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

Chem, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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.

By carefully tuning in to the world, inspiration can be interpreted a plethora of ways from any one little thing. Initially, I got a lot of inspiration from contemporary work from all around the world, but always felt so far away from these heights through the hazy lens of social media. I get quite overwhelmed with inspiration from the outside world now. I could have sped up my own trajectory if I stopped caring what everybody thinks of my work earlier, and stopped looking to the outside world for validity. Instead, I overcame this obstacle in a way I didn’t ever anticipate, being a generally digital-based artist in contemporary times- I deleted the Instagram app. I have all the intention of returning to it eventually, but as of now the hiatus has served more freeing purposes for my process than predicted. I have also reconnected deeper with the true outside world of nature and animals since, and have been more deeply connected with my own style.

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.

The Chem XP project began as experimental music projects that found hold in international circles earlier than expected. It was an audiovisual concept from the start, but I incorporated tactical and sculptural elements as well as film and fashion. I specialize in sound design, fine arts, and fashion. I help folks bridge synesthetic gaps in unusual ways, and I like to maintain the same peculiarity in combinations of sounds in audio works. I am also a graphic designer, and always enjoy commissioned work on the side.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The contemporary world is more or less consumed by novelty when it comes to art. Escapism has created spaces where it is easy to consume the most surface-level approaches to art. It’s unfortunate that it is so difficult to establish deeper connections with venues, spaces, music, and all art when the approach is for novelty, and not authentic experience. In Austin, I find that certain spaces and vibes are only accessible during SXSW, and the rest of the year is on a very club-oriented, or corporate-booked agenda in the music scene. I think that at least in my local society, there can be a reconnection with fine arts for the people, in an accessible and inclusive way. Venues can work harder to make shows they hold less about the late-night club life and more about just the music and art itself. I think there can be more interactive galleries, and gallery spaces open to performance art and experimental music; as well as sound art and ambient music-focused gallery spaces that can be appreciated and thrive in the contemporary world. We need it. We need alternatives.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I’ve delved deeper into experimenting with field recordings, I’ve found that I’m currently at a pivotal point in my whole musical process. In my hiatus from social media, I’ve been able to establish a more consistent routine in all of my crafts. I’m in the process of obtaining more dynamic recording equipment, while also building my own own percussive instruments out of recycled scrap metal (just like any of the other sculptures from this first series). I plan to begin recording an album with this sculpture this summer. I’ve also used a more organic, classical approach to make the pieces for my next sculptural series: quite pivotal from the industrial and metallic nature of the first.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chemxp.dog
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chem.xp
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/CHEMXP
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chaz-washington-963b75b3
• Youtube: youtube.com/@chemxp613
• Other: flow.page/chem

Image Credits
https://www.dyedarkroom.com/ (John Dye) as well as Sarah Dye and ImaginaryStereo Editing/Graphic Design by Chaz “Chem XP” Washington