Chaz Cardigan

Last updated

Chaz Cardigan
Born (1995-01-20) January 20, 1995 (age 29)
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States
Origin Nashville, Tennessee
Genres Alternative rock • indie pop • indie rock • art rock
Occupation(s)Singer • songwriter • musician • record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals • guitar • piano • bass • drums • synthesizer
LabelsNvak Collective • Capitol Records • Loud Robot

Chaz McKinney (born January 20, 1995), known professionally as Chaz Cardigan, is an American singer and alternative rock artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, who describes his musical style as "pop songs with messy guitars." [1] He is best known for his song "As I'll Ever Be", which was featured in the Netflix film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. His single "Not OK!" peaked at #18 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart. [2]

Contents

Early life

Chaz Cardigan was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. [3] His father was an electrical contractor, his mother was a travel agent. [4] He's described his childhood as "pretty midwestern", [5] adding that he was "awkward", "twitchy", and unpopular for being perceived as "abrasive" and "politically outspoken" despite being very young. Growing up in a rural area, he used creativity as a child to stave off boredom by making toy inventions using "duct tape and shoestring" and writing screenplays. His earliest musical memories were of his older sister playing piano and listening to late-90's pop music such as Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and Britney Spears.

"I thought that *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys was what “music” was, so I picked up piano and guitar to be like Justin Timberlake." [6]

He became obsessed with making music after first hearing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. At age 11, he bought a TASCAM four-track tape recorder and began teaching himself to produce and record, while playing in local punk rock bands. He would upload early demos to Myspace and mail cassette tapes to record labels in hopes of attracting attention and signing a record deal.

For most of his teen years, Cardigan commuted daily to Nashville to pursue his career as an artist while attending Elizabethtown High School. He was active in theater and his school's debate club. After graduating, he moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time rather than attend college. He has mentioned that he planned to study film in college. [5]

Cardigan came out as queer early in life. Regarding that, he said: “I came out around the time I was 13. Which in Kentucky is not exactly a popular move. There was a lot of tension with students and parents and teachers around it, and that was an awkwardness I had to learn to navigate really early. Thankfully I had music as a way to cope.” [7]

Career

Cardigan made a living in Nashville working "every part-time job you can think of" and honing his production skills as a member of a hip hop collective called The Diatribe. [8] In 2015 he was briefly homeless before moving in with members of a rock band called Safe Secrets and joining as a bass player for a short time. He released his first single under the moniker Spazz Cardigan in 2016 [9] before releasing his debut LP I. The album was released independently on January 20, 2017. [10] He was invited to perform at a string of unofficial South by Southwest showcases in 2017 following the album's release. Cardigan became a fixture of Nashville's blossoming local pop songwriting scene. He self-released a series of singles throughout 2018 that continually were placed on Spotify's New Music Friday editorial playlist. Within an 8-month span these songs accumulated 1 million streams. [11] A quick rise in streaming numbers and a series of sold-out hometown shows attracted the attention of several record labels. Around this time he was commissioned by Google to create a series of instrumental songs for the YouTube Audio Library. [12]

In 2019 he performed as an opener for Julia Michaels and The Band Camino, as well as playing his first festival dates that summer at SunFest and Forecastle Festival. He signed with Capitol Records at the beginning of that same year, becoming the first artist signed jointly to Capitol and Loud Robot (a subsidiary of J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot production company). [13]

On October 22, 2020, he released his major-label debut EP, Vulnerabilia. Like his previous album, Cardigan self-produced and played all the instruments on Vulnerabilia. The title was imagined during a silent retreat at a monastery. [14] The EP was preceded by the single "Not OK!", which became Cardigan's first radio single, and charted as a Top 20 Alternative song. Cardigan wrote the song in 2018, inspired by his experiences in therapy, and describes that time of his life as "a really heavy season of self-inventory." [1]

That summer he became a fixture on the short-form video app TikTok for a series of political comedy songs, one of which was reposted by Jonathan Van Ness. [15] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chaz released a series of singles leading up to his second EP for Capitol, Holograma. The project was promoted by a series of animated music videos created using photogrammetry. [16]

Cardigan also writes and releases a weekly web-series called Wild World, condensing history, science, and philosophy ideas into 60-second episodes. [17]

In 2021, Variety reported that Cardigan was an inaugural signee of an indie socially driven talent incubator and record label Nvak Collective. Nvak's mission is to create safe ecosystems for women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ musicians and artists with an emphasis on underrepresented regions like the Middle East, West Asia, and North and East Africa. [18] He released "we Look So Good" through Nvak Collective on September 17, 2021.

