Welcome to AP&R, the place we spotlight rising artists who will quickly turn out to be your new favourite.
Scarborough, the easternmost district of Toronto, has lengthy been a breeding floor for distinctive expertise and world class entertainers. Prominent figures reminiscent of Fefe Dobson and the Weeknd have come out of Scarborough, and now there’s one other compelling, new act popping out of the realm: R&B artist Chxrry22. With a life-long ardour for singing, Chxrry22’s humble beginnings began on social media, the place she gained a following by performing an array of common songs in her distinct, dreamy and opulent vocal model. Eventually, she caught the eye of hometown hero the Weeknd, who promptly signed the artist to his highly-curated XO file label.
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This previous September, Chxrry22 unveiled her debut EP, The Other Side, a seven-track assortment of minimal, downtempo beats with a hazy and atmospheric high quality that serves as the right backdrop for her voice to shine. Lyrically, the challenge is an intimate expertise that touches on themes of empowerment and making peace with the previous. And now that The Other Side has been unleashed into the world, Chxrry22 has made it abundantly clear that she is simply getting began. We spoke to her concerning the new EP, exploring confidence by her music, what’s subsequent, and extra. —Alessandro DeCaro
How are you feeling after signing to XO Records?
I really feel very excited. It got here as a shock to me as a result of Abel [Tesfaye of the Weeknd] and I grew up on the identical avenue and we’re from the identical background. I really feel like lots of people manifested it for me for a very long time once I began doing music and I began taking it significantly as a profession. Lots of people got here up to me and so they have been like, ‘I guess you he is going to signal you,’ or, ‘I believe you guys are going to work collectively,’ and that all the time felt very far-fetched. So when it occurred, it was very thrilling. So far it is simply been actually good — actually, actually good.
So far, how has your expertise within the music trade met or defied your expectations?
I believe you hear quite a lot of unhealthy issues concerning the music trade earlier than you enter it. It’s like another trade. It’s simply regular individuals. It has highs and it has its lows. So far, I’ve had a reasonably good expertise. I’ve labored with quite a lot of wonderful individuals and I’ve met quite a lot of wonderful individuals. Obviously, I’ve had my moments. But total, I believe it has been very gratifying. I’ve discovered that once you truly accomplish issues, you’re feeling excellent.
You have a few singles out up to now, “Call Me” and “The Falls,” and each of the music movies for them are tremendous evocative and attention-grabbing. Do you’ve gotten any plans to do extra visuals sooner or later?
We have an EP popping out with seven songs, so there aren’t any extra singles, however we do have extra visible content material items. There’s extra content material to do with the challenge, however there will not be any extra precise music movies.
Are these like the identical video-collage type of vibe because the earlier visuals?
So with “Call Me,” it truly was a photograph shoot. Our supervisor Steph was like, ‘You ought to simply shoot a music video.’ So, we began recording. We went to a karaoke bar, she did my make-up. So, that was extra way of life. I believe shifting ahead, sure, I’ll do extra lifestyle-type movies, however I [want to] preserve issues fascinating and do [both] high-production movies and likewise life. It’s truthfully no matter I’m feeling on the time.
A variety of your releases are about being assured, but additionally being actual and unafraid to present the much less polished sides of who you might be. How do you reconcile these two issues and really feel snug placing that out?
I’m an artist, so I’m very outspoken and really open about who I’m. I’ve all the time been that approach, which is why I believe music got here so naturally to me and being an artist has been so seamless. For me, I’m very trustworthy, so it hasn’t been exhausting to categorical myself. I believe no matter I do, I all the time need it to be the trustworthy fact from me — like from all the pieces from my music to my visuals. I would like it to be very me, very trustworthy, and susceptible. I believe as you hear to the initiatives, you may discover they get increasingly susceptible.
Are you happy with the way you outlined your sound on this primary challenge?
I believe with this challenge, it has its personal sound. That was what I used to be going for. I did not need to do something too loopy. I did not need to go too massive. I needed it to really feel like me, however nonetheless push the envelope in a approach. I’m excited for my future challenge as a result of I’m extra excited to present completely different sides of myself musically.
Who are a few of your influences in music, style, and artwork typically?
I’ve to say Rihanna. Down from model to all the time being so daring and attempting completely different genres, attempting completely different kinds — she’s the queen of that. Growing up, listening to her, I used to be all the time like, ‘I’m going to attempt various things’. I even have to say Madonna as a result of that is my queen. I believe how trustworthy and detailed she is in her writing and her storytelling, that is all the time been actually inspiring to me. I’ve tried to undertake that model of writing. I’d say a more recent one is most likely Kacey Musgraves. I like her music and the way trustworthy and susceptible she is.
What can we anticipate out of your debut challenge?
A variety of toxicity, but additionally quite a lot of trustworthy conversations that I do not suppose many individuals are having proper now. There are songs about being alone and the way essential it is to be alone. We are in an age the place courting is at an all time excessive and nobody actually will get time to simply be alone and face all of the issues that they are going by. I believe it’s an excellent physique of labor with quite a lot of selection, completely different subjects, completely different sounds, and one thing you could possibly hear to on repeat. Almost anybody can discover one thing that they’ll relate to.
Are there any developments which might be protruding to you proper now which have caught out to you both in music or style?
With music, I like how persons are changing into extra experimental with manufacturing. For some time, it was very gradual — which I’m responsible of as properly, as a result of my entire challenge is fairly gradual. But I like how now we have individuals like Rosalía, who is very different and the sounds she chooses are actually cool. So, [I’m really into] the pattern of attempting to push the envelope and attempting completely different kinds. I try this fashion-wise. [In terms of fashion, I also] like that ladies are dressing extra androgynous and dishevelled.
You spoke a bit of bit earlier than about wanting to department out sooner or later. Do you’ve gotten any particular objectives in thoughts or locations that you simply suppose you need to take your sound?
My god, in every single place. I actually need to have an worldwide enchantment. I would like to make music for everyone of all races and all cultures. I’d love to begin a style line ultimately. I’d love to do extra appearing. Those are my massive objectives.
What do you hope individuals take away out of your music?
I hope that individuals really feel like they’ve a pal in me. I hope that when individuals hear my music, they really feel extra assured of their choices and proudly owning their very own choices. I believe quite a lot of occasions we do issues after which really feel very embarrassed or shameful, or like a nasty individual. That’s all part of life — making errors, making choices, and proudly owning it by being like, ‘Okay, it occurred. I could make a music about it, I could make a joke out of it, or cope with it or transfer on.’ Especially with girls, it is proudly owning who you might be and never being afraid or feeling like lower than due to your choices. I hope after they hear my music — as a result of I’m so sure and so accepting of what I’ve performed — I hope they’ll really feel as accepting of what they’ve performed and are in a position to make mild of it.
Do you’ve gotten any extra massive plans for 2023?
I would like to drop one other challenge, hopefully do extra interviews, and have the ability to put myself on the market extra. I’d actually like to let individuals get to know me higher and develop the fanbase.
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