Interview: Scott Chandler
Scott Chandler, a BMI Christian Music Writer/Artist from Nebraska, recently released his new single 'New Life Can Start Today'. Louder Than The Music chatted with Scott to find out more about his music and his plans for the future.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
My mom had a guitar in her closet that I would secretly play with and got caught doing so at the very young age of 4-5. I started really playing guitar at the age of 13. I played in bands professionally at the age of 16 and on. Later on I started a hard working group that went on for over 20 years and worked a lot in clubs and events. After that around 2017 I decided to lay that down and concentrate my energy toward using my talents to help lead people to the Lord.
Tell us about your new single 'New Life Can Start Today' and what the inspiration behind it was?
I’m inspired and in awe with God’s Grace and mercy that He has for us. You can blow it, make mistakes and that grace and mercy is there. Whether you are just coming to Christ or made a bad choice as a Christian you can “drop your past it’s done and gone away ,take His hand new life can start today!”
Do you have plans to release more new music in the near future?
Yes, I’m currently working on a piece that’s very personal about a trial that hit our family a couple of years ago.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
That nothing can separate us from God’s love. He is there for us and He can bring us great peace through any trial. We just need to reach out to him. As a believer that didn’t have Jesus in the first half of my adult life I want to let people know how freeing it is to have faith in Him and that as a Christian life is not boring and lame, it’s the opposite, it’s eye opening, life breathing, and brings you a new set of eyes!
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
It’s mainly rock. My Mom and Dad always had the radio on and music was a big part of their lives. Some of my earlier influences were Paul McCartney and Wings, Beach Boys, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and Boston. Later on 80’s Rock and new wave. Definitely Green Day and various 90’s rock artists. Some of my influences may be in the form of one particular song from an artist or genre that I’m not a fan of but the melody gets me.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
Paul McCartney because we’re both multi-instrumentalists and left handed. He has a great knack for song melodies and vocal harmonies.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
That’s a loaded question for me. If my song brings a persons thoughts and feelings towards God then that really matters to me. The hardest part of all of this is getting people to hear my music but to me if those that are hearing it feel uplifted and hope is brought their way than that’s what really matters.
What is your favorite album of all time?
“Out of the Silent Planet” by King’s X
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
“Hey Jude”
What does the next year hold for you?
More writing, finishing up the next single and also producing some other musicians.
