Relatable. Grateful. Cookie thief? Those are three ways to describe emerging country artist, the Florida native who is making waves in Nashville! In this episode of Bored and Curious, we talk about her music career, what it was like growing up with 15 siblings, and the stories behind her songs.
From confessing romantic feelings to a friend in "Would've Gone Home" and being perfectly content with your significant other in "Sunshine State," to paying tribute to her late father in "Raised by a Working Man," this episode has the potential to be an emotional rollercoaster. She also performs those songs during the podcast! “Sunshine State” will be released Friday, June 4th on streaming platforms! We then get to know Chandler a little bit more with some personal questions and let's say it takes a turn from adorable to don't-try-this-at-home.
Bio: Chandler Stephens was born with the love of music in her soul. Her musical influences come from a wide range of genres including pop, rock, and Motown, but she felt the biggest connection to the country music genre.
With 14 adopted siblings, Chandler's family gave her a broad world view. “I grew up understanding and knowing we are all human beings deserving of love and kindness and equality. I learned quickly that hate is taught but so is love. It is definitely something I draw from for my songwriting and a firm platform for my life.”
Married with a four year old daughter, “life gets even more real and takes on an entirely different perspective when your responsible for another human being,” says Chandler. “I love my life with my daughter Layla, and my husband, Cliff. I also love the unconditional support and encouragement they both give me to spread my wings and follow my musical dreams. This new music has definitely progressed to another level as I have reached these milestones of motherhood and marriage. My songs are like book marks for my life."
Episode Guide: 0:00 Intro / childhood dream job 1:10 15 siblings! (with comment prompt) 2:30 Patience in artistry 3:22 Dream collab & ultimate goal 4:21 Performance "Would've Gone Home" 8:15 Story behind "Would've Gone Home" 8:57 Comment prompt: Have you had a crush on a friend? 9:14 Performance "Sunshine State" 12:55 Story behind "Sunshine State" 13:14 Performance "Raised By a Working Man" 16:09 Story behind "Raised By a Working Man" 16:50 Comment prompt: What songs make you emotional? 17:20 Favorite story of her daughter 18:33 Star struck by ADELE! 19:00 Bucket list (with travel comment prompt) 19:25 Worst thing you did as a kid 20:19 Most adventurous / riskiest thing you've done 21:07 Could ya not? (with comment prompt) 21:45 Upcoming song release! "Sunshine State" June 4th!
Intro music artist credit: Short Guitar Clip by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
When I first moved here I felt like I needed to be the best that I could be at that moment in time. It just doesn't work that way.
Mary Katz (Host):
Welcome to Bored and Curious. I'm your host, Mary Katz. On today's episode, we have a new country artist, Chandler Stephens. She has recorded a duet with Kane Brown and her current single "Would've Gone Home" is available on streaming platforms. Her new single "Sunshine State" is coming out on June 4th. And as you're about to learn, she may be the most wholesome person on the planet. But before we get started, hit that follow or subscribe button to stay updated on new episodes. Well, Chandler, Jason, welcome to Bored and Curious. Good to see you guys. Happy to have ya. Chandler, you are on the music scene now in Nashville and getting your start in country music and things are going well. So super excited to have you here today. Go ahead and tell me, um, what did you want to be when you were little.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
When I was really little, I wanted to be an interior designer. And we had somebody come in and design our playroom. And I was like, that seems like a super like awesome job. I want to do that. So that was at first. Um, but I mean, I've always loved music and I've always loved singing. I just really never saw it as a career option for me until I was older.
Mary Katz (Host):
Oh, okay. And, um, speaking of the playroom, you come from quite a large family. Correct me if I'm wrong, there's two biological siblings, you and a sibling. And then you got a few more in another manner.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah. There's 16 total. So I have 15 siblings. Yeah. A lot, a lot, a lot.
Mary Katz (Host):
A lot love.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah. But 14 of them are adopted. Uh, so yeah, I mean, it was definitely crazy growing up that way. I mean, there was always something happening; always a little bit of drama, you know, with that many people that's, that's how it's going to be. But, um, yeah- It was fun, you know, always having somebody to talk to somebody to play with.
Mary Katz (Host):
Keeping you busy.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
You guys must really like The Blind Side then.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes. I love that movie. It makes me cry. Love it.
Mary Katz (Host):
Absolutely. Yeah. It's the part, the, uh, where he says that he, he had never had a bed before. That gets me just every time.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I know. Me too. It's-
Mary Katz (Host):
Yeah, I can relate to that a bit in that, I'm one of four siblings, but my mom is one of 10 kids and my dad was one of 14. So...
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Wow!
Mary Katz (Host):
A lot of cousins.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Fun get togethers. Fun family gatherings.
