Today we’d like to introduce you to ChaBella.
Hi ChaBella, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up going back and forth between Nashville and Chicago after my parents spent some time with me in Japan a bit after I was born. My father is a musician, and my mother is a scientist, while also being a great artist in her free time. I’ve always been surrounded by creative individuals and communities, and for that, I will always be appreciative.
I also take pride in doing theatre for what seems to be my whole life. I adore acting, and I love everything that goes into the process of creating screenplays, films, scores, musicals, and everything in between. I can also be caught singing a little tune pretty often. I have a deep love for seeing passionate people take control of their reality and do with it what they want.
So many times we are told that we won’t make it in any of the creative industries whether that be music or entertainment overall. However, one thing an artist of any craft will do is grind for their passion until the very end. Even when it’s not met with the applause of the public, we are still able to find success and growth in what we cherish doing.
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?
Quite frankly, if it was a smooth road, I’d be pretty skeptical of what’s to come. For me, there have been lots of ups and downs. I’ve had my fair share of thinking I wasn’t good enough to pursue what I wanted to, or that I wouldn’t be received in the way I would like. Even an identity crisis within many different facets of myself. I am a biracial woman, and proud of who I am, but there has been numerous times where I’ve felt lost growing up between areas that were very diverse to areas that held a strong majority.
Something I have really spent time doing my inner work on overcoming since the pandemic began, has been not feeling so beat down by imposter syndrome. I think many artists feel the same, and people generally in whatever field they pursue. Even when we accomplish great things, it still feels as though someone else did it for us, and we aren’t deserving of the credit we receive. I was in the last semester of my senior year in high school when lockdown began, and what a loop it threw me through.
The summer before my senior year started, I studied Musical Theatre in New York City, which is the dream for many theatre kids. When I came back, I couldn’t tell if I was more set on pursuing it or less. Eventually, I knew that it was the path that was aligned for me to continue pursuing musical theatre. However, once the pandemic began, all of my plans changed. Once all of the Broadway shows got canceled, it felt like I was in a spiral of wanting to do what I love, and the other part of me wanted to do something that I still cared about but in a different way.
I had also just gotten back from being the USA Youth Ambassador in Japan, so I was definitely feeling some of that “gifted kid burnout” essentially. Once you’re not in that school setting everyday getting validation from teachers and peers, you get lost for a bit, but I eventually found my way. I ended up staying home for my first two years of college… almost done with my second year! I also put my voice out there more in support of human rights, and other great causes to support, and ended up studying Political Science. Soon after, I realized I could still be involved in activism and take initiative to learn on my own, and went back to pursuing the arts. The pandemic has been a terrible time for several different reasons, but also a learning experience.
I am thankful that I am still here to continue my story. I definitely think for everyone that has made it through that we have had a lot of time to face our true selves, which can be the most difficult thing… We start to sit with ourselves more and question our abilities, and our talents, but we also take that time to create. I think that is one of the most beautiful things about creatives. Even with the worst and most stubborn obstacles, we can take them and turn them into something beautiful, and create a whole world based just on our imaginations.
While we can be our worst enemy, we are also our number one motivator.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an overall creator. I entertain through stage performances in musical theatre and plays, write music, act, and create content that helps me keep my drive and spark every day. From simply taking a selfie and posting on Instagram, to spending more time on photography, taking acting classes, traveling, trying new places and documenting it, taking time to write songs, practicing instruments, making Tiktoks that remind me that I CAN take up space in this world, and generally just honing my craft every single day that I can. Also, I LOVE to learn, so if any of you reading this see something that interests you, reach out. I love learning about people, and bet there are some great conversations to be had, and amazing advice to be given!
Also, it’s a priority for myself to always make time to do these things. When I’m focused on classes or working to make sure I have some more consistent income, I lose myself when I’m not giving as much attention to my passions. I’m also working on putting out more projects this year that I am very excited about! I’m set apart from others by my genuine want to see myself and others pursue their passions.
I also have a deep belief in myself that I am meant to be someone who can influence people and help them through my own journey. Each individual creates their own success, but I also agree that if I’m winning, we’re all winning, ya know? People get so caught up in this greedy need to put others down so that they can achieve where they want to be. However, I’m also a pretty firm believer in karma and want to be doing it right from the beginning as best as I can. My best advice is to lead with a kind foot forward. Finding true kindness in someone I’m working with will automatically have me write their name down in my brain as someone I would recommend for other projects when given the chance.
What do you think about happiness?
I always find this question interesting. There are a lot of things that make me happy, but I also feel as though I have a certain happiness that is consistently instilled in me that comes with having a greater hope for everything. I enjoy a lot of things which sometimes leaves me at a loss for words because I am so happy that I have this ambition/drive in me that keeps me pushing every day to enjoy those things.
I feel as though my happiest moments are filled with music, and if there isn’t a song playing, I’m making one up for the moment. I tend to hum quite often. Loving people, and doing things for others adds to my happiness. Seeing live performances brightens my soul to the point that my cheeks hurt from smiling while I take in the moment. I honestly feel so happy, and maybe more so satisfied, when I just truthfully and vulnerably let myself express my feelings and create something that I can look at with such love in my heart and gratification.
Being a human that can express myself through my creative outlets…which just so happen to be what I strive for in a professional setting, makes me happy. I love seeing strangers smile and love seeing people laugh. Knowing that we all have such a unique story, that even when it’s so similar to another, it’s still so different for all of us, makes me happy.
My optimism, animals, this planet we call home, and loved ones all add to my happiness. Passing strangers who are living a life I know nothing about, and having conversations with some just to scratch the surface adds to my happiness. Creating and learning ultimately fulfills me incredibly. Thank you for taking some time to learn about me, I’d love to interact with some new faces, so If you wanna see more of what I’m doing or collaborate, some socials will be linked below! Hope to see you there!
Contact Info:
- Email: chabellaconrad@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chabellaofficial/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC6cZ_bRRE-qEjeiUcJNiXHw
