Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsko Thompson.
Chelsko, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am the eldest of all the cousins in my family. I was born in Malibu, CA in a strong conservative Christian family, but also spent a few years abroad from ages 2-4. We lived in the Czech Republic right after the Soviet Union dissolved. I believe growing up in this dichotomy really made me who I am today, I was constantly torn between poverty and wealth, conservative and liberal. We are brought up in a society that indoctrinates us to “pick a herd” but mine was all over the place and completely contradictory on many levels. I believe in some ways this made me the more rebellious artist that I am today and in other ways, I was so torn between so many different ideologies of thought that I just stopped thinking for myself and became a chameleon who could fit in anywhere, it was easier that way, I wouldn’t get as hurt. I fell in love with the arts early on, they were always my escape, they were always my safe place where I could express how I genuinely felt without anyone judging me.
Fast forward 20 or so years and I found myself in a musical environment and going through a great deal of heartbreak and trauma, so I turned to music again to escape, and I did. I found freedom, I found a voice, and I found myself. The first song I made in 2014 opened up doors for me to learn and grow as a singer and a performer. In 2018 I appeared on MTV’s Ex On The Beach and then in Disney’s ENCORE in 2020. It’s been a wild, unpredictable ride but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it and can’t wait to see what God has next in store for my journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Without a doubt, the road to success is a treacherous one. Personally, I’ve struggled with finding my voice and my intentional focus. This led me to a journey of taking on too many opportunities and feelings of being overcommitted. Recently, the pandemic provided me a moment of pause and reflection; a reboot I found drives me towards contemporary Christian music. This decision was incredibly freeing for me as I saw the blending of my passions come to fruition, playing music centering Christ. In this industry, while attempting to make things work one finds a lot of roadblocks. People trying to take advantage of you, or people distracting you, are constant threats; However, I’ve found if you have a very clear mission, it is very hard for anyone to derail you. Additionally, it opens up the right doors and makes it easier to see our path forward. Summarized: the biggest problem we face is ourselves, and if we don’t give ourself a mission statement, believe me someone else will.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actor and a recording artist/ lyricist. My degree is in theatre and business, but I have been writing music since I was a child. I would say my specialty is in conveying emotion, and my goal is to use my voice to make others feel heard. I’m best known for my appearance on MTV, where I made a ruckus but definitely stuck to my guns. The accomplishment I am most proud of is my music video library. My music videos are a perfect interlacing of my love for visual art and music. It is one of the most beautiful things I have experienced, getting to see my music come to life. I am unlike all other artists because most artists “pick a lane;” they are either “fun, sexy pop” or “super conservative Christian.” I’m here to say that I can be my fun, sexy, EDM loving, pop-singing self and still be a Christian and represent Christ’s love as much as any other Christian artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Making others happy makes me happy. I love people, and I love the Lord. Growing up, one of the first phrases I would say was “make daddy happy.” As corny and cliché as it sounds, I find true fulfillment and joy in enhancing other’s lives, more than in money, success, or anything else in this world.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://chelskomusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelskomusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nelliedale/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelskoOfficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lhT4T9sONwl7zF3rmeImg
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/chelskoofficial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chelskomusic?lang=en
Image Credits:
@casper.3rodersen @victorjamesphoto
