To say that Latin jazz vocalist Carolina Chacin has accomplished a lot in her life is an understatement. Originally from Venezuela, she has lived and performed on three different continents, studied with Harry Connick Jr., survived oral cancer, produced her own music and inspired countless other aspiring musicians. Now living in France, she recently released the gorgeous new single 'Everything Must Change' - a wryly elegant discourse on the constant, almost circular alternations of mortal life, and one of the most beautifully conceived songs of its kind. Independent reporter Andrew Edwards recently had the pleasure of interviewing this powerhouse talent of multiple genres to discuss her history, personal life and aspirations for the coming days.
ANDREW: When did you first get that feeling that your music career was gaining momentum?
NENI: After two wake up calls (surviving tongue cancer in 2004 and the death of a fellow tongue cancer survivor in 2012,) I focused more on what made me happy and what I was most passionate about-- which was singing. Between my good reputation and the support of many other musicians, I started to feel by 2012 that I had reached a level that was worthy of any major concert hall. I released my first Christmas album single, which I had recorded many years before, and I was fired-up to follow my passion. This led to me to move to Paris in 2014 to focus on my solo jazz career. I left behind my choir leadership with ten gospel choirs, my band, and my position as a Spanish Ministry cantor. The momentum between 2012 and this move was when I felt that my music career was real and that I was ready to share my voice with the world. The focus paid off and with the help of local musicians, I finished recording my jazz CD in Paris in 2015 using the repertoire that I had been working on in Boston for years. The response was amazing and I won the August 2015 Akademia Music award for best jazz song/singer for ‘Everything Must Change.’ I still remember last year in Boston when my drummer heard me singing it and told me that I should record it, that the way I sang it could make it my hit song! He was right!
ANDREW: Your song 'Everything Must Change' is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
NENI: I cannot describe the inner joy and pride that I feel when I think about this. I am humbled to have the gift of song and I feel honored to have been able to polish my craft all these years and be able to record this song in the studio. It is not just because it’s a song that I love, but also because the song has a message that I resonate with. My life is a testament to the fact that everything must and does change. Listeners will realize not to get attached to life’s current situations. If you are going through a tough moment, it will change; if you are going through a happy moment, it will change. We all change and we can be ready for it, accept it, and be hopeful because we are in control of how we take in the next moment.
ANDREW: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
NENI: The inspiration of this song came from my thoughts of how life changes all the time. I picked the song because my interpretation of it made me think about how I have overcome all the changes in my life. I also loved the beautiful guitar arrangement that we recorded. I drew a mandala for each song on the CD and displayed it on the engineer’s console and in front of the musicians to get inspired as we were recording. Each mandala had a message; the message for this song was ‘positive change.’ The idea was that as we focused on this energy, we could register its vibration in the recording, and everyone that listened would feel a positive change coming to his or her life.
ANDREW: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
NENI: I agree and yes! I have had many difficult experiences in life that made me fight for my passion of singing. One of my heroes said, ‘Who says I can’t?’ That question has been in my life multiple times regarding my music career-- which has included some of the most difficult times. The first difficult time was in 1991 when my parents gave me an ultimatum to stop singing. Who says I can’t sing? I decided to run away from home so that I could sing full time while finishing college. Many musicians have families that want the best for them and think that a music career is not the one they see for their children since it is a rough, unknown path. But now, in spite of their opposition, I am following my passion and have proven that I have the talent and the strength to push forward and succeed in anything I set out to do. The second time was after I migrated to the USA and had to get over a divorce in which my partner (who was a seasoned musician) constantly put down my singing. Who says I can’t be a gospel singer? This made me audition for the NEC Gospel Choir, which changed my singing life forever! My love for this genre became an addiction and I immersed myself in years of singing and studying gospel music as a soloist and section leader. I reached a level where I was selected to sing among the African American ‘Divas’—I was humbled and honored to be accepted into this community. Without the uplifting spirit of this music I wouldn’t have survived the painful and lonely moments of rebuilding my life after nine years of marriage-- as a single woman in a foreign country, working in a male-dominated software engineering world. The third and most physically and mentally challenging time, was my tongue cancer diagnosis in 2004. Who says I can’t survive? I was in a lot of pain after having part of my tongue cut out and my neck cut to remove my lymph nodes, and the singing visits from my choir members were the only thing that made me smile. All I could think about was how I wanted to sing as much as I could as soon as I got out of the hospital-- and I did! I joined every single gospel choir I could and my jazz band was officially formed. I had to sing as much as I could while I was able and healthy enough to do it-- life didn't mean anything to me if I wasn't doing what I loved every day of my remaining life. For a long time I had very little movement due to the surgery (which had taken quite a toll on my body), but I quickly went on a crazy effort to fix it. Who says I can’t become an athlete, while singing and working as a software engineer? In fact I lost a lot of weight and became a triathlete and kite surfer. There is not a moment to spare, you never know when life will change and you will find yourself in a situation where you have a prognosis of one to five years to live. In 2012, the death of an ex-coworker, and fellow tongue cancer survivor, made me realize that dreams needed to be lived now. Who says I can’t live my future dreams now? In 2014 I moved to Paris, and here I am living my dreams one more time. Was it a leap of faith? Yes! An ex-coworker had told me, ‘Fear is temporary, just jump!’ And in 2015 I quit my software engineering job to dedicate all my time to my music career.
