CDOT (Christian Distefano)
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CDOT (Christian Distefano)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2018 | INDIE

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2018
Solo Hip Hop Pop

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Music

Press


"Nominees announced for Niagara Music Awards"

New artist: Ashley Sienna, CDOT, Evan Rotella, Nico TK, Pluto Hann

Hip hop artist: Aerostylz, Beepax/Nick Bee, Cameron Phillip, CDOT, Choom Gang, Everett Champion, Ezza CG, Will Power, Will Dridge, Pluto Hann, Ladee Lyrix - NIagara Falls Review


"Event to benefit local food bank agencies"

Niagara Falls artist Christian Distefano will unveil a music video, which raises awareness of homelessness and hunger in Niagara, at a fundraising pasta dinner June 17 and Niagara Falls Community

When Christian Distefano began preparing for his birthday party last year, the Niagara Falls actor knew he wanted to focus his attention on making a difference in the lives of others.

He invited 19 friends to a St. Catharines recording studio in January 2016 and the group of youths wrote and recorded a song “We Are All the Same,” which focused on the issue of homelessness and hunger. He also asked guests to bring a food donation for Project SHARE in lieu of gifts.

Distefano, who has appeared in the horror film Clown and the children shows Paw Patrol and Odd Squad, last month filmed a video for the song and the music video will be officially unveiled at an upcoming pasta dinner to benefit Project SHARE and Niagara Falls Community Outreach.

“Hunger is a terrible thing and I feel that if we all work together then maybe we can actually change this global issue,” the 12-year-old said.

“This is not about me singing about people, this is about the people who are living on the streets and the people who are living in their houses who don’t have food in their fridge.”

The We are All the Same pasta dinner will be held June 17 at Niagara Falls Community Outreach on St. Lawrence Avenue.

“We are thrilled to invite the people of Niagara to our kitchen to view the video and enjoy our wonderful food,” said the agency’s fundraising chairwoman Chris Watling.

The upcoming event, she added, will help both agencies in their fight against hunger in Niagara.

“Not only does it demonstrate to the people of Niagara that the work of each agency complements each other, but it also emphasizes that we do partner with a common goal to help those who are challenged procuring nutrition.”

She said organizations such as Project SHARE and Niagara Falls Community Outreach rely on support from the community to meet the needs of those less fortunate.

The soup kitchen, for example, receives no government funding and relies on donations to survive. It provides provides 42,000 meal a year to those in need.

Meanwhile, approximately 100 families a day turn to Project SHARE for emergency food assistance.

“One hundred per cent of ticket sales and raffle sales will support both agencies equally,” Katie Cuviello, special events co-ordinator at Project SHARE, said of the upcoming event.

The fundraiser will include a penny raffle as well as a day-long food drive where people can drop off food donations, even if they are unable to attend the pasta dinner.

There will also be free family activities on site, with the parking lot being transformed into a traditional carnival.

Parking for the event, which runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be at the municipal parking lot at the corner of St. Lawrence Avenue and Huron Street.

Tickets for the pasta dinner are $20 for adults and $10 for children. For more information visit www.weareallthesame.ca. -


"Pint-sized pop stars sing for Project SHARE"

Christian Distefano wanted to celebrate his birthday in style – and substance.

On Saturday, the busy Niagara Falls artist – who turns 11 on Monday – invited a 19 friends to a unique birthday party.

That afternoon, the guests boarded a limo bus and headed to SongPie Connection music studio in St. Catharines.

The energetic pre-teens – with the help of Niagara singer songwriter Angela Siracusa and local musician Danny Lamb - wrote, produced and recorded a pop song.

In the beginning, Siracusa and a group of kids worked on the chorus while Lamb, who is also Distefano's vocal coach, and a second bunch of kids worked on the verses.

By mid-morning, the song had a name: “We Are All the Same.” By mid-afternoon, it was being recorded.

“It's very inspirational and motivational,” Siracusa said.

The song, and "making of" video, will be released at a fundraiser this spring in support of Project SHARE.

“I thought it would be fun to do something like this because I really enjoy singing,” Distefano said. “And, I wanted to help Project SHARE.”

In lieu of birthday gifts, Distefano asked guests to bring a monetary donation for Project SHARE.

“I wanted to do this for the less fortunate people,” he said. “We want to give back, to help them.”

The youngsters then returned to Niagara Falls for a pop star after party.

Distefano has been building an impressive resume in recent years, appearing in commercials, TV series and feature films.

He appeared in the horror film Clown and the thriller Cut Bank as well as children shows Odd Squad and Paw Patrol.

Last month he was nominated for an Actra Award in the category of Outstanding Voice Performance for his role on the children's show Creative Galaxy.

He has also appeared on several television shows including The Strain and Murdoch Mysteries, for which he won the Guest Starring Young Actor 10 and Under award at the 2014 Young Artist Awards.

This isn't Distefano's first time at a recording studio. He recently released an anti-bullying song for charity called “Boomerang -


"A day at TIFF for Falls child star Distefano"

Niagara Falls actor Christian Distefano at the Toronto International Film Festival on Wednesday, where his thriller Cut Bank screened.

While his Grade 4 classmates were walking the hallways Thursday, Christian Distefano was walking the red carpet.

