Meet Chalice (@imchalice) | Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chalice (@imchalice) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chalice, what are you inspired by?
The world is full of beauty, and I find inspiration in its everyday moments. A million little things. It’s also the connections I’ve made with others through my music that drive me. When I shared my story, the world responded, and I realized that my experiences weren’t just mine to carry, but also to share.

At first, my ‘why’ was to use my gift to create a better life for my daughter who was born when I was a homeless teenager, fresh out of ‘aging out’ of a behavior modification program. Into adulthood, my ‘why’ evolved and became more complex. For years, I was unable to share my story, which has been marked by scars from a tumultuous past, including kidnapping, institutional abuse (if you’ve seen the Netflix documentary ‘The Program’ – I was one of those children), violent relationships, and chronic illness. When music became my refuge, my outlet, I was allowed to convey emotions and vulnerabilities I’d long suppressed.

The most powerful outcome of this is the community that’s formed around my songs, with people sharing their own stories of struggle and triumph- with me! These connections fuel my passion to create authentic, resonant music that fosters healing, understanding, and self-love. In moments of quiet reflection, I’m continuously inspired when I allow myself to look in the mirror with grace and acknowledge that I’m becoming the person I aspire to be. I’m becoming ‘her,’ I am ‘her.’ Healing daily. Growing infinitely. This realization fills me with pride, purpose, and wonder. It fuels my creativity and growth, and reminds me that my light can help others see their own. I’m inspired to keep shining, and to help others discover, embody, and celebrate their own unique light.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I touched on this a bit already in that first question about what inspires me. Haha! Let me try not to be redundant but relevant with this answer. My driving force is healing and connecting. There’s also the facet of my music that is really fun, and I can get a bit sassy. What sets me apart? I’m a product of my unique story. My story includes all of those elements that I mentioned and more: growing up in a home with a mix of traditional Filipino, Belgian and American roots, loving a parent with mental illness, leaving home at 15, experiencing kidnapping and institutional abuse, being a teen mom, navigating finding my worth as a “black sheep,” feeling outcast and disconnected from family and society, finding a home in abusive relationships, navigating a debilitating autoimmune disease, and then really leaning into finding myself, loving myself, and becoming a better version of me. And it’s never a straight line, so there was a lot of giving up, convincing myself that what was calling me to music and art wasn’t for me… and returning every time when the universe said, “This is for YOU.” In music, specifically, I have some stories that, for now at least, I keep to myself and my close circle, but it isn’t a surprise to anyone, I’m sure, that I had to face quite a few moments with possibly pivotal opportunities and outcomes that could have been something for me, that I had to turn away from because they weren’t right and required parts of me that I wasn’t willing to give away. (I’m using very soft language here.) What happened as a result is that the right opportunities did eventually find me. I ended up meeting my husband, and we built a brand based in authenticity, vulnerability, resilience and celebration of self that afforded us the opportunity to tour Europe and Asia, and work from home getting placements in television and worldwide events. Our breakout single together called “Swagg” got over 300 million streams worldwide. The natural progression of my career first placed me in the dance community, making fun music for dancers around the world, and now, as I’m introducing more of my heart into my music and leaning into writing about my human experience, I make music that spans cross-genres – mostly hip-hop, R&B, urban pop, and funk – which has since expanded my reach into a new intersecting market. What I’ve learned: It’s said so much, but success isn’t a straight line… Just trust, enjoy your journey, and it’s beautiful moments, live in gratitude, and allow the universe to work. Don’t think that standing your ground, knowing your worth, will cause you to lose what was meant for you. It does the exact opposite. It allows you the space to say yes to the ones that fit you in ways you never knew were built for just you. When you lean into your “self-ness,” people see you. I spent so long trying to squeeze into a space that wasn’t mine. But, the moment I started to embrace my own rhythms, everything shifted. I realized I wasn’t on the outside looking in- I was already in, and I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I’m new to ATL, I’m still excited to explore the city’s music, dance, and culture scene. As a homebody, I’ve mostly been hanging out between home-base, the gym, and meetings, but I’ve had some fun experiences too! One highlight was visiting The Painted Duck, a gaming parlour in west midtown, with my husband, sister and friends. It’s a blast if you’re a big kid at heart – life-sized pool, Belgian feather bowling, and live music (we saw the Larry Griffith Band, who were amazing!).

I’ve also enjoyed strolling around The Interlock and checking out spots along the beltline. The Kroger wine window is a great spot for people-watching, and I love grabbing the cabbage salad at Breaker Breaker and playing music trivia (more people-watching, lol!).

For a night out with friends, I highly recommend Rock Steady, a Caribbean restaurant with an electric and sophisticated vibe. The food is incredible, and the upstairs bar/club area extends the afro-caribbean theme into their DJ set and atmosphere – it’s the perfect spot to finish off the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
These questions are so good! Narrowing it down to a single person, book, or organization is not easy. However, there is one person who has been a constant source of guidance and support throughout my musical journey and personal healing journey – my husband. His unwavering encouragement, sage advice, and contributions to my music have been instrumental in helping me navigate countless challenges. His business acumen, enthusiasm, and unshakeable belief in my abilities have provided a vital boost whenever I needed it most. Time and again, he’s helped me emerge from difficult situations with outcomes that exceeded my WILDEST dreams. I’m forever grateful for his presence in my life.

Instagram: @imchalice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imchalice

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/imchalice

Image Credits
Photo credits: David McCall, Tenisha Nicole