The way that I stumbled into songwriting was very random, but I believe that in a way it has always been my calling.
Ever since I can remember, I have kept this green notebook in which I would write hundreds of quotes. They were a mix of ones I wrote myself and ones that I just came upon. I love anything inspirational and wrote down any quote that made me feel something. Along with that, I tried to write some of my own from the feelings I was experiencing. Writing in general has always been my favorite subject. So without knowing it, I feel like internally I knew I was supposed to write songs that made people feel.
Chandani: “The way that I stumbled into songwriting was very random, but I believe that in a way it has always been my calling.”
The way I actually started writing songs was when I met my manger, Dale Hurd. A photographer I shot with multiple times knew I was interested in acting and set up a meeting with Dale so that I could get some advice from a person in the business. I showed up at the meeting (which was at the studio I call home today) and started to talk with Dale. He asked me about myself and halfway through the meeting asked if I was a singer.
I said not really, but explained I had been involved in musical theatre since elementary school. He asked if I would sing him something. So I stood up – not knowing what would come out of my mouth – and sang Miley Cyrus’s The Climb. Ever since that day about a year ago, Dale has given me so many opportunities that I couldn’t be more blessed to have. He began by putting me in the studio almost every day with my first producer Sam Slater to start recording covers so that I could get used to the whole experience of recording.
I remember the first time I was put behind the microphone. I had this ease and feeling as if it was where I belonged. It was the happiest that I had ever been. I knew that from that day forward that is what I wanted to do.
After recording a few covers, my producer handed me a composition book and told me to write down feelings whenever I had them and whenever I felt I should. I started by writing pages about things that were going on in my life and any random thing I saw that made me feel [something]. It wasn’t until I got out of a bad relationship that I wrote my very first song, now my first single, Addiction. I wrote that song over a few days and got to work with Tom Strahle, a great guitarist, to come up with the basic music for the track. After that I recorded it over a week until it sounded how I imagined. Since then I have written over twenty songs and am recording as much as I can.
WATCH: CHANDANI’S MUSIC VIDEO FOR HER FIRST SINGLE, ADDICTION
Now it may sound that this all came quickly to me, but it was far from that. When I first walked into the meeting with my manager I was not confident, kind of shy and didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. This past year has been full of finding myself; who I am; and building up my confidence. It was like being a teenager. Every teenager goes through a period of trying to find out who they are and in my opinion that is the most important part of your teenage years.
The biggest ah ha moment of – “okay, this is who I am and this is exactly what I am meant to be doing,” – was when I walked on to the set of my first music video. Two months prior to shooting, I met with my amazingly talented director K.C. Amos and pitched him my idea for my video “Addiction.” So when I walked on set and saw all of my ideas come to life I was so astounded and couldn’t believe it. Sometime that day, I just sat back and took it all in. All I could think is that for the rest of my life all I want to do is create; make art; make people feel something; and maybe look at the world a little differently.
Chandani poses with her team and crew during the shoot of her first music video. (Photo courtesy of Chandani)
As an artist, all I want is for people to connect to my lyrics and what I write about. If someone is going through what I have been through and hears my song they will know that they are not alone. I’m grateful to have this first video out there because I know there are a lot of people who have struggled with the same issue. If one person can relate to what I have gone through then I have done something positive as an artist. I hope my music can show people to be who you are no matter what anyone tells you. And to fight for any dream you may have.
Every single day I am inspired by new things, different people, my surroundings, music, or art of any kind. I put all of that inspiration into music. Singing has inspired me to become a better person; to always stay true to who I am; and to be the best I can be. It’s inspired me to want to make a difference, no matter how big or small.
I couldn’t be more blessed and grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way. From the bottom of my heart, I am blessed. I am blessed to be able to create art that is so personal. My only hope as an artist is that people feel something from what I create. Blessed is an understatement for what I feel being able to be an artist. I am beyond blessed with the opportunity to live this dream of mine and to be a true artist.
Music brings us together in one of the strongest ways. I hope that my music can bring more love into the world and make people feel something they didn’t know they could feel…
Chandani during the taping of her next video, Forgive You. (Photo courtesy of Chandani)
SOME QUICK QUESTIONS RIZZARR HAD FOR CHANDANI
1. What other passions do you have?
I graduated high school January of this year and live my life pursuing my dream of being an artist. Besides music, a big passion of mine is acting and being on stage. It just gives me an adrenaline rush. The stage is my second home. Another one of my passions is painting silhouettes with interesting backgrounds. Besides music, that is my biggest form of therapy.
2. What would you say have been great accomplishments so far?
My biggest accomplishment so far would be creating from scratch my first two music videos, Addiction (out now) and Forgive You (coming soon). I wrote my first single Addiction about a very toxic relationship that I was in about a year ago. The guy was constantly struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. All I ever wanted to do was help him and give him all the love in the world in order for him to get better. My second song Forgive You is about how someone can make you so crazy that you feel like you are mentally insane. After writing and recording both songs that are so personal to me I couldn’t wait to shoot the videos. Seeing the ideas in my head come to life with the help of my amazing director K.C. Amos, was unreal. Anyone can check out Addiction online now. Forgive You was also a dream to shoot, because I got to live out a childhood dream of throwing paint over an entire room and just let my creative energy flow. Look out for that one coming soon!
3. What would you say to anyone who is trying to accomplish a dream but is having a hard time doing so?
To anyone who is trying to accomplish a dream, just never stop believing in yourself and who you are. Never stop working hard to achieve what you set your mind to. If you believe in yourself anything is truly possible.
Interested in buying Chandani’s music? Make sure to click here.
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