Welcome to NS Radio Episode 008, where we feature an exclusive episode highlighting the incredible artistry of Chris Chand. In this episode, we delve into Chris's unique blend of different genres and influences, exploring his creative process and how he incorporates various elements into his music to create a cohesive sound. Join us as we uncover the evolution of Chris as an artist, his latest single that represents a new phase in his career, and the playlist of songs that have inspired him along the way. We also discuss how Chris maintains creative control while collaborating with other artists, how he addresses social and political issues in his music, and his plans for the future, including pushing the boundaries of his genre. Get ready for a captivating episode as we explore the journey and artistry of Chris Chand in NS Radio Episode 008.

Your music often reflects a unique blend of different genres and influences. Can you tell us more about your creative process and how you go about incorporating different elements into your music to create a cohesive sound? 

I would say being a student and analyzing whatever you’re listening to really goes a long way. I definitely have to give a shoutout to: my Ma and Pa (grandparents), my uncle Sanjay, my younger brother Vic and my Dad when it comes to the different genres and influences I’ve come across. Growing up in a musically oriented family, you’re bound to come across different sounds ranging from: Bollywood music to Michael Jackson. I think growing up in that kind of environment helped me become more open to a lot of different sounds and I take that with me anytime I’m working on music, could be for me or for another artist.

There’s a quote by Pablo Picasso where he says “Good artists copy, great artists steal” and I couldn’t agree more. There’s no rules when it comes to music, that’s what’s so fun about it. For me, when I’m being a student and analyzing a song I’m listening to, I always ask myself, “Can I use something from this song in my own way while still paying homage to the original and if so, how would I do it?”. I think from there, once I get into a certain zone, something else takes over and I just become the vessel for a higher power to get the job done.

Your new single has been described as a departure from your previous work. Can you elaborate on the specific ways in which you've evolved as an artist, and how this new single represents a new phase in your career?

I definitely think “Loving You” is a very different world compared to some of my other releases. I love it because you can hear the development in my production compared to when I made ‘INDIGO’ at 19. Also a quick shoutout to my guy Knuds for being the engineer on the song, he absolutely killed it. 

Alright back to where I was. I think people have this version of me in their head which is cool but I like to surprise people and show them that “Ayo, there’s more to me than you think”. For the longest time, people thought I was just a singer and didn’t even know I played guitar or made beats so it’s cool to see their reactions when they find out some of my songs are a one-man operation. From the thought process, to the production, to the writing. I literally do it out of my grandparents house with a shitty little setup. Is it the best? No. Can I make some good songs with it? Hell yeah.

The single itself came from a breakup that I went through. Literally, a day after it went down I started writing to old beats of mine that were sitting around. I was really at my lowest point and I felt like giving up on music because I thought “Well, if this person doesn’t believe I can do it, then what am I doing?”. After a lot of self-reflection and acceptance to the situation, I realized I’m a musician and a creative at heart and that’ll never change and shouldn’t change no matter how sad a situation makes me. Since then, it’s been all gas, no brakes and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. The music I have on the way will introduce everyone to the multifaceted and “genre-bending" version of me and I can’t wait for you guys to experience it.

You've curated a playlist of songs that have influenced your music. Can you talk about these songs in more detail, and how they've inspired you as an artist?

Oh yeah, the ‘INSPO’ playlist! Not gonna lie, it’s really just a collection of songs I was listening to when I made my first EP ‘INDIGO’. The songs on the playlist are either songs I wish I made or the songs are expressing feelings I wish I could express myself. There’s a lot of stuff on there man. You’ll find artists like: Childish Gambino, Steve Lacy, JMSN and even D’Angelo. Again, when I listen to these songs, I like to analyze and dissect certain sounds I can use for myself. It’s almost like I’m translating it in my own way for other people to listen to and understand. I guess that’s what music is, isn’t it? Just a bunch of people getting inspiration from somewhere and then up cycling it into something new and exciting?

As an artist, how do you balance the need to maintain creative control over your music while also collaborating with producers, songwriters, and other artists to bring your vision to life?

Personally, when I’m working on a song with someone, it feels like it's no longer mine. It really becomes a shared experience. I find that letting go can make the creation process a bit easier because now, you’re not tied to just one person's idea. Everyone has something to offer and you never know how it could change the song. If an idea works, it works and if it doesn’t, that doesn’t mean the idea is trash. It just means it wasn’t meant for that song and it can be used appropriately somewhere else in the future. Of course, at the end of the day, if it’s my song, I’ll make the final decisions but for the most part, I love hearing feedback and making people feel included in the process because it really does help. Collaborating with other creatives is exciting and it’s something I want to do more often. The talent in Toronto alone is too crazy to ignore.

Your music often tackles complex social and political issues. Can you talk about how you approach these topics in your music, and what you hope to achieve by addressing them?

I don’t know if I go out of my way to bring up social and political issues in my music but, I do like to talk about it whenever I get a chance to do an interview. For me, growing up as an Indian man in Canada, I never really saw celebrities that looked like me. The only exception would’ve been AR Rahman and even then, not everyone knew of him (if you know, you know). Yeah, there would be brown characters on TV but they would always be the stereotypical version of us like Apoo from the Simpsons or Raj from Big Bang Theory.

I think from a young age, I always wanted to change that narrative and show people that we can do this music thing too, if not better. By addressing this topic, I want the younger generation to feel like they can do whatever it is they wanna do and NOBODY can put limitations on them, especially for their skin colour or where they’re from. Fuck that.

As an up-and-coming artist in the industry, what do you see as your biggest strengths and weaknesses? How do you plan to leverage your strengths and overcome your weaknesses to achieve long-term success?

I think my biggest strength at the moment would be being able to bounce back and forth between different roles. I like being able to write and produce music but I also like to switch it up every now and then and take pictures, graphic design and even do some voice acting and modeling here and there. In regards to my weaknesses, I think the only thing that really gets in the way is me. I think we’re all our own worst critics and I used to be super critical of the things I created and would even be quick to shit on it rather than appreciate it for what it is. This is all a part of the process though, I’m learning. Now, the mindset is completely different. Even if I think the idea is weird, I’ll lean into it. You never know what someone will like or dislike so just get the idea out and leave it for others to decide. I think having that thought process is why I’m able to be working on a lot of new material that sounds different from my other releases and I’m grateful for it. It's freeing. You guys will hear the difference soon.

Looking ahead, how do you see your music evolving in the future? Are there any particular themes or sounds that you hope to explore in your upcoming projects, and how do you plan to continue pushing the boundaries of your genre?

Not gonna lie, I hope to write about other topics rather than just love and heartbreak. It would be nice to write about brighter days and all that happy stuff people sing about, you know? It’s true when they say you create your best work when you’re going through those tough times but I think I’m good on the heartbreak for now. It's like Marvin Gaye said, "I just want to be an artist. I hate those human, normal feelings". Not that writing about love and heartbreak isn’t fun but, let's be honest, who likes getting their heart broken and feeling bad you know? 

In regards to pushing the boundaries of my genre? To be honest, I don’t even know what genre I would put myself in. I always told myself it was Alternative R&B because that was the closest thing I could pin it to but I just make what I like man. Could be R&B one day, Alternative  Rock the next day, Funk, Blues, the list goes on. I really just wanna be known as someone that leaves you with the “Oh shit, he can do that too?" feeling.