CHLSY
CHLSY
Interview conducted on April 5, 2022
By Dan Locke
Nashville rock group, CHLSY is breaking genre barriers with their 90’s influenced sound. With Chelsea Gilliland on vocals and guitar, Sean Swanson on bass, and Sawyer Dodds on drums – CHLSY strives to provide melodic yet head-banging music for today’s youth.
Recipient of the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Award and Recipient of the Honorable Mention in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition, CHLSY released her debut EP, “In Love In Hell” followed by a tour of the United States. During the pandemic she participated in several virtual performances including a showcase sponsored by CMT. CHLSY hosts several radio shows on 96.7fm YoCo and recently partnered with the global streaming platform, Twitch where her radio shows are now broadcasted.
Chelsea you are from Nashville. What is your upbringing?
I grew up in Boston, MA but moved to San Francisco for high school. my parents both work in the business world but have always been incredibly supportive of my decision to pursue music
How did you discover music?
I discovered music when I was five and saw a piano. Immediately I was drawn to it and began taking classical piano lessons. This eventually evolved into songwriting with my high school band, The Harder We Fall. Other than that I was quickly introduced to the grunge scene by my dad who loved artists like, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, and Blink-182z
How did you start to write music?
I began writing music with my high school band. Bassist and singer, Natalie Wright was the first to write music and sort of showed us all how to do it. Her dad, Stace Wright, also in a band called, The Recyclists, basically managed our band and encouraged us to keep writing music and performing.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first guitar was a Spanish guitar. My mother is Spanish and it was passed down in her family. My parents actually didn’t allow me to play guitar for fear that I would stop playing piano, so I had to teach myself in high school.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
My guitar of choice would be a Fender Jazz Master. However, I currently rock a Telecaster for financial reasons. I love my Tele though, no complaints here.
You are a 3-piece band. How did your band form?
I met drummer, Sawyer Dodds when we were freshman in college. I believe I ran into him at a party and asked him if he wanted to start a band. From there we’ve been playing together over the years. It wasn’t until a year ago that we got serious about the band. His mentor, Micah, began booking us gigs at his brewery, Pioneer Taphouse, in their hometown of Brownwood, Texas. The support of the incredible people in that town, Micah’s family, and Sawyers parents is really what motivated us to continue pursuing the band. Sean Swanson, on bass, was a longtime friend of Sawyers. We used to rehearse in his garage. One day I found myself without a home and Sean and his roommates Max, Kyle, and Kat allowed me to stay at their place. A few months later we all moved into a house together and sean started jamming with me and Sawyer. I find it funny cause sean and i didn’t know each other at all before we all decided to live together. it worked out really well though and he quickly became a great friend and an excellent addition to the band.
How did you get your bands name?
I took all the vowels out of my name, Chelsea and added in a “y” for some extra spice.
What is a CHLSYcowboy?
i believe you got that from my linktree and when i made that account i was not aware i would never be able to change the name so i called it that because i had a song called “cowboy” a while ago. i’ve tried to change it since but can’t figure out how.
Describe your music.
We say it’s “90’s inspired, head banging music for todays youth.” Truly it’s inspired by many bands of the 90’s and many modern bands. Including The Smashing Pumpkins, MBV, Radiohead, Nirvana
What was your first performance at like?
My first performance must have been one of my piano recitals when I was five. But I always loved to perform. I remember we had a fifth grade “American idol” and i was living for it. I’ve never had stage fright, actually i’ve always been incredibly energized from performing. ever since i was a kid. i guess i just liked attention lol
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
i’m with BMI. They’re dope.
How was it to win the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Award and to be a recipient of the Honorable Mention in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition?
bmi actually gave me the John Lennon Award. That money helped to pay for my degree from the songwriting program at Belmont University.
What makes a good songwriter?
Deep thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to tap into the flow state. Most of the songs I write don’t feel like i’m writing them. it feels more like I’m holding the pen while a greater being is using me to channel through. like i am the vessel for the song to come to life. perhaps this is why many of the songs i write end up being psychic predictions for my future.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
oof. it was called, “i’ll fly to you” and i unfortunately did record it. it may even exist on the internet still …
What is the process of writing your music?
I like to find a spot to return to where i always write. that why i develop a habit of writing in that spot and can easier access the flow state. that feeling of being in flow is better than any drug. perhaps i’m addicted to writing because of it. once i establish my writing spot, i light some palo santo, cleanse my energy and my space and open my magic notebook. i prefer to write on paper as opposed to type. i only use sharpie pens with the fine tip. idk habit i guess
Tell me about Sinner?