Mary Katz (Host):
Family reunions are crazy.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. So, um, what do you wish you knew before becoming a singer?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I would say that becoming an artist and songwriting and all of those things, they take time. And I feel like when I first moved here, I was like, I felt like I needed to be the best that I could be at that moment in time. And it just doesn't work that way. I mean, I feel like as an artist we're constantly growing and as a songwriter constantly growing, changing. The more you do it, the more practice you have, the better it becomes. Just trust the process, give yourself some time and you don't have to be the best right away.
Mary Katz (Host):
That makes sense. I wish more people knew that, you know, in a, an instant gratification world, these types of things definitely take time and not everybody gets success over TikTok in one day.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Nope!
Mary Katz (Host):
Is there someone in the industry that you haven't worked with yet, but like, it's like your dream to work with, fill in the blank.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I would say Miranda Lambert. I love her. And Adele. Love Adele. Always, always have she's one of my favorites.
Mary Katz (Host):
Those are some very, very good, very talented picks.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
You got to, yeah, you definitely got to put it out there in the universe to sort of like manifest it. So what would you say your ultimate goal is in the industry?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I feel like if I could sell out an arena tour, that would be kind of the, the moment I'd be like, I made it. I'm here. I've made- like- So my ultimate goal, if I could do that, I'd be like, all right, I'm good.
Mary Katz (Host):
That's a good one. I mean, but you're very talented. So I'd say you're probably well on your way to doing exactly that.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thank you.
Mary Katz (Host):
Got that Opry membership coming up I'm sure.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah, that would be amazing.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right, so let's go ahead and move on to the story behind the song. And you're also gonna, um, give us some performances here.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. So if you want, let's go ahead and start with "Would've Gone Home," which you released in January, right?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes. And it's my current single out right now. Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
Awesome. All right. Take it away. Oh, I love it. All right. Uh, yeah, I gotta say you make that look really effortless. I'm over here like I've had three kids in like four years and my core is just not; like I couldn't do that.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thank you. It doesn't feel effortless, but thank you.
Mary Katz (Host):
You certainly make it look effortless and tell me the story behind, uh, "Would Have Gone Home."
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I think it's a story that a lot of people go through. I wrote it with Nicole Miller and it was kind of something that she was going through at the time. It's the story of being in a friendship for a long time, and you have feelings for that person and you know that they have feelings for you too, but you're afraid to say anything because it's scary, first of all, and then you don't wanna mess up the friendship and all those things. And this song is just basically putting it on the table and saying, "Hey, I wouldn't be in this bar if I wasn't here with you. So why are we wasting time? We should just be together."
Mary Katz (Host):
Love it. Yeah, I know there's a lot of people out there that can relate to that song and that feeling. And the next song you're going to do for us is "Sunshine State," Florida girl.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right, go ahead. Love it. It's such like an easy breezy love song. So it's very sweet.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thanks.
Mary Katz (Host):
Go ahead and tell me the story behind that one.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Well it was inspired because I'm from Florida. So I was thinking about wanting to do a song about, you know, my home state. Then it kind of like evolved into this idea of always feeling like you're in the sunshine state, 75 and sunny when you're with the person that you love.
Mary Katz (Host):
Awesome. The next one you're going to do for us is "Raised By a Working Man."
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
Love it. Go ahead and tell me the story behind that song.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I wrote that song probably about six years ago now. I wrote it kind of as a tribute to my father and how he raised me. He was a really hard worker. And it means a lot more to me now singing that song than it did six years ago. I lost my father January of 2020. So it's, um, it's definitely become like a whole, you know, different song.
Mary Katz (Host):
I would imagine that makes it a lot more, uh, probably a little more difficult to sing. I don't see how you got through it.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah. Yeah. I have to try to like, think about something else while I'm singing it. And then I got to get through it.'Cause if not, I, I mean the first couple of times I tried to sing it, I couldn't. I just started crying right in the middle and I'm like, "I can't sing this song for a while."
Mary Katz (Host):
If it helps at all, I saw Reba in an interview one time.'Cause you know, she sings some, you know, relatively emotional songs.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
And she was saying that she looks for the exit signs. So I assume you don't have one right there with ya, but I guess the point there is a focal point.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes. Yeah. Have some place that you're going to look at the whole time. Yeah. I mean, that makes sense. That would, that would probably work. So-
Mary Katz (Host):
So there you go. A little help from Reba.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thanks. Thank you, Reba!
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. So moving on to, just for fun. Let's get to know Chandler a little bit. So you have a little kiddo.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
What would be one of your favorite stories from, uh, from her?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
She's just so funny. She's four. So it's such a fun age. Even now she's like starting to say things that you're like, what, like, where did you even hear that? For example, the other day we were leaving and I'm like, Oh, I forgot this. I forgot my phone. I forgot my keys. I forgot this. So I walk in the house and she's like, "Girl, you're always forgetting everything." And I'm like, what? Like, I mean, I don't feel like I say that. I'm like- That's really funny. And now she says really big words. I think "delightful," she said the other day."That would be delightful." And I'm like, what?