The nine-year-old Niagara Falls actor spent the day at the Toronto International Film Festival for the Canadian premiere of his thriller Cut Bank. He stars alongside John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton. Bruce Dern and Liam Hemsworth for the story of a Montana mechanic (Hemsworth) who finds a way out of his small town when he stumbles upon evidence of a murder.

While not a huge role, it could prove important as the young Princess Margaret school student spends more time in Hollywood. He also has a horror film, Clown, hitting theatres in October.

"It was fun to work with all the actors," said Distefano, on his way to the film's gala screening Wednesday. "Bruce Dern, he's funny! He has a personality…every take, he kind of said something different."

It's the second red carpet event Distefano has done for the movie, after a screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.

It's a long way from the 2011 fashion show he worked which first caught the eye of a talent agency. He was soon starring as Ronnie Realist in a series of Teletoon Network promos. Last year, he did voice work for the Amazon Studios animated series Creative Galaxy, Paw Patrol for Nickelodeon and Peg & Cat for PBS Kids.

Next year, he'll star in the new PBS Kids live action series Odd Squad.

In December, Distefano starred in the Hallmark Channel's made-for-TV movie Finding Christmas alongside Tricia Helfer.

Dad Mike Distefano, a Niagara Falls mortgage broker, made sure the TIFF experience wasn't too overwhelming.

"He's pretty excited, (but) I'm not sure he really knows what to expect," he says. "Christian's a pretty reserved kid. He just goes with the flow."

Cut Bank was filmed last June in Edmonton.

"I really enjoyed it," said Mike. "It was something different. I'm glad I didn't read the entire script…there were some twists and turns I didn't expect." -


"Nominees announced Music Awards"

New Artist of the Year:

- 20four7

- Aerostylez

- Andrew George

- Anthony Abbruscato

- Ashley Sienna

- Christian Distefano

- Gravely James

- Mauve

- Robert Alfieri

- Valerie Borghesi - Niagara Music Awards


"Young Falls artist earns three Young Artist Award nods"

oung Niagara Falls actor Christian Distefano isn’t out of grade school yet, but he’s already making his mark in Movieland.

The nine-year-old performer has picked up three nominations for the 2014 Young Artist Awards, to be handed out May 4 in Los Angeles. Distefano, already a three-year vet of the 'biz,' is up for Best Performance in a TV, Miniseries, Special or Pilot for Finding Christmas; Best Performance in a TV Series (Young Actor 10 and under) for Murdoch Mysteries; and Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role (Young Actor) for Peg & Cat.

"When my dad told me, I was like…really? Awesome," said Distefano upon hearing the news. "It made me feel special to be recognized for my efforts. I enjoy what I do and I'm glad that others have enjoyed it too."

Since getting noticed walking the runway at a fashion show, Distefano has starred in commercials, TV series and films. Among his biggest projects is the upcoming horror film Clown, produced by Eli Roth.

His nominated role in the Hallmark Channel’s Finding Christmas, which aired in December, had him as the son of a single mom (Tricia Helfer) who has soured on dating.

“It was a pleasure working with Christian on Finding Christmas,” says co-star JT Hodges. “Kid has got a bright future.”

Congrats also came from Murdoch Mysteries director Gail Harvey, who said Distefano did an “amazing job” on the show: “I am very proud that he has been recognized in Los Angeles at the YAAs.”

Now in its 35th year, the Young Artist Awards was the first organization to exclusively recognize the work of performers under 21 in film, theatre and TV.

They’re the first nominations for Distefano, whose accomplishments have surprised parents Mike and Gail.

“The recognition is great,” says Mike, “We are very grateful and happy for him, but at the same time we both know in our hearts this is only a small piece of the bigger picture. Christian is destined for really big things.”

Already with a career taking shape, the toughest part for Distefano is juggling school work. When he’s forced to miss class, his teacher prepares learning packages for him, or he’ll work with onset tutors.

When he’s back home, like he was for last weekend’s Niagara Falls Sports Expo, he likes to catch up with friends.

“I am just a kid,” he says. “To my friends I’m the same Christian I always was, and we all have a great time when we are together.”

“Christian has lots of free time to just be a kid,” adds Gail. “He has a good balance.

“We will cancel auditions or reschedule work if there is something fun Christian really doesn’t want to miss at school or elsewhere.” -


Discography

 Pray - Single 2011
 Boomerang - Single 2015 Driving with the Top Down - Single 2015 Pre-Teen Baller - Single 2017 We Are All the Same - Single 2017 Day Ones - Single 2018
 All of Humanity - Single 2018 Mistletoe - Single 2018 Got Swag - Single 2019 It Ain't Free - Single 2019
CDOT -8 song EP 2019

Photos

Bio

Christian Distefano, also known as CDot, is an artist from Niagara Falls, Canada. Christian wrote his first song at the age of 11 and has since released a handful of singles across all platforms.His August 2019, self titled, 8 song EP “CDot” is his first EP. Christian’s music has a fresh and unique hip hop RnB vibe that’s super catchy and suitable for all ages. His musical influences are NWA, Drake, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, and Ray Charles. Christian began his career in the film and tv entertainment industry at the young age of 6. With leading roles in feature film and popular television shows, Paw Patrol, Clown, Odd Squad and many more. Christian is focused on building hi brand and worldwide distribution of his music.