A young Santa Clarita woman recently released a music video covering “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” with several members of the iconic Earth, Wind & Fire.

Growing up, Ivana “Vi” Cespedes never imagined that she would have the opportunity to perform with members of one of her favorite bands.

“What a moment, I mean really, who am I to have that kind of opportunity?” she said. “Just a local Santa Clarita girl, who hasn’t sung for that many years. But I had the opportunity of a lifetime, and I saw it and I took it.”

The 23-year-old Santa Clarita native has played piano for the past 18 years, performing as an accompanist for several high schools and universities both in Santa Clarita and across Los Angeles County. 

Then, four years ago, Cespedes joined the College of the Canyons “Just Jazz” ensemble, where she learned that her musical talent was not limited to piano.

“I learned how to sing in that group, I didn’t really know I could sing before that,” she said. “I just fell in love with the voice. It just sort of came out of me, out of my soul.”

In 2018, Cespedes began work as a production assistant (P.A.) at the newly formed Scott Frankfurt Studio, a move that ultimately served as the first step towards the collaboration with the members of Earth, Wind & Fire.

“The first time (Cespedes) interviewed with us, she was like, ‘I just want to be here. I just want to do everything. I just want to be your girl. I don’t know how to do any of this stuff, but I want to learn,’” said Sharon Frankfurt, who co-owns the studio with her husband Scott.

During her time as a P.A., Cespedes had the opportunity to meet and work with members of many iconic bands, including Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, and KISS.

“She’s just got such a beautiful spirit and she’s very engaged with what’s going on,” said Scott Mayo, the saxophonist of the video who met Cespedes when he was working with Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes at Scott Frankfurt Studio.

The all-star ensemble featured in the music video. Courtesy of Scott Frankfurt Studio.

After a year working as a P.A., Cespedes transitioned from an employee to a client of the studio, using the space to record several demos. Then, in the second half of 2019, she told Scott Frankfurt her dream.

“I said, ‘You know what Scott? I have a dream,’” Cespedes said. “‘I’m wearing a red suit. I’m sitting at the piano and (members of) Earth, Wind & Fire are my band.’

After the two agreed to cover the 1974 song “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” Frankfurt made some calls, and the stage was set.

“Everyone knew her heart,” he said. “They knew her talent to a degree, maybe not to the degree that was revealed when we actually did it, but they knew her kind soul and (they) said, ‘Absolutely, we’re in.’”

On Nov. 8, 2019, an all-star ensemble of bassist Verdine White, drummer John Paris, guitarists Serg Dimitrijevic and Jack Majdecki, and electronic producer Mika Mutti joined Mayo and Cespedes at the studio to record the music video for their cover of “If I Ever Lose This Heaven.”

“When I walked in, I wasn’t the P.A. anymore,” Cespedes said. “I wasn’t the staff anymore. I was the artist.”

One of the most memorable moments of the experience for Cespedes came when her family was allowed to sit in for the first several takes of the music video.

“My heart wanted to explode because my parents and my sisters got to witness that with me,” she said. “They got to be in the room while I’m leading these guys and performing.”

Cespedes (right) recording the audio for the music video alongside Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White (left). Courtesy of Scott Frankfurt Studio.

Later on, when he saw the video for the first time, Frankfurt was amazed at how Cespedes’ grit and determination was balanced with her ability to pour all of her emotions into a performance.

“That’s what I saw on the camera for the first time that night was a woman, no longer a P.A.,” he said. “A woman who has command of her artistry, command of her humanity, and is just singing the paint off of the song.”

The video was posted on Monday, and earned nearly 27,000 views as of Saturday afternoon.

“She didn’t just have command of what she was doing,” Mayo said. “She had command of all of us. We were all following her.”

Mayo then compared Cespedes to the late Kobe Bryant, as he said the two both possessed the grit and determination to, “not give up until you get to your goals.”

“She’s all of that,” he said. “She’s got all of that. She’s going to be a star.”

Cespedes attributes her fortune and success to her family and friends that she has gained in her life, as they helped make her who she is today.

“People are who make your career,” she said. “You don’t make it yourself. You have to have people on your team.”

Courtesy of Scott Frankfurt Studio.

The music video can be viewed above, or by clicking here. For more information on Cespedes, click here, and for more information on Scott Frankfurt Studio, click here.

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