an artist, saevidicus. She has an amazing eye for aesthetics. I always try to surround myself with people who can do things that I cannot do myself.
The artwork is the result of a long day in a professional photo studio with a beautiful light wall. We chose this photo as the cover because it looks as if I am sitting on my throne — proud of what I have built, but also dreamy and curious about what is still to come.
What was the creative process like when making “Selfmade Woman?”
This was actually my production — at least the foundation of it.
I took some samples from Splice, including the horns, and started experimenting with them in Logic. I knew I wanted something soulful.
In Logic, I developed the drums, keys and bass until I had the basic structure. Then, I went to my main producer, Thomas Claudius, who added his magic through details and modern sounds like 808s.
I always stay in the studio during production, so we co-work on it. But, he is a master of the small details that matter so much.
I also love harmonies, and instead of singing the chorus leads myself I thought: why not create a female choir sound? It fits the message perfectly — playful, empowering, fun, sexy, demanding and powerful. It shows the strength of a network of women.
How long did it take to complete “Selfmade Woman?”
Too long — probably about a year. 😄
That’s mostly because of my busy life. Having multiple careers can be very inspiring, but it also means I have a lot on my plate.
However, my second album is now almost finished, so more songs will be coming soon.
What is your favorite lyric in “Selfmade Woman” and why?
“My wisdom is my best weapon — no competition on the pole position.”
I love that line because especially women’s wisdom and intelligence are often underestimated. But, they are actually superpowers we should fully embrace. Once we do that, we become unstoppable.
What do you hope fans take away from “Selfmade Woman” and your music in general?
I hope people feel empowered to live their best lives and pursue their goals without letting others damage their self-esteem.
It is completely okay to be proud of yourself.
Be proud — you deserve it.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on my second album, Business B*tch, which is planned to be released at the end of the year.
Where can we follow you on social media?
https://www.instagram.com/cherilyn.music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CEN9zUPU2hPoWvG2D0id7
https://www.youtube.com/@CheriLyn-music
Before you go, let’s ask you an off-topic question. What is the city that you’ve visited the most?
Hong Kong. I love Hong Kong — I’m a big Asia fan. I had the pleasure of performing there several times, but I also travel there for business trips in my innovation job.
It is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. It has everything: an incredible skyline, nature, wonderful people, safety, great nightlife and amazing food.
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
