We were lucky to catch up with Chrissy T recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chrissy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
On September 20, 2024, my mother’s heavenly birthday, I released my debut EP album, “Metamorphosis”. I’ve been a professional multi-creative and educator for well over a decade; I’ve performed in regional musical theater productions, became an in-demand singer for weddings & corporate gigs, dived into songwriting and performing on other artists’ projects, as well as teaching performing arts in schools and for arts organizations. However, I would often get asked when I’d put out my own music, and I never had a definite answer. Although I’ve been performing professionally for a long time, I had insecurities about my voice. Being a diverse vocalist with a background in many different genres caused me to question what my true voice sounded like, and therefore began a journey to discovering my own voice. It wasn’t until after my father passed in April 2021 that I began toying with the idea of creating an album. With the grief I was experiencing, I turned to journaling to soothe what I was going through. I’ve always been an avid journaler, so it was very cathartic for me to write down what I was dealing with in my grief journey. I felt this courageous push after my father’s death to want to go to the next level in my artistry to honor him, and what better way than to create an album. I sought out to work with a producer named Greg Owens, who is also an artist, and wanted to work with someone who I felt I would have great creative synergy with. We began working on the project in September 2022. The album consists of 6 songs that I wrote that tell the journey a person ventures on when they’re in a state of stagnation (and everything associated with that: anxiety, fear, procrastination, etc) and pushing to ascend to self-actualization. These themes can also influence relationships with people and ourselves. I didn’t set out to create this format for the album; it was a natural part of the writing process of how my life was unfolding at the time. I was experiencing changes in my career, and then was hit with the passing of my mother in June 2023. With all of this going on, I was questioning the meaning of life and my true purpose. I knew more than ever that this music needed to be birthed because I knew I couldn’t be the only one who had these experiences. “Stuck in Limbo” is a song that addresses stagnation & growth; “Shadows” speaks about how crippling it is dealing with anxiety; “Speech” is a relationship that addresses the downfalls of a partner being emotionally unavailable; ’85 til Infinity” is a love letter honoring my parents 36-year marriage & long-lasting partnerships co-written by my late father; “Shine” is a celebration of self-love and self-worth; “Home” reflects on how one finds solace within a grief journey. The debut single “Stuck In Limbo” was released on August 30, 2024 and on that same day, I held an album listening party called the “Metamorphosis Experience”. The album is dedicated to my late parents, Roosevelt and Linda Turner. Both of my parents’ were my first music teachers; My father exposing me to all different kinds of genres of music and my mother teaching me how to sing. They were extremely encouraging in my artistic endeavors and were my biggest fans. They were a huge motivation for me to birth this album out into the world. And, the feedback for the album has been incredible with people commenting on how refreshing, infectious, and relatable the music is. This “Metamorphosis” needed to take place in order for me to catapult to the next level in my career and in my artistry. I now have a fire inside me to continue to share music and perform to my most authentic self as this album taught me to find my voice in so many ways. My greatest hope is that it will inspire others to transform, shine more brightly, and utilize their purpose for greater good in the world.
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 am Christina “Chrissy T” Turner; a Columbus, OH based professional multi-creative. I am a professional vocalist, actress, and performing arts educator. I had my first solo at 5 years old, and as I grew up I sang in school and church choir. In high school, I began performing in musical theater and fell in love with acting. I knew at 15 years old that music was what I wanted to do with my life, so when I went to college at Central State University, I majored in Vocal Music Performance. I studied opera for six years, competed and traveled abroad singing classically, while simultaneously singing in a jazz band. I developed the ability to be extremely diverse as a vocalist, which served me well after I graduated from college. After college, I became a performing arts educator, and also began songwriting, performing in regional musical theater productions, and performing in corporate bands, as well as a solo act. I’ve been blessed to receive 2 prestigious (regional) Drama awards for recognition of my artistry.
As a teaching artist, I offer residencies, voice lessons, vocal workshops, songwriting workshops, creative writing workshops and performance lectures. With a background in Music and Drama, I often utilize the importance and necessity of storytelling whether to educate, create, or to perform. I have held seminars and professional developments on the power and transformation of storytelling, and why it’s vital to tell our stories. As a professional vocalist, I recently debuted my EP album named “Metamorphosis”; it’s available on all platforms! It’s an album that is motivational, inspiring, and deeply reflective to many facets of an individuals’ life. It’s music that is good and needed for your soul.
I am most proud that I am able to utilize all my artistic gifts and talents to carry out my purpose in the world and to choose to do it everyday. I had the dream at 15 years old that music was what I was going to do, and I had no idea that it would evolve into many different lanes of my artistic career with teaching, performing and creative writing. I want people to know that when they hear of Chrissy T, that I’m an artist/brand that is going to represent education (learning), entertainment, and evolution (authenticity and growth). Whatever I put out in the world is going to cause people to self-reflect and hopefully motivate to want, do, and be better whether its through finding their own voice, learning the power of their own stories, or being entertained by music or performance that is alluring and captivating.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was just because it works for everyone else doesn’t mean that it’s for you. I moved to Atlanta, GA in 2017 based on many people encouraging me to move there to enhance my career. I knew of a few people myself who moved down there and were seemingly thriving and so I thought that’s what I needed to do. I moved down there with no plan excited and hopeful relying solely on my savings account to carry me the first few months. But, once I was down there, I became a fish out of water and quickly fell into depression. I was lost and had no guidance. I received some decent opportunities and began mingling with creative crowds but I felt like a fraud. I felt like I was following a blueprint that wasn’t meant for me and the mask had to come off quick. When I hit rock bottom, my father offered for me to come back home, and so I did. It was the best decision to do so because I needed to get clear on what it is that I wanted to do with my career. It took some time, but now I truly know what my assignment is!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The mission that drives my creative journey is to live a life that is fulfilled with living in my true purpose. In 2022, I decided to quit being a music teacher in the classroom and pursue my own artistic path. I know that I’m an educator but my mission is to teach beyond the classroom, and that can come in many different artistic forms, such as teaching voice, teaching how to write songs and scripts, developing your own voice, etc. My mission is to inspire others to utilize their gifts and talents, to seek out their true authentic selves through growth and transformation, and to be courageous enough to walk in their own destiny.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chrissytcreates.com
- Instagram: @chrissytcreates
- Facebook: @chrissytcreates222
- Youtube: Chrissy T
Image Credits
EnyJah Osborne – Clique Photography
Derrick A. Turner – Graphic Design