Q&A with Singer/Songwriter Melissa Chill

As her name would seem to indicate, singer/songwriter Melissa Chill is about as laid back and unaffected as they come. When we were graciously granted access to the beautiful Cultural Center in Red Bank to use as a location to film Chill's interview and performance, we didn't know that we would end up wanting to shoot her in a hallway, both for the acoustics and because the upstairs auditorium was being used for a dance rehearsal space. 

I led Chill down into the basement and into a long hallway with a single chair and a microphone. It had all the earmarks of a Stanley Kubrick film. Chill had every reason to be skeptical and even apprehensive, especially when I told her, as we descended, I'm going to shoot you down here, instead the Asbury Park singer laughed and agreed to answer all of my questions. Chill, who plays all over Monmouth County, and has a regular monthly gig at Jamians in Red Bank (Chill is playing the Monmouth Street bar tonight), wears her heart on her sleeve in song and is known for inducing deep emotional responses from her audience. 

I'm happy to report that she has, despite the cathartic nature of her work, a sense of humor and laugh that is contagious. "That's it," I said when I concluded the interview, "that's my last question." "Really?!" she responded, "I could sit here for another four hours answering these questions...I loved them...seriously I loved this interview." So did I.  And audiences will love to listen, laugh, but mostly cry along with Melissa Chill. Check her out.

Steve Rogers: What’s your story? 

Melissa Chill: My story with music is I started as a dancer and then hurt my knee and gradually moved into music. That's how it happened. It was not my first choice.

S.R.: I've read that your work is telling "our story," the story of those who listen to your work…what’s our story? 

M.C.: I think that the reason I hear that a lot is because I tend to speak from the heart, which most musicians do. However, I think I don't really tend to hold back anything that's personal therefore people can relate to what I'm saying. And it tends to move people.  I make people cry. That's what I do. I'm told it's because of how I say it, in the moment of a song, that it hurts the most or that people feel it the most.  

S.R.: Some artists don’t place such an emphasis on creating for and to the audience…the work is their own, but your music, your intention is to reach across the notes and lyrics to the heart of the listener…true? 

M.C.: Yes...however, you start with your story and the listener brings it to life with their own history. Every person relates differently to something, so the music lives on in that way. It starts with something personal for me and therefore it touches them in very personal way, through their personal interpretation.  

S.R.: How important is New Jersey to your music, how has living in New Jersey affected your music? 

M.C.: Well, I live here so whatever happens in New Jersey happens to me... Asbury Park is a melting pot of hurt, love, aggression and despair...and you can't help but pull that into your heartsongs.

S.R.: You've shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, what was that like? 

M.C.: Like sitting next to fire.  

S.R.: Talk to me about your work with kids. 

M.C.: It is the best and most important thing that I do. It's my true passion in life other then writing and singing to people. Miss Melissa's Aardvarks, which is what my program is called, focuses on bringing rock music to early childhood development. All the music is original and the children are amazing to work with.

S.R.: With arts and music instruction being scaled back in schools, it’s more important than ever to have extracurricular programs like yours available…true? 

M.C.: Yes. We focus too much on subjects that keep us focused on carreer but I think that human beings need outlets to be able to perform at there best, in any field. If you take away the arts you have robots and our country is not built on robotic thinking.

S.R.: What music influenced you? 

M.C.: What music doesn't? Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks. I've been listening to Adele a lot lately. I tend to like story tellers...of all kinds. 

S.R.: What’s your secret?  

M.C.: It's a secret  

S.R.: What’s playing on your iPod these days? 

M.C.: It's on shuffle I can tell ya that. I like to be surprised...I just heard Led Zeppelin and Albert King.

S.R.: What inspires you? 

M.C.: Art, music, mood swings, depression, love, hate, war, loss.  

S.R.: What makes you happy? What lifts you up when you’re feeling down? 

M.C.: Popcorn! (laugh)

S.R.: Butter and salt?

M.C.: No, just straight up popcorn. 

S.R.: What does the future look like? 

M.C.: It looks blue...and not the sad kind. The future? Well, it's so bright I have to wear shades. 

S.R.: When will you be satisfied?

M.C.: NEVER...until I die.

S.R.: If failure wasn't possible, what would you do or do differently?

M.C.: Failure needs to be possible in order for people to really succeed. If there was no risk there would be no reason to enjoy the rewards.

To find out when Chill will be playing at Jamians, check out: www.jamiansfood.com/calendar/

For more information about Chill's work with kids, Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals, music instruction all over Monmouth County, go to: www.missmelissasaardvarks.com

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