Channing K shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Channing, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have always enjoyed running and I hadn’t been doing a lot of that until a couple months ago. Setting different goals to get back into running shape has been bringing me a lot of joy lately. It has always been such a powerful tool for my mental health so getting back into it has been all around good. I always like to have goals outside of work that benefit me physically and mentally and I always find myself coming up with new song ideas on my runs as well.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Channing K, an artist and songwriter living in Nashville. I started performing at the early age of 7; spending my summers working at a theater in Illinois, near my hometown. At 18, I moved to St. Paul, MN where I attended music school and fell in love with songwriting. From there I started touring the Midwest with my band and had the opportunity to play many festivals and opening slots for artists like Miranda Lambert, Band Perry, Billy Currington, Randy Houser, among many others. After several years of touring, my love for songwriting pulled me to Nashville, TN. My husband (also guitar player :)) and other band members all moved together and started our band, Lake & Lyndale. We continued making music, touring and continued to grow as musicians/writers. This past year I stepped into solo artist territory and while it feels like starting over, it is also a very exciting time. The experiences that have led me here lock in so many stories that have yet to be told. I’ve been working on a lot of new music and my hope is that is connects with people; giving a sense of new but also one that makes people feel like its a long lost friend they just haven’t had the chance to see for awhile.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Truth be told, it is something I continue to work on but..I’ve always been a people pleaser. Don’t we all want people to like us? Being that type of person can serve its purpose as far as showing up for others and being “who people need you to be for them”, however, it can leave a person feeling drained and you start to realize that maybe you’re not showing up for yourself. That has been the journey for me over this past year, showing up for myself. Whether that is saying no to things that don’t align with my goals, or just being honest about needing a night to reset, I’ve been more in tune with myself and it has been a huge but very fulfilling shift.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh there have been several times that I’ve contemplated giving up and just completely choosing a different path. I know I’m not alone in this feeling; the music industry is fulfilling but can also be frustrating in the sense that there is no set path. It’s not like you complete steps 1, 2, and 3 and then you’re guaranteed “success” (whatever that means). It truly is a rollercoaster and I have had to remind myself time and time again “hey, you chose this. You know what you signed up for ha.” Isn’t that life though? You have to be able to roll with the highs and lows and I wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had so far for anything. I am thankfully married to one of the hardest working people I know so being able to lean on each other during those times of doubt has been huge.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would definitely say my dogs (Zelda and Boots), quality time with my family/friends, my husband, honest communication, mental health, my music career, and making a comeback when necessary.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I just hope that when I’m gone people have at least one story of us laughing uncontrollably together. That sounds pretty simple but most of my favorite memories include tears from laughter and those who know me know I truly find a lot of things funny. I hope that the stories are also about how I showed up for big moments and that I always kept it real. I’ve always been pretty upfront with people when it comes to talking about struggles I have dealt with. That honesty has always seemed to create a safe space for others to share as well and that is important to me and my relationships so I hope that comes to mind when I’m gone as well .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.channingk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channingkmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChanningK
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channingkmusic
- Other: Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/channingkmusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6d1osjiWS8plsTP6AactfV?si=bCwF9Tf5Qpmb9ILtYpI8Sg
Image Credits
Photographer for all of these photos: Dom Hanft