ANDREW: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
NENI: For years I have written lists of descriptions of who I am to keep me grounded, honest, and pushing forward. Many call me a ‘superwoman,’ but I am not. I am just the everyday superhero that we all have inside that pushes through to get what we desire and dream about. I think I am courageous, persistent, faithful, and passionate. I love people, specially getting to know new people. I have a deep love, respect, and admiration for my fellow musicians that bravely go out in the world to share their talent with whomever has the patience or time to listen. This is why I am passionate about supporting them and I encourage new talent in my band and the bands that I share the stage with. I love life, I love living it to the fullest, and I love sharing that view with audiences when I sing. I love to express the fullness of life in my music and the friendly universe that we live in - I choose to see the bright side of it. When I sing, my message is not the kind that shows you what is wrong so we can fix it; but instead one that shows what is right, what we have to keep doing in order to show the bright light that we all posses inside. We need to love and accept one another in this world.
 |
|
 |
ANDREW: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
NENI: I love it! I have been fortunate to find amazing musicians to work with in Maracaibo, Boston, and Paris. Starting with my vocal mentors from my birth town, who are the best lyrical singers and from whom I learned so much; to the talented and successful virtuoso Berklee alumni musicians that played with Vida Vibrante in Boston and shared the stage with me for years. We always had camaraderie and a fun interaction—I’ll never forget the time when my piano player wanted to play a percussion frog clave during a concert and he accidentally dropped the percussion instrument inside the piano during a song. I have also enjoyed my tour musicians from the OHF Jazz coffee houses-- I got to play with musicians from North Carolina and other states and every time we performed, it was as if we had played together forever. I think I made them feel comfortable and that my respect and admiration for them made them feel at ease. I like to share my singing intention with my band first, and once we are all on the same page of what kind of energy I want to transmit, it all flows. We all give what we have inside, and naturally our individual contributions become a union of powerful musical expression. I feed from them and they feed from me. I cultivate friendships in my band and we are all connected forever.
ANDREW: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
NENI: Not really. No one in my direct family is a professional musician, but my mom used to sing to my brothers and me in the car and we sang along with her. It was a mix of old boleros and songs from her time; she is a soprano and I always loved her voice and vibrato, and wanted to sing like her. There was also always music playing in the house. We lived in San Francisco in the 70s so she had brought music from there-- mostly Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Sesame Street children’s music, the Carpenters, Jackson 5, etc. I sat by our 8-track or our turntable to sing all day long after school. Of course she also played the records from the Spanish singers that were popular at that time like Julio Iglesias, Camilo Sexto, and Rocio Durcal. My cousin, who was the oldest son of my mom’s oldest sister, was a musician and had a Mariachi band. In Venezuela there is a tradition to bring a Mariachi band to parties, so this became a strong musical influence for me. I wanted to sing like they did and often joined; it became a norm for me to sing as a guest when my cousin showed up at my family’s parties. I loved the power of the Mariachi singers’ voices and the sound of the strings and guitars, which is probably why I love having violin and cello in my band.
ANDREW: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
NENI: The most rewarding part of being an artist is when someone comes to me after a show and lets me know how I made them feel, tells me that I touched some fiber in their hearts, and that I inspired them in some way or made them feel so strongly that they cried. It means that my mission has been accomplished. The pleasure of singing is just as rewarding to me. I love the feeling when we are in the zone and the sound of my voice is in tune and harmony with the band, and everything is coming together just like I envisioned. When I feel like I am in outer space channeling all the universe’s energy straight to the audience, I call it ‘singing bliss.’ The most challenging part is during any performance when some part of a song is not where I wanted it to be and I have to refocus from the technical glitch to keep the feeling of the song - it disrupts the song’s flow. Of course things don't go perfectly all the time and improvisation is a part of jazz, so it is an opportunity to be creative - the challenge to get back in the groove is accepted and overcome.
ANDREW: Who are your role models in music?
