For some, music is a hobby. For others, it’s a calling. For Cenyc, it’s a heartbeat and something that’s always been there, guiding him through every twist of life.
Long before he was known as Cenyc, Chris Pfund was just a kid in New York banging on a homemade drum set. His dad had pieced it together from Tupperware, and his first pair of sticks came courtesy of a local Chinese restaurant. While other kids were discovering cartoons and games, Chris was discovering sounds.
That passion didn’t go unnoticed. In second grade, an unbelievable opportunity landed in his lap when members of RatDog, an offshoot of the Grateful Dead, invited him on stage at South Street Seaport. Most children might freeze under that kind of pressure, but Chris did the opposite, playing his heart out, earning the respect and admiration of legends like Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman. It led to other milestones, including an invitation to the Library of Congress’s 200th birthday celebration, where he met public figures like Colin Powell and Lance Bass. The path was opening, and Chris was walking it with purpose.
As he got older, the music didn’t fade, but life grew louder. In high school, Chris began crafting his own beats and lyrics, exploring the deeper layers of self-expression. Yet despite his early success, self-doubt often lingered in the background. He wrestled with the pressure to fit in, questioning how his passion and identity could coexist. But these growing pains also helped shape the artist he would later become.
College introduced a new chapter and a new name. Chris adopted the moniker Cenyc, a creative identity that reflected his evolution as both a musician and a man. While he pursued music academically and even toured during that period, life had another unexpected curveball to throw: professional arena football.
The opportunity was rare and fleeting. Football came with a tight window, while music felt like an eternal flame. So, he signed the contract and hit the field. His athletic career brought him across the East Coast, playing for teams in cities like Atlanta, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Raleigh. In 2016, while training with the Triangle Torch, a severe sports hernia threatened to end his run. But Chris wasn’t one to give up easily. After months of recovery and determination, he clawed his way back onto the field, making an impact from his very first play back.
Still, something was stirring inside him, something that wasn’t about football. That “something” fully came into focus on October 5, 2022, the day his daughter was born. Becoming a father changed everything. It wasn’t just about personal ambition anymore. It was about legacy. About walking the talk. About showing his daughter that dreams aren’t meant to be buried beneath responsibilities, they’re meant to be chased with fire.
With renewed purpose, Cenyc returned to his first love: music. But this time, it was different.
Life has a funny way of circling back to what’s real. The world might throw detours, injuries, and doubts, but the rhythm within never goes away. For Cenyc, music is no longer just a passion or talent. It’s proof of who he is, and a reminder of everything he’s overcome.
Follow Cenyc on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ce.nyc
And check out his music on Spotify: