Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Chris Anthony

This past year, up-and-coming singer-songwriter/producer Chris Anthony decided to pursue music more seriously, and it’s a decision we’re glad he made! Since then, he’s released his debut single, “Alone”, a relatable and uplifting track about following your dreams and making things happen. Pop Culturalist recently caught up with Chris to chat about “Alone”, how he manages life as a musician and full-time student, and what’s ahead.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Chris: For me, it started at a young age. My dad used to play in bands. I’d always walk around the house and imitate what he would do. Around then is also when I discovered my passion for singing.

PC: When did you make the decision that you were going to pursue this professionally?
Chris: I made the decision in the past year. A lot of my friends were pushing me to take this to the next level, and I’ve learned how hard it is to get into the music industry. But through it all, I still feel like if you work hard enough, you shouldn’t let anything stop you from pursuing your dreams.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Chris: My friends! Someone that I look up to a lot is Christian French. I’ve known him for a while. His music inspires me a lot—you can probably hear his influence in my songs.

PC: Tell us about your new single “Alone”. What inspired that track?
Chris: I wrote “Alone” two summers ago. When people hear the song, they think it’s about being heartbroken and alone, but it’s actually the opposite. It’s a melancholy tune, but it’s more positive. It’s like, “Although I’m alone, I’m doing fine. I can push through these hard times. Even when you feel like you need someone, you are your biggest motivator. You are the one that’s going to keep pushing yourself forward. I’m by myself, but it doesn’t matter because I can still pursue my own dreams. I can keep moving on.”

PC: What was the process like deciding which would be your debut single?
Chris: It was easy. I had this song and a couple of others, but I didn’t want to release a nice, happy bop; I wanted to introduce myself with a song that had a lot of meaning and a message. I wanted people to be able to relate to it. I wanted other people, especially around my age, to know that you can just sit in your room all by yourself and write music. I hope it inspires others.

PC: As you embark on this career, what are some of your goals and aspirations for the next five to ten years?
Chris: I want to start touring and doing live performances. I also want to collaborate with as many artists as possible. While I’m alone and like to do things on my own, I think it’s great to have other minds come together and work on a project.

PC: How challenging is it for you to balance your career and still pursue a degree?
Chris: It’s definitely difficult! School is a priority for me, though. I know a lot of musicians try to prioritize their music before school, but for me, personally, I try to prioritize school first. But any free second that I have, I pick up my guitar and start writing.

PC: What is your creative process like? How has it evolved throughout the years?
Chris: When I started writing music, I would sit for hours and hours by myself in a room. I would put on some lights and start listening to music. I have this playlist that varies in genres; I have some classic rock, heavy metal, chrome pop, and classical music. When you listen to all these genres at once, it’ll inspire you—you get all these different experiences. From there, I’m able to start collecting my thoughts. That’s how I started writing. Now, I don’t sit and listen to stuff as much as I used to. I like to go to a coffee shop and put my mind at ease. I just need a pen and paper.

PC: What does the rest of the year hold for you as we look ahead to the end of 2019 into 2020?
Chris: I’m still attending school and I plan to keep doing that. I hope I’ll be able to get a bigger budget to start working on more music and collaborative projects. I also want to push my limits with my sound; I want to try to experiment with some different sounds. I was thinking about getting into the whole electro-pop movement with some more electronic sounds and influences.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Chris: People close to me would think I only like pop music like Drake, but I have stuff like Jimi Hendrix, Britney Spears, and Slipknot on there. It’s a wide range.

PC: First album you bought?
Chris: American Idiot by Green day. I think the way that they formed the album to be a rock opera is amazing. Each song tells a story, but there’s one overarching message.

PC: First concert you attended?
Chris: Green Day

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Chris: I would say Nevermind by Nirvana. The first time that I listened to it, I wasn’t paying attention to anything Kurt Cobain said, but then I realized there were a lot of darker themes in there. Nevermind taught me that you can write a catchy song with a hidden message that can appeal to everyone.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Chris: The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. It’s not too big and not too small; it’s just the right size. I live outside of Washington D.C., so it’s not too far away. I’ve been to shows there and now I’d love to perform there.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Chris: My laptop and my MIDI keyboard. I can just be sitting there and a song will come to me. It’s helpful to write it down. I need to open Logic Pro and plug in my little MIDI keyboard so that I can play out a little chord structure or whatever pops in my head. Then, I’m able to go back to it later.

To keep up with Chris, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up “Alone” on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.