Mary Katz (Host):
The big one with my kids right now is, "Perseverance, Mama."
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Oh, wow!
Mary Katz (Host):
"Keep trying!"
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
That's a big word!
Mary Katz (Host):
That was one of their themes at school.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Oh yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
And then the other day, my one and a half year old- The dog was like, you know, when they get on their back and their like, paws are in the air and they're just being crazy?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
I was like, look at Bella. She's so silly. And the baby goes "Silly donut." She called the dog a silly donut.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
That's hilarious.
Mary Katz (Host):
But the stuff they come up with this super cute.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah it is.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. Tell me about a time when you were starstruck.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
When I was nine months pregnant, I went to see Adele in concert. And yeah, nine months pregnant was not fun, but the concert was amazing. She was incredible. I've never seen something like that live. She's amazing.
Mary Katz (Host):
Yeah. I can't imagine doing that nine months pregnant. Yeah, get so excited and go into labor. You're brave. You're a brave one, Chandler. What's at least one item on your bucket list?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I want to go to New Zealand. It's a really far flight. So not my favorite thing to do. Do not like flying, but one day I'm going to make the trek out there. Hopefully.
Mary Katz (Host):
Yeah. I think they serve alcohol on the plane, so-
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes. Um, I'll definitely, you know, have some of those. That will help.
Mary Katz (Host):
Tell me what's the worst thing you did as a kid.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
When I was, oh, I don't know, nine my mom got these really big, like chocolate chip cookies. They had like M&M's in them. I was only allowed to have one after dinner. So when everyone went to bed, I went back out in the kitchen and I decided I was going to have a second one. And I dropped it on the ground. And once I looked down, there was a cockroach. And I was like, oh, okay. Maybe I shouldn't have done this. I'm never going to do it again.
Mary Katz (Host):
See, normally people say things like they shot a BB gun at a snowman and it broke out a window in their dad's truck. And you just admitted that you ate a cookie.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
So you and Taylor Swift are the most wholesome people on the planet. Got it. All right, cookie thief, moving on. What's the most adventurous or riskiest thing you've ever done?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
My husband and I, we decided to remake the scene from, or I guess try the scene from The Notebook, you know, where they lay in the street. Um, it was late at night, so it seemed like, "Oh, there's not going to be that many cars." You know? I mean, I don't recommend this. Like nobody do this. Okay.
Mary Katz (Host):
Is this a "Kids, don't try this at home" moment?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes! Don't try this at home. But we, uh, laid down on the street and waited for a car and then ran out of the street. I dunno. Don't do it. Okay. It was an adrenaline rush for sure. But don't do it.
Mary Katz (Host):
So you started with the cookies...
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yes.
Mary Katz (Host):
And then you went to that!
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
On the list of things the folks at home didn't see coming-
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah!
Mary Katz (Host):
Alright, Chandler. Moving on to a little Could Ya Not. So if you never get asked a particular question again, whether it's professional or personal, traffic related, doesn't matter, just whatever gets under your skin, whatever bothers you. Tell the world, "Could ya not?"
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Slurping. Could you not slurp? I feel like that's a major one for me. I can't handle it.
Mary Katz (Host):
Have you heard of the term misophonia?
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Nuh uh.
Mary Katz (Host):
I don't know if I'm saying that correctly. I think you might want to check that one out.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
I have that?
Mary Katz (Host):
I think so.'Cause I- So do I.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Oh really?
Mary Katz (Host):
Mine is repetitive noises. I can't stand repetitive noises. So having kids has been fun.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah. Mom, mom, mom.
Mary Katz (Host):
Oh my God.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Yeah.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right, Chandler. Well, those are all the questions I have. Tell me what you got coming up. Songs coming up. The floor is yours.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
"Sunshine State" is actually going to be out June 4th. We actually have a release date now that I can let everybody know. Also, I released a cover of "Better Man" on YouTube a while back. I released it on Spotify and Apple music, all streaming outlets on May 19th. Those are the two things coming up.
Mary Katz (Host):
Those are two very exciting things. All right, well, Chandler, Jason, thank you guys so much for joining today. Those are all the questions I have. It was fun to have you guys here.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thank you so much for having me.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. Y'all have a good one.
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Thank you! You too.
Mary Katz (Host):
All right. Bye!
Chandler Stephens (Guest):
Bye!
Mary Katz (Host):
Thank you for checking out this episode of Bored and Curious. Make sure you head over to the description for links to follow Chandler's singing career and follow the podcast to stay updated on more episodes.