Chelsea J shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Chelsea , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, leaning into activities that make me feel rejuvenated and energized; still revolves around music. I recently went to the Cowboy Carter tour with my friend and we had such a fun time and it was so inspiring to see the rich history of the Country music genre celebrated on such a grand scale by a boundless artist like Beyoncé. It sparks joy for me to ingratiate myself in things that aren’t necessarily work related at this stage of my life, having fun while working is just as important as the work itself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Chelsea J, an independent singer-songwriter and actor. My music focuses on autobiographical songs with twinges of cinematic elements in my lyricism. Most of my themes highlight heartbreak, friendships, and female empowerment through the cultural lens of a Black woman. My base is Los Angeles, and I’ve lived here for half my life but my roots are from North Texas. I ended up getting the best of both world views of knowing how to step up to the plate when necessary, and when to take it easy. I recently won a World Songwriting Award for Best R&B Song for my title track; “Moon Spirit”. I was very honored to have over half of my songs off my album placed on the CBS Daytime Soap Opera “Beyond the Gates”. On the acting side of things, I recently completed two amazing shows portraying Charlotte in “Charlotte’s Web” and Medda Larkin in Disney’s “Newsies” with Inland Valley Repertory Theatre (IVRT). I have had the time of my life this year enjoying my work.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
As a child, I remember performing at a very young age at local schools and churches and even regional singing competitions. I remember people tuning into me and it made me feel good to make others feel good. I was a very short little girl, and I remember having to speak up to be heard, so I used my voice as a singer to be able to take up space and it felt powerful. I immersed myself in different styles of singing from Jazz standards to Operas with German and Italian origins. I cut one of my first records (a cover single) in Nashville, TN and I loved the process of being in a studio. By having all these ideas and melodies come to life it gave me purpose. As a child actor, I worked for different studios like TBN, Daystar Kids, and Barney and I remember liking the process of playing different characters and storytelling and I think music is so similar in that way.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a time where I was really at a point where I did not know what direction my sound or my career was going. I had just completed my first EP “Baby Girl” after releasing a stream of singles, and I got a placement on All-American on the CW. It was a huge accomplishment, but I was not certain on how to navigate my next steps. The pandemic was creeping in at that point, and I was a recent college graduate in theatre, so I pivoted. I was still writing songs, releasing singles, and collaborating with other independent musicians, but I also started a podcast called SheaButter&Popcorn for five seasons with my college friend. We discussed film, television, and culturally conscious storytelling. It started out as a hobby, but the show grew legs and was part of iHeartRadio podcasts. I was super excited as an Executive Producer and Host to do something else I loved outside of performing but inwardly, I felt lost creatively. I actually enrolled at Syracuse University to major in communications and multimedia storytelling and that was the detour that I needed. I studied so many subjects on marketing and public relations and directing. My short film I directed and wrote and served as cinematographer, as a Newhouse student called Tipsy’s Not Sober, won honorable mention at the 2021 IMDB One Reeler Awards. The very next year, I was writing and recording Moon Spirit. The album grew to radio markets nationally and internationally. I ended up being an artist in rotation for a few domestic and foreign markets and I was humbled by how well received my album was by listeners.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
It actually really is, what people may not know is that I love fashion, and movie nights with friends, and baking. I enjoy planning parties and hosting watch nights with my homemade frozen margaritas. I can be private about some aspects of my life, but I mainly prioritize authenticity. I think there is a level of professionalism that I have that can come off more formal at certain times, but as I grow I’m learning to find a balance. I’ve been an active participant in this business for nearly 25 years, and I am amplifying the humor in the chaos. My music is all auto-biographical so it’s good to find the funny moments in the hard parts of creating. The openness I have with family and friends I also carry into the studio with my producer and engineers and let them know what’s going on with me to get the levels and sounds right to match my inner monologues. When I wrote “Moon Spirit” I was grieving. I was losing really close relatives and it was hard to be vulnerable but I am so glad that I chose to see past myself. When you are speaking up about that hollowness of isolation, it can inspire or encourage other people; to speak up as well.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, there have been times where I ended up doing more than what I initially set out to do only because I like going the extra mile and it felt so surreal. It is not that I wasn’t satisfied, I just wasn’t familiar with the feeling and just expected it to be different. What I gather from those experiences is that it’s not always about the view from the mountaintop, but about the summit. It’s about the journey and not the sole destination because preparation to me is the best part; the cooking in the kitchen. My band is composed of super talented touring musicians and they have supported my journey so much; we recently played Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. The rehearsing and getting together as a group was the entire sundae; the performance is just the cherry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chelseajmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseajmusic?igsh=MXJ4eDlxanNubW1nbA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelseajofficial?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chelseajmusic?si=IKmbnp_2Ax4-MhLP
Image Credits
Newsies & Charlotte’s Web Photos courtesy of DawnEllen Photography
