Today we’d like to introduce you to Chaz Cardigan.
Hi Chaz, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, before I was born, I’m not really sure where I was — but I feel like I “was”, probably. And then I wanted to Be, so I blinked, and I was, and here I am! Somewhere in the middle, I started making music, and I got really interested in how people talk to each other. What we say, what we don’t say, the things in between; we’re funny little animals, there’s a lot to mine from being a person.
I was always in love with inventing things as a kid. Once I sort of stumbled into music, it became this ultimate puzzle of inventing for me. I picked up piano and guitar and started playing gigs when I was about 11. Hustling for shows and producing made me money all through high school, and so I moved to Nashville instead of going to college. I kept going, working every part-time job you can imagine, and then I eventually started making a real living with music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh gosh. No, this career path has been relentlessly bad for me in every way. I love making music, and I love meeting people as a result of it, but I’ve been absolutely bashed in over the years. Mentors who want to sleep with you, friends trying to steal your money, jealousy, and competition between other friends because the line is so blurry between “friend” and “co-worker”, it’s been a wild ride. I lived in my car for a while when I made my first album; after I got dropped from my first record deal, I moved to LA to be closer to my new label, and that in itself has been just a series of horror stories. I don’t want to sound like a victim, or whatever, though, I keep choosing to do this.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the most proud of my song “Not OK!”, and that it had a life at radio right as the COVID-19 pandemic started, when I couldn’t tour or go meet the radio program directors in person. That song hit a lot of people at the right moment, and I’m genuinely really humbled that I got to be the person to put it out.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Life is really short. Get outside, touch grass, jump in cold water, hurt yourself, scare yourself, and see what you find along the way; just don’t know nothing.
Contact Info:
- Website: chazcardigan.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/chazcardigan
- Facebook: facebook.com/chazcardigan
- Twitter: twitter.com/chazcardigan
- Youtube: youtube.com/c/chazcardigan
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/chazcardigan
Image Credits
Ashley Osborn
Carly Sharp
Jason Kramer
