We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chase Chandler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chase, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I think being misunderstood as an artist or musician is part of the job because, whether we realize it or not, we are, in fact, educating people about a certain lifestyle of self-expression. For me, the greatest misunderstanding is the time investment and discipline it takes to be a professional creative. Everyone is creative, but making a living from your creativity is an entirely different challenge—one that comes with specific standards and expectations within the industry.
Performing for friends at a house party is vastly different from performing for a large audience on a cruise ship, where each person has paid tens of thousands of dollars to be there. The pressure is on! But the expectation is to not let that pressure affect your performance.
The last few contracts I’ve done on the ship have left me with many stories. After performing my original show—featuring music created entirely by yours truly—people often come up to me afterwards and say, ‘Wow, when did you start writing your own music?’ They’re usually taken aback when I reply, ‘As far back as I can remember!’ and begin sharing about my seven years in college, my various degrees, and my experiences in music composition.
It’s in those moments that they start to realize just how many years it took to put together an original show of 10+ selected and curated songs (out of hundreds I’ve written). There’s no judgment on my part; if anything, it’s an opportunity to educate people about what it means to live life as a creative.
Chase, 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?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years as a musician, composer, and performer, it’s that the creative path is anything but linear. My journey has taken me from jazz clubs to opera stages, from university classrooms to cruise ship theaters, and from composing contemporary classical works to writing humor-infused songs about modern life’s absurdities. I’ve spent years immersed in the world of improvisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the psychology of creativity, always looking for new ways to push artistic expression further.
Music has always been at the core of what I do, but it’s never been just about the notes—it’s about connection. Whether I’m performing my original show for an international audience at sea or composing a cinematic piece that finds its way into a film, my goal is the same: to create something that resonates. That’s what drew me to songwriting, where I could weave humor and commentary into melodies, and to mindfulness meditation, where I could explore the deeper relationship between awareness and creative flow.
Over the years, I’ve also built Musical Growth Publishing, a space where I can share my music, research, and digital artwork. Through this, I’ve self-published books, released albums, and designed unique merchandise—all tied to the idea that creativity isn’t just an output, but a way of thinking, growing, and navigating life. I’ve had the privilege of teaching at the university level and working with private students, helping others develop their creative voices. And soon, I’ll be expanding on that—building a program that fosters imagination, resilience, and artistic expression in a way that goes beyond traditional education.
At the end of the day, what sets my work apart isn’t just the music I create or the performances I give—it’s the perspective I bring. I’ve spent my life balancing structured composition with the freedom of improvisation, discipline with play, and tradition with innovation. And through all of it, I’ve learned that creativity isn’t a gift reserved for a select few; it’s a skill that can be nurtured, challenged, and expanded. That’s the message behind everything I do, and it’s what I hope to continue sharing in new and unexpected ways.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
One of the biggest misconceptions about living a creative life is the assumption that it’s all inspiration and spontaneity—that artists simply wake up overflowing with ideas, effortlessly bringing them to life. The reality is far less romantic. Creativity, when it becomes your profession, is as much about discipline as it is about expression. It’s about putting in the hours when inspiration is nowhere to be found, refining ideas that refuse to take shape, and navigating the ever-present uncertainty of whether your work will resonate with anyone at all.
Also, I think many people struggle to understand that creativity isn’t just an outlet—it’s a skill that requires constant upkeep, just like any other profession. And for those of us who make a living from it, there’s an added pressure: balancing artistic integrity with sustainability. Whether it’s composing, performing, designing, or teaching, there’s a fine line between creative fulfilment and the reality of making it all work as a career.
That’s one of the reasons I’m passionate about not just creating, but also helping others develop their own creative resilience. In the near future, I’ll be expanding into mentorship, offering insights into how creativity can be nurtured and sustained over time. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that creativity isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s something anyone can cultivate with the right mindset, tools, and support.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
If society truly values creativity, it needs to do more than just admire the final product—it needs to support the process. The myth of the “starving artist” shouldn’t be a rite of passage. Creativity isn’t just entertainment; it’s a force that shapes culture, challenges perspectives and drives innovation. But too often, artists are expected to create despite systemic obstacles rather than because of meaningful support.
One of the biggest shifts society could make is recognizing that artistic careers require the same investment, infrastructure, and respect as any other profession. That means funding arts education, paying creatives fairly for their work, and fostering environments where experimentation and artistic risk-taking aren’t just tolerated but encouraged. It also means understanding that creative success isn’t always measured in commercial terms—some of the most impactful art exists outside of mainstream markets, challenging norms and giving voice to ideas that might otherwise go unheard.
Beyond financial support, there’s a cultural shift that needs to happen as well. Too often, creativity is seen as something exclusive—reserved for “the talented” few. But creativity is a skill, not a birthright. If we want a thriving creative ecosystem, we need to teach people—especially young artists—that their ideas matter, that their work has value and that creative resilience is just as important as technical skill.
That’s part of what I hope to contribute through my own work—not just in my music, performances, and compositions, but in the way I help others tap into their own creativity. In the near future, I’ll be expanding into mentorship, offering guidance on how to develop creative discipline, balance artistic passion with sustainability, and navigate the realities of a professional creative life. Because if we want to see more artists thrive, we have to move beyond simply appreciating creativity—we have to actively cultivate it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chasechandlermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasechandlermusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasechandlercomposer/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgk53TU14er9KomFGX0p5ww
- Other: Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6L4gIUP0tqrt3r8aVAs2BA