Influences

Cardigan's music draws from a wide range of influences including Imogen Heap, David Bowie, The Beatles, Sufjan Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Kanye West, Third Eye Blind, Nirvana, Talking Heads, Gorillaz, Björk, The 1975, Kevin Gates, Sun Ra, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. [19] [6] [3] [20]

Cardigan's dream collaborations include Jon Bellion, Norah Jones, and Lil Yachty. [1]

Name

Chaz has stated that the name Spazz Cardigan was a reaction to being called "spaz" in childhood.

"It was a nickname that stuck around the family, and particularly around school. A lot of people knew me as Spazz before they knew my actual name… I’d been sorting names for months, and it just popped into my head. I asked my roommate at the time, ‘Have you heard of Spazz Cardigan?’ He says, ‘no, who’s that? What’s he done?’ And I knew — that’s the one! It sounds like a name." [19]

After becoming aware that the name was considered derogatory in much of the world, he resorted instead to using his birth name. [21]

Reception

In 2020 Billboard wrote that Cardigan was "known for his soulful, strong singing voice and genre-bending brand of music – a mix of folk, R&B, and modern pop", calling him a "certified 21st century pop artist, unafraid to mix sounds as he sees fit." Alternative Addiction praised "vocal diversity" and his "ability to write a catchy song". [22] The Nashville Scene noted that "he writes songs grounded in compassion and honesty, often grappling frankly with mental health". [20] MTV has said "It’s hard to place Chaz Cardigan into any one box, and that’s almost certainly the way he prefers it." [23]

He's been publicly vocal about climate change, mental health, gun control, and LGBT equality. The Advocate called him "an alt-rocker for a new, angsty generation, making space for himself in a genre in which LGBTQ musicians aren’t often seen." [24]

Discography

EPs

Studio albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OK Go</span> American rock band

OK Go is an American rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, now based in Los Angeles, California. The band is composed of Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka, and Andy Ross, who joined them in 2005, replacing original guitarist Andy Duncan. The band is known for its quirky and complex music videos which are often elaborately choreographed to be filmed in a single long take.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Kirkpatrick</span> American musician

Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, music producer, podcaster, and actor. He founded the pop group NSYNC, in which he sang countertenor. The band has sold over 70 million records, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Kirkpatrick was the lead singer in various songs including "Thinking of You ", "Together Again", "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", "I Thought She Knew", "Just Got Paid", and many songs from their Christmas album, Home for Christmas. He has also regularly worked as a voice actor, most notably as the character Chip Skylark on the Nickelodeon series The Fairly OddParents, and participant in numerous reality TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, The Masked Singer, and Gone Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tebey</span> Musical artist

Tebey Solomon Ottoh, known mononymously as Tebey, is a Canadian-American country music singer and multi-genre songwriter. His debut single, "We Shook Hands ", hit No. 47 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and remains his only American chart hit. He has composed several singles for other artists, in addition to releasing music of his own. Tebey has landed seven songs in the top ten of the Canada Country airplay chart, including the number one hit "Who's Gonna Love You" in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeland (band)</span> American Christian rock band

Leeland is a Christian rock band from Baytown, Texas. The band was formed in 2004, although lead singer Leeland Mooring had been writing songs beforehand. Leeland consists of Leeland Mooring, and Casey Moore. The band's original line-up included Jeremiah Wood (guitar), who left the band in late 2006 and was replaced by guitarist Matt Campbell in early 2007, Jack Mooring (piano), Mike Smith (drums) and Jake Holtz (bass).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop (NSYNC song)</span> 2001 single by NSYNC

