Fade to Bliss with Chandra

Words by Matthew Spence:

Human Evolution 101: Man-Woman-Nonbinary.

From the drooling baby to the propeller hat-wearing toddler with the Willy Wonka-sized lollipop, the teens decked out in Pinterest board swag, to the adults and elderly who did the exact same shit the youth did but still turned their noses up. However, while our evolution may lead us to different exits and sandbox worlds to roam, growing in different shapes, colors, statuses, and so on, one key philosophy remains universal for all of us: “All in all is all we are.” No matter the contrast, we’re all different, but we’re all sharing the same journey to inner solace and finding our wings. We’re all on our own different beats and rhythms, but we’re still trying to dance the night away. So we don’t need to bring out the “Trading Places 2” script starring yourself and an unlucky costar.

Flip through the pocket notepad of options (well, healthy options). If it’s for sound advice. Some knock on guidance counselor doors, others look to the camp counselor (and distract them while the homies steal the secret alcohol stash), and kids talk to their imaginary friends to the point where the parents may seek their therapist to see if they’re not on some Sixth Sense shit. While you’re on your way to get high from the adrenaline of exercise, the car next to you is on the way to a wine and paint night. No matter the outlet, the hope of direction to closure within and continuing the process of figuring out your place is the name of the game. Walking an inch and a half further in the path to figuring it out. What is “it”? I have no fucking clue; I ain’t got it all either, yo. Yet no matter the differences in our Goldeneye split screens, we all universally merge into a full screen, time and time again, once we resort to the sweet sounds of audio: aka music, yo.

Now, do I need to explain the power of music? But will I explain? Kinda “hell yeah” because it can’t go understated. No matter how you participate, whether you’re a listener or a maker, a customer or a creator, or a consumer or conductor, the journey of oneself, no matter how dire or minimal, may be. It gets us one step closer every time we hit play on our fav songs’ unworldly power. To escape your reality, enhance your reality, and connect the dots of what you are, who you are, where you wanna be, where you wanna go, and who to go with. From tough times to dope times. It’s the sword in the stone for us to feel vindicated in a world that could make us feel inadequate and wrong for existing.

As the world turns, we’re constantly—and I mean CONSTANTLY, thanks to the power of the internet, social media, and streaming (and if you’re lucky, a dope-ass tapped-in circle)—getting to experience new participants all the time. Whether in shared playlists, reviewers, or writers, but we also get the luxury of seeing/listening to those who double duty: the fan and the musician who was once on the otheride of the record are now creating art that helps not only themselves but also others. Living and dreaming. A participant who got her number waiting to be called up next in the music DMV: Singer-Songwriter, Chandra. Her family knows her as Chandra Gangavarapu, but the world will know her as Chandra.

R&B, Neo-Soul, Jazz, Spirituality, and much more is what the rising artist is bringing to the picnic. Blending all she loves from her artistic world and her personal world into one art form that’s for solving herself, resolving her world, and evolving her life. She’s a Tiny Desk waiting to happen (but this is still good too).

Seeing her influences and who she may keep in her rotation, with the likes of artists like Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Childish Gambino, the Internet, Blood Orange, and French Jazz, to music of her heritage. Listening to greats and being influenced by icons. Short and sweet, she would be the number 1 contender for who would control the aux on the car ride home. Injecting all of these influences and more into her musical DNA, she’s been able to craft music with an elegant atmosphere that can travel through the largest of rowdy, amped festival crowds and get every single member’s respect to be silent, attention, and ears to listen and appreciate what they’re hearing.

(shout-out bryceadambrown who recorded this TikTok, you lucky bastard)

While on an average day in Chicago, we saw the Winslows being annoyed by Steve Urkel. On the other side of reality, Chandra was a little kid who gravitated to music at a young age. No push needed. “I remember I wanted to play violin when I was super young, since I was 4, and I wasn’t allowed to.” However, soon her parents would see that it wasn’t a one-week fad that she’d move on from. Or maybe they said, “Fuck it, let’s get her lessons; she could stop bothering about it.” Whether it’s heads or tails, that decision was one of the best things to happen to her. Training in Indian Classical music, laying the bassline for her new groove. Starting the M&M trail (you know, in case you get lost) of her musical hike. From playing the violin as a kid to playing in a band in high school (I’ll find your music “48 Under”), as time kept going, she was slowly getting ready to ditch the training wheels (in essence), and it all came full speed ahead once her path reached more life-changing opportunities.

Getting into Columbia University (Math major, she be, yo)

You know Columbia in New York? The Ivy League school? With alumni like Barack Obama and Art Garfunkel. Balancing Ivy League work and pursuing a career ain’t easy, so factor in Ivy League math while balancing trying to pursue music; it’s a miracle she’s been able to keep her sanity to finally get to her senior year. Kudos. Some would’ve folded and cracked under the pressure. (including me)

Yet, her prize wouldn’t be the degree she’ll earn (not just yet); however, in the midst of both worlds of school and passion, she ran into another “Forever story to tell” opportunity. Winning Columbia’s annual Battle of the Bands and earning a spot to open up for J.I.D. and A.G. Club at Bacchanal, D.O.P.E., right? Giving her a nice little peek of the spotlight, but that’s only the beginning for her, as in 2025, we’d see another milestone and the start of something special, as she released her official debut single as a solo artist, “The Sun,” a 3-minute song that feels like the audio experience of a flower blooming, with a bridge so magical that the grumpy old troll would crack a smile and rock to the rhythm of it. With this song, we get a glimpse of a woman trying to put the world on pause and try to figure it all out. Ease the brain with peace.

