The life of an artist often comes with surprises and uncertainty. Circumstances can change rapidly—both positively and negatively—but for many artists, one element remains consistent: the connection to their craft. Some individuals feel a natural pull toward creative expression, and for those who do, it becomes a lifelong source of meaning and resilience. Cenyc is one such individual, and for him, music has served as a reliable source of inspiration and identity throughout different stages of his life.
Chris Pfund, known by his stage name Cenyc, has been exploring music since early childhood. He recalls playing for hours on a homemade drum set fashioned from Tupperware by his father when he was just three years old. His first drumsticks? Chopsticks from a local Chinese restaurant—simple but effective tools for a child discovering rhythm. A young Cenyc was drawn to music intuitively and began trying to recreate sounds using anything available. Growing up in New York, music was everywhere.
By second grade, Chris experienced a rare opportunity: he was invited to play with RatDog (formerly part of the Grateful Dead) at South Street Seaport in NYC. While it might have been overwhelming for some children, Chris joined in with enthusiasm and energy, offering a spontaneous drum solo that surprised and impressed the musicians present. Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman encouraged him by playing alongside him and later invited him to perform at the Library of Congress for its 200th birthday celebration. There, he met public figures like Colin Powell and Lance Bass—early milestones that hinted at the potential for a meaningful future in music.
As he progressed through adolescence, Chris continued to nurture his musical interests. He began crafting his own beats and writing original music during high school. Despite having been part of unique musical moments, Chris admits that self-doubt and the pressure to conform held him back from pursuing some early opportunities more fully. Like many young creatives, he spent time trying to “fit in”—a challenge when you’re beginning to realize you’re wired differently. Personal growth and experiences helped him slowly embrace that difference as a strength.
In college, Chris officially adopted the name Cenyc as his artist identity. While he pursued a music major and did some touring, life presented him with a very different kind of opportunity—one that would temporarily shift his focus.
During his time in college, Chris was offered a contract to play professional arena football. At that point in life, he believed music would always be part of him. He felt confident that, even if he stepped away for a while, his musical instincts would remain intact. Football, however, came with a shorter timeline. Seeing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he accepted the offer and committed to the sport.
His football journey took him across several cities, including Atlanta, GA; Lancaster and Philadelphia, PA; Raleigh, NC; and Albany, NY. In 2016, he signed with the Triangle Torch, a team in Raleigh. Unfortunately, a sports hernia during training camp cut his season short, landing him on injured reserve. In 2017, he returned to the team, starting on the practice squad. Four months later, he made his game debut. His first significant play demonstrated a deep internal drive—pulling five defenders inches from the end zone and setting up a scoring opportunity for his team. For Chris, the adrenaline and focus in that moment felt much like the flow state he experiences in music.
On October 5, 2022, Chris’s life shifted again—this time more profoundly. His daughter was born. That moment prompted him to reconsider his personal goals and creative legacy. Becoming a parent led him to reflect deeply on the importance of living authentically and leading by example. How could he encourage his daughter to pursue her dreams if he wasn’t pursuing his own?
That’s when Cenyc returned to music—not as a nostalgic revisit, but with renewed intention and awareness. With a stronger sense of identity and purpose, he began creating and performing again, now grounded in a deeper understanding of how formative environment, role models, and determination are in a young person’s life. Rather than chasing recognition, his focus shifted to building something lasting—for himself, and for the example he hopes to set for his child.
In life, many things remain outside of our control. The path we walk is rarely predictable—and that unpredictability carries a certain beauty. We may not always know what lies ahead, but we can recognize what lives within us. For Cenyc, that inner fire has always been music—and now, more than ever, he’s choosing to follow it forward.
Stream Cenyc on Spotify
