Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chip Oliphant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chip, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I grew up in a musical family and was surrounded by different musical influences as a kid. My parents both played instruments and sang Country/bluegrass-gospel songs around the house. My oldest brother was a multi-instrumentalist and taught me some things on electric guitar and I would always hear him practicing the saxophone for his high school band. – (Side note: his work ethic payed off because he is now the jazz professor at San Jose State University as well as a Grammy award winning composer, arranger and musician). So, I didn’t know it at the time, but I had a really good teacher/educator that showed me the ropes. Music was always something that just came natural to me and allowed me to have fun spending time with my family.
If there was one thing that could have sped up the learning process for me, it would’ve been to stay in orchestra throughout my high school years. I was first chair violinist throughout middle school and my freshman year of high school but I decided to pursue baseball and I left the orchestra my sophomore year.
The skills that were most essential to me for music were learning the proper technique of how to finger stringed instruments as well as training my ear to hear the slightest change in pitch. As far as learning to write songs, I always excelled in school at creative writing from a young age and I feel that had a lot to do with me being able to write songs freely and expressively as I became an adult.
If there was an obstacle that stood in the way of me learning more it would probably be myself. For some reason as a teenager, I couldn’t fathom playing baseball AND playing in the orchestra. Although, it would’ve been a heavier work load at the time, I wish I would have done both.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’m a Singer-songwriter, music producer, recording and performing artist based out of Houston, Tx. My “sound” is a blend of traditional genres, such as, Country, Blues/Rock, Bluegrass and Texas Swing. Some of my musical influences include Chris Stapleton, Billy Strings, Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. With over 15 years of experience in LIVE performance and playing music professionally, I have fit into many roles as a singer-songwriter and musician throughout my career. From playing solo, duo, trio acoustic shows and song-swaps with fellow troubadours, to being a cornerstone in two notable Texas bands, Hill Country Jane and Phineus Reb. Most recently, I launched my debut solo album “Chip Oliphant: The Big Band Project” in 2021, released multiple singles from 2022-2023 and started performing my own brand of original music LIVE in the greater Houston area and beyond.
Since the young age of 8 years old, I began learning how to play guitar and sing songs. My passion and appreciation for the instrument and for singing became apparent immediately. Growing up in a musical family allowed me to be submerged in music every day of my youth. Some of my earliest influences were hearing my mom and dad play guitar and harmonize bluegrass-gospel songs together around the house and listening to my dad play classic songs by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr. and The Eagles. Also, my two older brothers helped enhance my musical taste diversely. My middle brother would teach me how to play Robert Earl Keen songs out of guitar songbooks and turned my interest to other Texas songwriters such as Pat Green and Lyle Lovett. My oldest brother, a multi-instrumentalist, was constantly practicing saxophone and electric guitar back in those days, which influenced me in the big-band jazz and blues/rock genres. This led to discovering the music of guitarists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King and Jimmy Hendrix. Needless to say, I have had music in my blood since the day I was born and throughout my life, I have been molded, shaped and polished into an artist that blends a plethora of musical styles to create my own original niche sound.
I would describe my LIVE shows as diverse, fun and entertaining. Whether it be an intimate acoustic show or a full-band production, I pour my heart into every song and leave it all on the stage 100% of the time. Considered to be a guitar aficionado amongst fellow musicians and peers, I pride myself on consistency, versatility and virtuosity of the instrument. I’m comfortable with numerous styles of guitar techniques and improvisational skills, from blues/rock solos, country chicken pickin’, colorful jazz and everything in between. I try to put as much soul as I can into my vocal delivery of both original and cover songs to keep the performance full of energy and conviction. While my spectrum of music ranges in upbeat-dance tunes, true-life inspired love songs, creative story-telling lyrics, funky grooves and “feel-good” melodies that are easily relatable to the audience.
I have had the pleasure of playing in multiple bands throughout my music career. Two particular bands that have held a special place in my journey are Hill Country Jane and Phineus Reb. Both bands have released singles and albums in years past. HCJ released the single, “Southern Sunday” off of our album “Homegrown” in 2014 which climbed the Texas Music Chart to number 47. The other band, PRB released a couple of singles from the album, “Stages: Phineus Reb’s Awakening” one of which, “Let it Be” gained national radio recognition in 2019. PRB was also featured on the television show, “Houston Life” and we played LIVE on set at Channel 2 Studios. As well as being selected to play a concert for the Houston Astros/PGA tour collaborative event, “Houston Open” in 2019. Still to this day, I continue to work with each band and perform LIVE shows all over Texas and the U.S.A. at local bars and breweries, music venues, music festivals, fairs, rodeos, private and corporate events, etc. I have also had the honor to share the stage and meet some amazing artists such as, The Bellamy Brothers, Clay Walker, Johnny Lee, Johnny Rodriguez, Roger Creager, Kevin Fowler, Stoney Larue, Glen Templeton, Bri Bagwell, Granger Smith, Brandon Rhyder, Rich O’ Toole, Bleu Edmondson, Sundance Head, Shooter Jennings, Mike Zito, Whiskey Myers, Bad Company, Mickey and the Motorcars, The Dirty River Boys, Two Tons of Steel, Statesboro Revue, LANCO and many more! My most contemporary highlight is the CD release of my debut solo album, “Chip Oliphant: The Big Band Project” (May, 2021). This album was produced, mixed and mastered by myself and Brian Thomas at Cottagewood Studios in Spendora, Tx and it includes multiple Grammy award winning music contributors. All 12 songs presented on the album were written by me, with 2 songs being co-writes. A total of 19 incredibly talented musicians played on the record to assemble a quintessential unity of muse, hence the name, “The Big Band Project”. I also recently released two new singles (Sept. ‘22 & Feb. ‘23) and have my third single set to release on April 28, 2023. These songs will be included on my sophomore album, which should be released in Fall of 2023.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having the listeners relate to your music. I have played my original songs in tons of different live settings over the years, from first dances at weddings, to funerals or celebrations of life. As a songwriter, having your own music make an impact on someone’s life is the greatest feeling in the world and it’s truly what drives me to continue to want to create again and again. Knowing that something you created can lift someone up in times of sorrow or attach a song to a joyful memory is very rewarding. Music is the best medicine and it’s our job as artists to help make sure there is plenty to go around.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What drives me to create more music is time. Life is short and whenever I look back on my body of creative work, I want to know that I did the best I could and I did not waste my time. As a husband and a father, I find myself writing more about my family these days. Being a musician, I spend a lot of nights away from my family and though I can not replace the time away from them, I constantly reassure them that they are always on my mind. Recording your thoughts and feelings through songs is a magical way to show someone how much you appreciate and love them. Plus, whenever I’m dead and gone, they will always be able to hear my voice and remember what I sound like for as long as they live.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chipoliphant.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chipoliphant
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chip-Oliphant-Music-101809042016636/
Image Credits
Ray Jenkins Justin Ontiveros Bob Rohan