Sinner came from a dark place. I was writing a lot of hateful music and I wanted to write a song explaining that i’m not perfect either. it’s a song that villainizes myself.
Your album is a concept album. Do you have a vision of a movie project to be part of it in the future?
I would love for the album to become a movie. I wrote a book with the backstory of the album so the story does exist in writing already.
What is your favorite track on your album?
My favorite track changes day to day but as of now its, “i had to hate you (to let you go).” Which i guess is technically off the EP we plan to release before the album.
How is Twitch as a perform?
Twitch has been very useful for my radio shows
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I wish we got paid more from it, that’s for sure. But i’m grateful for the many opportunities it’s provided us. like playlisting and east access to getting our music heard.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
i use a lot of hashtags
Digital vs. vinyl?
welllll i prefer to listen on vinyl because it makes me feel cool and boujie. also my roommates and i have a killer record collection so it makes it easy. There’s just nothing that compares to watching a record spin and hearing your favorite song play.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
We wrote a song called “Cloud.” It may never get released but it’s definitely a song from my past. It’s one of my favorite songs i’ve written. When I first wrote it I was falling in love so I thought it was a lovesong. The interesting part was that I wasn’t able to finish it until the relationship i was in ended. Then I had hindsight and realized I hadn’t yet finished living the story I wanted to tell. What was a lovesong turned into a tragedy, unfortunately. Because i thought feeling like a cloud was a good thing. I was floating, flying. It wasn’t until i looked back that I realized I was in the dark, in the storm, i thought the high was worth facing the darkness of the storm. I was wrong.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think it killed live music for a second. But now it’s come back and it’s going to be bigger than ever.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
It definitely gave me a great amount of time for reflection and the perfection of my skills. I would consider it a plus for me. But it was also detrimental to live music and therefore much of my income and many other peoples.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
In quarantine I learned how to produce music, built a studio, and started a series of outdoor and socially distant concert fundraisers to raise money for several different causes supporting the social justice movements.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I was very healthy. I actually focused primarily on my health. I ran eight miles every day and then did yoga followed by meditation. I got very into wellness and health. I became vegan and stopped drinking and smoking and eating processed foods. It was intense for sure.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I love growing vegetables and caring for plants.
You did a live show on CMT. Are you ready to do SXSW?
Yes we did and it was very fun! I am hoping to play SXSW next year!
What happen to American Gothic?
American Gothic was the name of our band when there were four of us. Unfortunately our guitar player had to quit. We had quite the Fleetwood Mac moment for a second there. I sort of dated him and we broke up the day before leaving to go on tour for a month. We had to play all the songs we wrote about each other every night after we broke up lol. it was crazy. After that, he quit. We decided it would be best to change the name and let American Gothic die.
Recently the virus has come back with the Delta outbreak, then you Omicron, which as cause many people in the industry to worry about the future of live music.
How would you like live shows to be held and still keep you and fans safe.
vax requirements are always great but honestly people need music. it feeds the soul. it’s necessary for healing and mental health. i think playing outdoors is also a great option.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
i’m not exactly sure what that means but i assume it means paying someone to play your music? personally i don’t think i would do that.
The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.
Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense
Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour. With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas .
If the cost was down to the point you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?
hell yea. that’d be sick.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I cant even imagine a world without music. no matter what im certain i would find a way to continue making music. it is the love of my life. it is my first love and will be my last love. i currently work several jobs to continue making music.
What is your happy place?
My happy place is Maui. I grew up going there and my family all lives there. I spent a lot of time in quarantine learning to live in harmony with the earth there. to take care of the earth. I got deeply into meditation and connected with several hawaiian goddesses and entities. i vowed to them that i would do whatever necessary to find a way to give the land back to the native hawaiians. because of that I have a whole plan to start a non profit that will eventually do just that.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offering by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.
Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby. He did not want to sell his publishing rights. In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do. However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders. He could pay off his house and cover other bills. Now he does not have to work for a living. It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
If they offered me a great deal I would do it. I love my music but it’s a never ending well of music. It’s like running water, a tap that can’t be turned off. I’ll always be writing and i’ll always write more so I would be happy to sell what i’ve done already. especially if that would mean it would get to reach a wider audience and perhaps help heal more people.