"Pop" is a song by American boy band *NSYNC. It was released to U.S. radio on May 14, 2001, as the first single from their fourth studio album, Celebrity. The song was written by Wade Robson and Justin Timberlake and produced by BT. It won four MTV Video Music Awards, for Best Group Video, Best Pop Video, Best Dance Video, and Viewers Choice, as well as a Teen Choice Award for Choice Single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Lucca</span> Musical artist

Anthony James Lucca is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is perhaps best known for starting his career on The Mickey Mouse Club. After the Mickey Mouse Club, Lucca went to Los Angeles for a brief career as an actor, then became a full-time musician. He has toured with several acts, including Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, *NSYNC, Marc Anthony, Sara Bareilles, Matt Duke, Tyrone Wells, and the late Chris Whitley. He finished in third place on the second season (2012) of the American reality television singing competition talent show, The Voice, broadcast on NBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This I Promise You</span> 2000 single by NSYNC

"This I Promise You" is a ballad by American boy band NSYNC. It was released in September 2000 as the third and final single in the United States and the fourth and final single in Europe from their third studio album, No Strings Attached, in 2000. The song is included on all three of the band's compilation albums: Greatest Hits (2005), The Collection (2010), and The Essential *NSYNC (2014). The single reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Photo Finish Records is an American independent record label founded by Matt Galle in 2006. Based in New York City, the label specializes in alternative rock, pop, and electronic artists. It was first distributed through Atlantic Records, then Universal Music Group. Virgin Music Label & Artist Services is its current distributor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSYNC</span> American boy band

NSYNC is an American vocal group and boy band formed by Chris Kirkpatrick in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. The group consists of Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez. Their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European countries in 1997, and later debuted in the U.S. market with the single "I Want You Back".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AJR</span> American indie pop band

AJR is an American indie pop band founded by brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, collectively a trio of vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and songwriters. The brothers grew up in New York City, primarily focused on busking there and singing covers until their breakthrough as a boy band. The trio has been writing and performing music together since 2005. As of 2024, they have produced and released five studio albums under the independent label AJR Productions to various record labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam (singer)</span> American country music singer and songwriter

Cam is an American country music singer and songwriter. She began her career as a songwriter, composing material for several artists including Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus. In 2010, she released her debut studio album Heartforward on an independent record label. Signing with Sony Music Entertainment, she released her debut major label EP in March 2015, Welcome to Cam Country, followed by the studio album Untamed later that same year. Her third album was The Otherside, released on Triple Tigers in 2020. Her second single "Burning House" is her most commercially successful, peaking at the number two position on Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. Spurred by airplay on The Bobby Bones Show, the song received widespread acclaim, including a Best Country Solo Performance nomination at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and a Double Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Cam's music is defined by country pop stylings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Brown</span> American singer (born 1993)

Kane Allen Brown is an American country singer. First garnering a mass following on social media, he released his debut extended play (EP) Closer in June 2015, and followed it up with the single, "Used to Love You Sober" in October of that year. After Brown signed with RCA Nashville in early 2016, the song was included on his second EP and major label debut, Chapter 1 in March 2016. He released his eponymous debut studio album later that year in December. The album spawned the single "What Ifs", and in October 2017, Brown became the first artist to have simultaneous number ones on all five main Billboard country charts. Brown released his second album, Experiment, in November 2018, which became his first number one album on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maren Morris</span> American country singer (born 1990)

Maren Larae Morris is an American singer and songwriter. Rooted in the country genre, her music also blends elements of pop, R&B, and hip hop. Morris has won multiple accolades including a Grammy Award, an American Music Award and five Academy of Country Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badflower</span> American rock band

Badflower is an American rock band founded in Los Angeles, California. The band is composed of singer/guitarist Josh Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bass guitarist Alex Espiritu and drummer Anthony Sonetti. The band is signed to Big Machine / John Varvatos Records and was named Artist of the Week by Apple Music after the release of their EP Temper in 2016. Their debut studio album, OK, I'm Sick, was released on February 22, 2019. Their second album This Is How the World Ends was released on September 24, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallows</span> American alternative rock band

Wallows is an American alternative rock band based in Los Angeles composed of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston. The band began releasing songs independently in April 2017, starting with "Pleaser", which reached number two on the Spotify Global Viral 50 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgxn</span> American musician

Morgan Isaac Karr, better known by his stage name morgxn, is an American indie pop singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles.