NENI: My first role model was Karen Carpenter; the smooth soothing sound of her voice was hypnotizing and I just wanted to sound like her. However, as times changed I started studying the voice of Sheena Easton. In fact, I recorded several covers of her songs in the studio. When we moved back from London to Venezuela I was exposed more to Spanish vocalists, and my new role model became Luis Miguel, who sang in a duet with Sheena. The power of his voice, his artistry, and his mastery in all that he does is superb. I wanted to have a powerful voice and be as successful as him - singing boleros, Mariachi songs and the same old songs that my mom used to sing for me growing up. Later, Ana Torroja, who was the lead singer from the Spanish pop band, Mecano, became another role model. She represented a strong woman to me: with her command of the stage, short hair, controversial songs, and mystical stories that she told with her soprano voice. It was a turning point and I knew I wanted to be on stage all the time and be like her. When Maria Carey was on top of the charts, I started studying her voice and songs, and I was hooked. She became part of my role model list and I tried to imitate and master her style. But just before moving to Boston in 1995, I discovered Harry Connick, Jr. through a TV music clip, and he has become my current role model. His voice and vibrato are exactly how I want mine to sound, and the way he conducts his concerts is similar to Luis Miguel. His personal values and how he communicates with the audience are also something I admire very much. I was able to attend his master class at NEC, and after I told him my favorite gospel singer was Kim Burrell he confessed that it was his too and said that he never would have imagined, just by looking at me, that I was a gospel/jazz singer. I still keep the notes from this class on my phone and I will never forget the stories and lessons he shared about being persistent in music.
ANDREW: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
NENI: My CD release party last June was probably my best jazz concert because the sound system, the mastery of my Paris musicians, and the warm audience made each song a pleasure to sing. But my most memorable performance was just recently at Bar de la Plage where I played with a guitarist and a guest violin player who plays for the Paris opera. We played my versions of ‘Imagine,’ ‘L-o-v-e,’ and ‘Summertime;’ the synchronicity of our playing was so perfect, and it was all improvised (you can take a peak at the videos on my YouTube channel). I have never felt better energy, ease, groove, and fun on stage. I loved the bluesy guitar style and the virtuoso, yet melodious, sound of the violin that blended so perfectly. Also, the reaction and faces of the audience were priceless and gave me much joy, pride, and satisfaction. Another memorable performance was last year’s solo during the second show of the Mystic Gospel Concert in Boston. I was backed by a 250-person choir and a full band. It was also at a major theatre with a full house. I sang the song, ‘I’ll trust you,’ and it was powerful and I gave it my all. I even got a standing ovation and it was the only song that had an encore! I could see the audience members crying, feeling what I was singing. You can listen to this live show recording on my Sound Cloud or on my gospel CD. The local priest from the chapel where I used to be the cantor even sent me a message telling me how touched he was and how I filled the space, and everyone’s hearts, with my spirit.
ANDREW: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
NENI: I believe that as artists, we have the responsibility to share our talent for a very special and unique reason that only we know in our hearts. If we can take the time to discover this reason, we will have something special to say and to contribute to this world. We have been given a special tool that can influence the masses and cause major changes in the world. It is a powerful tool and we must use it because it is our birthright. There are many challenges in life for artists, and people will often say, ‘It’s a hard life, the musician life,’ but it is not! How hard can life be if you do what you love to do and what you are meant to do all daylong? It’s all about perspective. We must push through these challenges and look for knowledge online, in books, and through mentors. If you study your craft, keep mastering it, take care of your health, and set clear goals of what you want, there is no one that can stop you. I have learned that if you live by these three standards - strength, focus, and efficiency -you can achieve all that you need and want. Don't let others get to you and don’t get distracted with menial or negative things in life - they will pass and the true you will remain. Trust life; this is a friendly universe in my point of view. You can choose which side of the coin to see at any given point. Duality is part of the reality of life, so which part of that duality do you wish to see? The one that works in your favor or the one that doesn’t?
ANDREW: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
NENI: I am working on integrating my three businesses (singer, artist promoter, life coach) into my concerts. Since I love singing, promoting musicians, and inspiring audiences to live and follow their dreams, I am currently working on a concert format where I will have all forms of art at the same time (music, visual, dance, culinary). I will be using all the senses to promote musicians, while the audience will delight in creative, inspiring dishes from a local chef. After, I will perform and engage the audience, hopefully inspiring them with my life experiences and guiding them to live their dreams. I am also working on my next EP where I will be including my versions of ‘Imagine,’ ‘L-o-v-e,’ and some new repertoire that I have discovered in Paris this year. The new recordings will have the full band, plus violin and cello. I am delighted to record a much fuller sound with the amazing musicians that I have met in Paris so far, and with whom I have shared the stage.
ANDREW: Thank you for sharing so extensively with us. You are a fascinating person to go with your extraordinary talent, and we are certain the next year will see great things develop in your music career!
http://www.chacin.com
© 2024 Marquix Global Network
|
