We recently connected with Chrissy Strong and have shared our conversation below.

Chrissy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved entertaining. Making people laugh, making people feel good. When I was a kid, Sundays were spent down at my grandparents house. ALL the family, aunts, uncles, first cousins, second cousins, in-laws; we all had Sunday dinner together. Typically, after eating, I’d whisper to my grandmother “it’s time for the show”. Which meant, she gathered everyone together in my grandfathers parlor and they all would sit around to watch me sing and dance. Sure, they humored me, but it didn’t matter. I loved every second.
Life goes on. You grow up. Bills are due. Dinner needs made. Laundry needs folded. I still had that creative side in me, I just had more pressing obligations. I would sit in my dining room and create music when I could, but it was few and far between. It wasn’t until 2019, 2 weeks before Christmas and 2 weeks after purchasing my first home, that I was fired from my job. A close friend of mine came over to help me stay calm and suggested I take time off from working the 9-5er and get creative with music. I ended up cutting a single that year, Send Angels. Was a slow start, trying to jump into a music scene during a pandemic, but I met some super cool people and was lucky enough to slip into the fold with them. I’ve been trying ever since. Around 2021 another close friend said “there is a big film coming to Ohio, you should submit for background, that the director is know to upgrade talent,” At this time, I had done nothing in the film/commercial world so I had know idea what she was talking about… but I submitted anyway. Who cares. I’ll find out eventually. And I did. I was on the set of White Noise which filmed in peninsula, Ohio at the time. Knowing nothing of the film, no clue on the director, actors; I quickly found out. I was on that set over a month and eventually, the director upgraded me to cast. I had know clue what being “upgraded” meant but I rolled with it. I actually signed a contract with Netflix and got to say a few things in the film. Now, was my part deleted? Of course. But I don’t care. I made so many connections, got to live on a Hollywood set for weeks, and got to interact with Adam Driver. Who cares if my scene was cut? Whatever!
Righr now, sitting on my dining room table, I have a W2 from Netflix. Pretty proud of that ole W2!

I gotta do my taxes, man!

Chrissy , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I already established that from a young age I loved to entertain but I also loved to get high just as much, if not more.

I had a moment in life where I was FORKED, where one of two possibilities had to be taken. I took the road that was toxic and riddled with trauma. At the time, I thought it was the easier, softer way but around every corner, I was haunted by death. Elicit drugs and excessive drinking had taken its toll on me and what once stood a happy, funny, lively human being was now a shell, an outcast, a junkie. I didn’t want to live and I didn’t want to die- stuck in misery. Drug dealers, pimps, beatings, overdoses, guns, dumpsters, DEA, jails, institutions, motels, terror, bewilderment, despair; but I survived.
I am most proud of that.

With the help and support of my family I was able to get and stay sober. While learning how to live life bare and unqualified, I turned to writing. I needed a way to process all the leftovers, I was full- to the brim. My father bought me my first digital piano and my first MacBook, for recording. I had a lot of free time in the first year of sobriety so I wrote, made melodies, and learned how to produce and record music.

I am a recovered drug addict and an alcoholic turned singer/songwriter and actor. From years lived and years survived, I can offer clients insight, encouragement, and hope. Doesn’t seem like much but in 2019 the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime released the World Drug Report stating 35 million people worldwide suffer from drug use disorders. Hope doesn’t seem so small after all.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As a singer/songwriter, connecting with others has been the most rewarding experience. I’m fortune enough to have the past that I do. When first getting sober I’d hear others say “I’m a grateful recovered alcoholic” and it would bother me. I think to myself “what is this person so grateful for? How could you be grateful for this life? It SUCKS!” But now, well, now I get it.
If for not my past, I’d never be able to share my experience, strength and hope. And if I was’t able to share my experience, strength and hope, I’d never be able to connect with others on this level. I’d never be able to help in this type of way.
Playing music is one thing. Playing music while helping others, well that’s a horse of a different color.