<i>Vulnerabilia</i> 2020 EP by Chaz Cardigan

Vulnerabilia is the debut EP by American singer Chaz Cardigan. It was released on February 13, 2020 through Capitol Records and Loud Robot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not OK!</span> 2020 song by Chaz Cardigan

"Not OK!" is a song by American alternative artist Chaz Cardigan. The song was recorded for Cardigan's debut EP, Vulnerabilia, and served as its lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leanna Crawford</span> American singer-songwriter

Leanna Crawford is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter signed to Provident Label Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Restless Road</span> American country music band

Restless Road is an American country music band based in Nashville, Tennessee. The band is made up of Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols, and Colton Pack who originally auditioned solo for the third season of the American singing competition series The X Factor before performing as a group on the show. The band signed a record deal with Sony Music Nashville and released their debut, self-titled EP in 2020. Their debut album was released in 2023. They have also written songs for Rascal Flatts, Granger Smith, David James, and Kane Brown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Williams, Jazmin (February 13, 2020). "Interview: Get Cozy. Slip Into That Cardigan, Because Chaz Has Some News For All of Us …". The Honey POP. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. 1 2 News-Enterprise, ANDREW CRITCHELOW The (February 21, 2019). "E'town native to 'spazz' out on the music festival circuit". The News-Enterprise. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ "20 Questions with Chaz Cardigan: Writing About Anxiety & His Advice for Voters". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Ep. 27: Chaz Cardigan (Talking Lion Interview) , retrieved June 1, 2020
  6. 1 2 Scarpino, Gina (January 23, 2020). "Get To Know: Chaz Cardigan". Beyond The Stage Magazine. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. ↑ Blynn, Alex. "Chaz Cardigan Embraces the Weird with His Gummy Bear-Laden 'Not OK!' Video: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Chaz Cardigan | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Interview: Spazz Cardigan". CelebMix. January 20, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. ↑ "A&R Pick of the Week: Spazz Cardigan – Industry News". frtyfve. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  12. ↑ "YouTube". accounts.google.com. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Chaz Cardigan Interview: Signing to Two Major Labels, His 'Not OK!' Music Video & More". Billboard. January 23, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Chaz Cardigan Finds Help, and Hope, with "S.O.S" « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. April 30, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  15. ↑ Vigil, Dom (October 23, 2020). "Chaz Cardigan Shares New EP, "Holograma"". Prelude Press. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  16. ↑ 360coordinator (July 30, 2020). "Chaz Cardigan Drops Everything's Wrong Video". 360 MAGAZINE | ART + MUSIC + DESIGN + FASHION + AUTO + TRAVEL + FOOD + HEALTH. Retrieved October 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ "Chaz Cardigan - Music & Animals - Wild World (Episode 3)". YouTube . March 11, 2020.
  18. ↑ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (August 31, 2021). "Newly Launched Indie Label Nvak Collective Marries Activism With A&R, Sets Sights on the Underrepresented". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Griffin, Taralei (January 18, 2020). "Melodize The Zeitgeist". Medium. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  20. 1 2 "Chaz Cardigan Faces What's Uncomfortable Head-On". Nashville Scene. April 2, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Chaz Cardigan". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Alternative Addiction: Review of Vulnerabilia - EP by Chaz Cardigan". www.alternativeaddiction.com. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  23. ↑ MTV News Staff. "Bop Shop: Songs From Lil Nas X, Kehlani, Parquet Courts, And More". MTV News. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  24. ↑ "8 Emerging Queer Artists Who Are Giving Us Life". www.advocate.com. April 23, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.