We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chantel Sings a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chantel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew when I was a young girl, in elementary school that I wanted to be a writer. I believe that I saw so much around me that I felt so confused about. Growing up in poverty, seeing violence around me on a regular basis. I remember feeling scared alot and feeling very high anxiety as a young girl.

I remember being in elementary school, living in Chicago and there was an opportunity presented to me to tap into writing of some sort. I felt good about the thought of that, possibly being a story teller when I got older. I thought about the idea of being able to talk about the things that I saw around me on a regular basis. Being poor, gangs, drugs, violence, even death. It was alot for a little girl to take in.

As time went on, once I left Chicago and moved to MN, I found myself wanting the same things even after I graduated from college. I would write short stories in college for different school assignments and I loved the way I could use my imagination to create characters and stories that would entertain. I could create a world completely out of imagination and I thought that was an amazing gift!

Eventually, that passion in writing turned into writing songs. I never dreamed that I could write a song! I was amazed at my own ability to turn my thoughts into words that could carry a tune and make people want to sing along. It was the best feeling.

By the end of college, around 22 years old, I’d found my path in life, my passion. Fast forward to 20+ years later, I’m an established singer/songwriter/FUTURE author as I’m now on the verge of releasing my first children’s book!

Writing has always given me a way to express my deepest thoughts, emotions, and feelings. It’s been an interesting way to maybe even escape my reality? Or even to EXCEPT my reality.

It may have just saved my entire life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my journey towards singing on a professional level after a tough battle with Ovarian cancer and the death of my boyfriend back in
2005/2006.
As a young girl, I always had a passion for singing, dancing, acting, writing, and radio. The trauma that I suffered at that time opened me up to my musical therapy.

After college, I was given the opportunity from a friend to write a song and I fell right into it. It felt like the best way to vent my feelings, thoughts, insecurities, emotions, and joys.

Now, on a daily basis, almost 20 years later I get to Host a radio show playing some of my favorite artists that I grew up inspired by. And I also get to perform music from some of my favorite artists from back in the day!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Growing up without having the basic necessities in life as a young girl taught me how to tap into my resiliency. I didn’t understand what that meant until I became a young mother to a son at the age of 19. I had to find my way through life with very little. I never knew sometimes how we would get through. I had to find the strength to move forward with WHATEVER I had.

I found out right after prom that I would be a young mother soon. I was always a person who would write down my goals and I always had a plan for my future when I was a young teenager. However, God had different plans for me, and I had to readjust.
I worked hard and eventually graduated from Highschool, and after my son was born, I went back to college and still was able to obtain a college degree even after all of my struggling to even stay enrolled in school.

I found out then that I was strong, resilient and very determined to have a life and legacy that I felt proud of. This time, not just for me, but for my son as well.

That level of resiliency still pushes me forward today after almost 20 years in entertainment.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think that society, especially social media can a bit less critical and judgemental of creative artists.

It’s not easy to get on stage and perform in front of hundreds or thousands of people. It’s not easy to put a personal story into a song and share it with the world and become open. It’s not easy to be present on social media and not feel like there’s a microscope on everything that you do as a creative artist or as a person.

The judgemental state of mind from people on creative artists can be harsh and really overwhelming to deal with at times. I think we deserve to give each other alot more grace. Being vulnerable is not easy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chantelsings/profilecard/?igsh=MWp6cjlvOW4yY2E0dA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009592548920&mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantel-sings-2542a867?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Soundcloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/chantel-sings

Image Credits

Jermaine Cork
Tp Photo Studio
Star Image Photography