CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Q&A With CHNNLL (Performing at CHIRP Night at the Whistler on 10/3)

Chicago artist Chris Davidson, a.k.a CHNNLL, is performing at CHIRP Night at the Whistler on Tuesday, October 3rd. We caught up with Chris recently to ask him a few questions about himself and his music…

So...What’s going on? Tell us about your current releases and/or upcoming shows (such as CHIRP Night at the Whistler!).

We just completed a short mid-west run of shows and are excited to play CHIRP night at The Whistler on 10/3!

I have two EP’s worth of music that I will be releasing through the course of the next year and the first song "Kick It" is coming out on Thursday, September 28^th. Our performance at The Whistler will be special because, aside from "Kick It," we will be playing only unreleased music. Some of it won’t be out for close to a year, so this is a great opportunity for you to check it out!  

I’m also very excited about this new music because I recorded it at Steve Albini’s studio with engineer Drew Brown [Radiohead, Atoms for Peace, Beck] and creative input from The Joey Waronker on drums [Atoms For Peace, Beck, R.E.M.], Zac Rae [Death Cab For Cutie, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks] on guitar, piano, and synthesizers and Gabe Noel [Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles, Father John Misty] on bass and strings.

How do you go about turning your thoughts, ideas, and feelings into sounds?

There’s an interesting thing Johnny Cash said in an interview that was… “I have to get filled up in order to pour out.” And I think it’s such a great way to explain songwriting. You have to live life and fill up on experiences and emotions before things start coming out. I call this phase my “discovery mode” where I live my life, but also practice my instruments, check out new music and analyze some of my favorite songs for inspiration.

Throughout this process I take notes and record little bits of lyrics, melodies, drum beats, etc… and then during the writing process I Frankenstein them all together where I think they make sense.

Do you have any particular or unexpected influences? Are any other artists or bands catching your attention at the moment?

I suppose an unexpected influence might be Mac Miller. I really envy rap and hip hop artists because it’s such a different vehicle in which they deliver lyrics. The information feels so much denser and they have more opportunity to get their point across. Swimming, the album by Mac Miller, is one of my favorites because of his artistry and the band that’s backing him. They’ve been around in Radiohead, but they’re technically a new band and that’s The Smile. I really love their album.

If you couldn’t make music or be involved with music, what would you be doing right now?

I’ve always thought making movies would be fun. Whether that’s acting, script writing, or directing. I’m so doomed. I pick all the most uncertain career paths…

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in a basement?

Woof. I would tell you, but I can’t remember.

If you were someone’s life coach, what are the top 2 life lessons you’d teach them?

1.  To be successful, you need to be honest with yourself and shed any negativity that’s holding you back. Whether it’s internal or external.

2.  Go after your dream and be relentless in your pursuit. Your dream doesn’t need to be music or acting. It can be being a good parent, having financial independence, opening a business, anything, but put in effort towards that dream every day, even if all you can put in is 10%. Be consistent.

Bounus!: Make good memories with your friends and family

Are there any stories or anecdotes you want to share but haven’t been asked the right question to do so? Or do you have anything you’d like to declare to the world? Feel free to share…

Please come out to CHIRP night at The Whistler on Tuesday, October 3^rd to hear a set of unreleased songs! If you can’t make it, please stream my new song "Kick It" that comes out on September 28^th. Making and playing music is my dream. I’m trying to take it to the next level and I’m dying to find people who resonate with my music.

When I listen to a record through the years, it’s a gift, I want more of it. I’d love for you to feel the same way about what I’m doing. If my music can help you navigate a problem or connect you to a specific time in your life, there would be nothing better.