By Peggy Ratusz
One soulful, assertive artist, this Memphis, Tennessee native has been writing songs since age six. A graduate of The University of Memphis, she performed with the school’s renowned band Sound Fuzion. Then she joined local Memphis band, Venus Mission, and made it her mission to build a fulfilling and honorable reputation on the local scene. Asheville welcomed Christina Chandler and her reputation to our local scene in 2009.
In every good way, this was the longest phone interview I have ever conducted. Chandler’s life has been longer than the years it represents. She knows what she wants to say. She has a lot figured out. I wish I could include 1000 more of her words because when she gets on a roll, it’s educational, inspirational, and mesmerizing.
We traded remedies for sinus infections; we debated generation and gender gaps from our two perspectives; Christina being a 30-something and me being a . . . well, you know. We delved into challenges relating to being female artists and the pros and cons of “branding.” We delighted in the breadth of talent coming in and out of our city these days. It was indeed a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half together!
Tell me about the North Carolina Songsmiths and how you got involved.
NC Songsmiths originated in Durham, founded by my business partner, Brian Hill and Bob Funck, the original NC Songsmith. It’s a showcase model that morphed into a weekly tour series for vetted songwriters residing in North Carolina. As a way to bring our area artists into the model I started ringing up contacts asking them questions to discover who could pull off a week-long, already curated tour. That started in June of 2018 and continues today. Venues that host our concerts include Whole Foods in Asheville, The Local in Boone, MadCo in Marshall, 185 King in Brevard, Brown Mountain Bottleworks in Morganton, Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain and Ginger’s Revenge here in Asheville. We’ve executed over 500 events and worked with over 54 original artists! (For more information, please visit their website: ncsongsmiths.org/)
The duo, Free Wheelin’ Mamas; tell us more.
The band started as an A-Capella trio and I was invited by one of the mamas, Shalene Hill, to sit in with them at a house concert. That manifested into my organically taking the place of founding member Joy, who wanted to pursue other endeavors. In time, Shalene also decided to pursue other interests. So now it’s Sarah Easterling and I singing and playing guitar, banjo, ukulele, and percussion. We do a mix of original and cover music. Freewheelinmamas.com (Youtube live on Acoustic Asheville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSkBZ0nyDGA)
What motivates you to pursue opportunities to work with others?
I am all about integration in my own life and in the community. As artists we are conditioned to focus on our own projects and we forget that sharing the load can make things easier. I started working with NC Songsmiths, for example, because I wanted to create a cocoon where people feel safe to share and ask for help. I knew I needed to ask for help from people who have been touring longer than I have. Running our own tiny businesses can feel isolating, lonely and competitive; all these things don’t contribute to quality of life. If we share the load in a smart way, we all elevate the baseline of expectations.
What do you look for in partners?
An ability to see the big picture; evidence that intention and action aligns. Here’s a line from one of my songs: “like that river wide, I’ll roll you over if you don’t do what you say and say what you’re gonna.” Obviously we don’t always accomplish what we say we’re going to do, but I think the sincere effort in putting my words into action for myself or someone else is an admirable trait and I look for it in potential partners.
What drew you to learning the instruments you play?
When I moved to Madison County, I didn’t play an instrument. I soon realized that living on the outskirts with two little ones (daughter Shaelyn and son Jack), was going to be hard, especially after being a full time singer and booking agent in Memphis. I felt I didn’t have a way to pursue music, without learning to accompany myself. I started teaching myself how to play guitar. I played in the Junior Appalachian Musician Arts Council Program here in Madison County by volunteering when my daughter started taking lessons there. The guitar teacher at that time was the former guitar player for Rising Appalachia, David Brown and when I started helping him, he showed me a few things! I like playing solo gigs, but I really love that I’ve gotten to the point on guitar now, where I can take solos.
Explain your approach to song writing and if it differs from your approach say five years ago.
Yes! Five years ago I was working exclusively with a song writing partner, Adam Jennings who lives in Tennessee. He’d send me instrumental recordings that I would then write lyrics over. That gave me the confidence to send him my song ideas and we started a true collaboration called “The states apart sessions.” A few years ago I started writing songs on my own again which brought me full circle from when I started writing songs at age six. My mom recognized my penchant and encouraged me by setting up voice lessons and lining up mentors to help me develop my compositions. These days I’m more about developing a signature sound, applying it over the genres I’m drawn to write within. I’m successfully conveying what I hear, to partner musicians on stage and in the studio.
I came away from our conversation, realizing profoundly that Chandler is a unifier. She’s a mover and a shaker with a voice, soulful like Patty Griffin or Aretha Franklin, and melodic like Dolly Parton or Linda Ronstadt. A songwriter who is inspired by universal themes, she scribes struggle and joy with potent abandon, helping make life bearable for those hungry and savvy enough to listen.
To discover when Christina Chandler will be playing next, visit her website christinachandlernc.com/bio
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