I am a grateful recovered alcoholic.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think I’ve shared enough on drugs and alcohol, let me try explaining what rejections can do and feel like and then springing back from that. I moved to Cuyahoga Falls, OH at the beginning of 2017. I ended up submersing myself into my partner and his life, so obsessively, that I ended up cutting music and Alcoholics Anonymous from life almost altogether. I felt just as broken as I did when I first got sober. I knew I needed to change some things. I ended up back at meetings and gaining friends on the recovery aspect of my life, which was/is pretty easy to do, generally, AA folk are very open, warm and inclusive people. It’s a quick process to get involved or, for me, to get back involved.
But music, there was a some issues in the beginning.
I wasn’t familiar with Akron at all. Being nervous to venture out alone, I asked my partner if he could take me around to some local music venues. He was unable to do so. Never really supported that type of lifestyle.
Still anxious, I went anyway…. alone. I got this! *insert strong arm emoji.
I googled music venues in Akron, a few spots came up. I chose a random venue, unknowing of the vibe, pulled up my bootstraps and headed downtown. Upon arriving, there was some younger men unloading some gear. New to the area, and new to anything that involved live music, I arrived way too early. Yikes- already embarrassed. However, the guys were super cool. They gave me a wrist band and said I could hang with them, that they were “headlining”. I had new clue what that meant but it sounded important and I was grateful they were taking me under their wings.

The night went on, people were walking in. I was watching the hustle and bustle and thought “what a cute little spot”. I was still so grateful. The guys explained that there were a few people “on the bill’, another term I had no clue about, but went along with it as if I did know what it meant. Like a kid in a candy shop, I see a female take to the stage with her cute hat and acoustic guitar. She sang about sisterhood and kindness. Things that I hold near and dear to my heart. I wanted to make friends with her, give her a hug, tell her thanks. Being so shy, at the time, I was reluctant to walk up and introduce myself. I sat there for a few minutes and told myself “if you don’t do this… ugh, you’ve been through worse. And what’s the worst that can happen? Let’s GO!” So again, pulled up my bootstraps and headed her way. Courage in my palms and determination on my lips I said “hey there, my name is Chrissy. Really liked your music, love what you sing about. I’m new here and would love to chat with you and gain some insight whenever.” Nothing too crazy but I felt good… until she looked and me and replied “Hey Chrissy, sure… that’s cool.” And I can’t remember what she said she was getting ready to do but she said she’d be right back. I watched her walk about 10 steps from me, stand there, and never return. She was just standing there. Wasn’t going anything, wasn’t talking to anyone, just standing there. I looked around like I was being set up or something. It was so weird that it just couldn’t be real. Nah, she was joking, right? NOPE, not a joke. And listen, I know how insignificant this may seem. How dramatic I make it appear. So what? Who cares? She had other plans that moment. You weren’t on her radar. Seriously, I get it. But when you’re on the other end of that, new, alone, hopeless, with courage in your palms and determination on your lips, bootstraps pulled up but scared to death, and you tie all of that together, it makes reaching out, connecting to something tangible seem so utterly unbearable. I immediately felt less then, not good enough, and ended up leaving. I didn’t even stay for my homies who were headlining, who treated me with kindness and respect. I went home and vowed to not go back into the music scene again. It’s just not my scene. I’m too sensitive. Too passionate. Too loving. Just not my scene.
But I’ll say it again, I’m in love with music, however toxic it may feel at the time. No matter how many times it cheats on me, I always take it back. Conditioned to know that allowing people, places or things to rent space in my head is futile.
That was 2017. By 2019, I left the boyfriend in Cuyahoga Falls, rented in apartment in Highland Square, gained trusted musical friends in the community, and cut my first single in 2020, Send Angels. Strongs Debut album “Bones” released April 2021,

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chrissystrongmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/chrissystrongmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080647250991
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx-HSYySc8_faae0mPyXBGQ

Image Credits
Brant Novak Jason Chamberlain Amber Patrick Power Photography