Despite what, on paper, sounds like a woman who has it all together, she’s in fact, human. No matter the GPA or trained background, Chandra is an artist who’s getting comfortable with voicing worries and questions about herself and her world, no matter how set it may seem on the outside looking in. Whether it’s through laughter or pain. Now luckily, I was able to get a peek into her world for about an hour and asked some questions. Uhhhh……… Here you go.

Describe your sound in 3 words.

One word I’d say is “honest” because it definitely comes from an honest place, and a lot of the songs on this [future] project are me searching for truths within my identity, my relationships, and truths regarding love. I think I like to make music that feels true to me. Second word, “Graceful”: I grew up singing Indian Carnatic music, and there’s so much melodic grace that comes with that; just in the way I internalized inflection and melodies, it just comes as graceful at times. I don’t know for the third one… Lush? Let’s go with “Lush.” I say lush cause I really love working with live instruments and crafting a warm, sweet sound, whether I’m performing or with production.

How important are ambience and environment for you when you create/try to create?

It’s definitely easier to create when I’m in a safe, quiet space; the classic calm ambiance helps, but over time, as I’ve been practicing my craft, honing my sound, and getting more into the practice of being a musician. It’s become less of an external surroundings type thing and more about the energy that I’m preparing within myself. It’s been mattering less where I am. (Also, being surrounded by really creative energy can help.)

What are some lessons you’ve learned over the years growing as an artist?

The biggest thing I’ve learned and grown up with is just practice and showing for yourself. When I first started playing violin, I was just so excited to touch the violin and be able to hold it. When I was practicing that or singing or whatever, I was showing up for myself every single day, whether I knew it or not, at such a young age. Even when I got busier in middle school and high school, at the end of the day, I knew I had my instruments to return to, and I think it’s easy to get caught up in the results of things, but for me, the most important thing I return to is the fact I sing because it’s like a way of life for me. The biggest lesson is practice keeps my peace, especially in recent times being in college and trying to figure out what I’m gonna do with my life.

Pt. 2

There’s so much to learn, so much music out there, so much talent, so I just always made it a habit of watching other people’s interviews, how they think about music, always keeping an open mind. Habits for life: learning and practicing.

How often do you have to remind yourself it’s ok that you don’t have it all together?

Often, very often, I’m such an overthinker; that’s a huge part of why I wrote “The Sun.” [The Sun] is all about taking a step back, chilling out for a second, and going crazy in your brain. So I do have to tell myself often, but I also just have some great friends around me. They’re all so sweet and supportive; they’ll always be the ones to tell me, “You’re doing a great job; can you chill?” <laughs>

3 albums in your “Get to Know Me” starter pack?

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Daughter of a Temple by Ganavya

The Complete Science Fiction Sessions by Ornette Coleman

What made you more anxious: waiting for your acceptance letter to Columbia or the days leading up to opening up for J.I.D.?

The thing is, when I was waiting on acceptance letters, I wasn’t thinking about it at all, I didn’t let myself; it was like, “Whatever happens, happens.” And that was that situation. The days leading up to opening for J.I.D., I always have so much fun rehearsing with the band, so when I was rehearsing, it was a lot of fun. Plus, school was really busy, so I wasn’t thinking about it, or I was having a lot of fun.

Editor here: Final Verdict. Anxious for J.I.D.

I can’t lie. Performing my own music with my own band for a big artist, so I was jittery.

Pre-Performance?

I was so excited; I was like, “OH MY GOD, it’s actually happening.” I was so excited getting backstage. It was really cold that day [though].

Mid Performance?

When I was performing, the sun came out, and I feel that was very representative when I was performing. Some people I knew were there; I just felt so happy. It was such a sweet moment performing.

Post Performance?

I felt grateful and proud I’m in such a warm community.

Is there any difference between writing songs on your phone versus writing in your notebook?

These days I’m trying to get myself into writing on my phone more cause sometimes I’m so firm on writing in my journal, but I like don’t remember to write down what I’m thinking, and I forget, and that’s worse <laughs>. When you’re writing on paper, there’s an authenticity; there’s that truth of when you’re, where you’re writing, and you can’t really change that, and it feels good. But I’ve been getting better at writing on my phone; I don’t think creatively it impacts me.

Is your handwriting as good as your songwriting?

I’m dead! I’m crazy about my handwriting.

Any ideas for your stage presence?

It’s interesting; the first thing I’d say is in classical Carnatic singing or dance, you’d always walk on the stage barefoot because the ground is sacred, like you want to respect the ground, so you always take your shoes off. So I’m def trying to do that, socks on though. <chuckles>

A little ritual to set the energy or overall vibe of the live performance is to burn a little incense at the beginning. Maybe some meditations or affirmations. I do imagine myself, sitting on the ground at one point, if not sitting on the ground, sitting on a couch. A lot of loungy aesthetics.

What can we expect from your EP you’re working on?

You can expect music <laughs>, you can expect incredible instrumentation, and very strong live sound to the EP, but I’m also thinking thematically and about the story I’m trying to tell with the EP. “The Sun” is very warm, but the others on the EP, a lot of them are very honest with my struggles, my relationships, and just struggling to understand what’s going on around, and I think that’s transparent. It’s a lot of me trying to understand how I feel about the word, things like that, and accepting struggles and making peace with struggles.

Would you say you were always honest within your music, or are you now getting more comfortable?

Def getting more comfortable, there’s also another side [of the EP]. I also like writing music that tells stories and being a little more silly with it.

Future Plans?

No future plans. I’m just chilling.

Be sure to follow Chandra on, whichever social media you use often and listen to The Sun in the sun, Sonny. Along with the rest of her upcoming music.