Overview

Hello everyone! My name is Chase Chandler and I'm a composer, performer, and multimedia artist from California.

When I was three years old, piano lessons weren’t something my family could afford, but my mom noticed how interested I was. So she arranged for me to take lessons in exchange for cleaning my piano teacher’s apartment—a gesture that changed my life. Since then, music has been my constant companion. And thanks to the encouragement of family, friends, and mentors, I’ve been able to pursue it in ways I never thought possible.

A few years ago, I admitted to myself that I wasn’t happy living the life I thought I wanted. So I found professional help with what I was struggling with and began a journey of transformation. Leaving behind the life I’d built in California opened up unexpected paths: I let go of concerns about fitting in, started exploring visual art, and began performing on cruise ships that took me to places like Iceland, Argentina, Antarctica, and Svalbard. Recently, I even completed a short contract with a cultural café in Norway.

Once I let go of everything I thought defined me, my life started expanding. My identity as a musician, my fears about who I was ‘supposed to be’—it all unraveled when I finally found help for the dark thoughts I had. In that release, I found freedom in creativity I hadn’t known before: a freedom that let me embrace the good and the bad, and to connect with my audience on a deeper level. And that’s what I aim to express through my creativity: the joy of simply existing, free of self-judgment. 

Honest human expression and communication is such a necessity during difficult times. So I hope to bring this message to everyone who listens, because art, music, and the freedom to express what’s inside saved my life.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my first-ever, professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Carter Sanders in Boston, MA. Carter is a seasoned Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Carter and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life.

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “Nothing More to Say,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Nothing More to Say” so far, to create an album of more songs with this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Carter and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Music has the power to heal, unite, and express the emotions that connect us on a fundamental human level. For the first time, I’m stepping forward with the courage to share my music with a larger audience and become part of something greater.

Music, for me, is a collective process. It’s shaped by the musicians who’ve challenged me to grow, the classmates who stood by me in my earliest performances, the mentors who opened my ears to diverse genres, and the patient family and friends who listen as I work through every rough idea. Music is about connection, and I’ve been fortunate to share it with so many along the way. One of my goals with this project is to discover new collaborators within my community to create even more music together.

While I’ve never tackled a project of this scale, I’ve led and executed creative endeavors across many fields—from directing chamber ensembles and teaching private lessons, to self-publishing sci-fi novels and producing multi-genre albums, from original visual art woven into my projects to singing operas or leading tenor sections in choirs. 

Throughout it all, I’ve been honing my creativity and cultivating a fearless in exploring the human experience. With your support, I’ll channel that dedication and experience into something fresh, powerful, and beautiful—an evolution born from my journey and the people who’ve shaped it.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have friends or family in your network who would be interested in supporting me, please consider sharing this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. 

And I can’t wait to share this music with you.

Credit to Live Skattum for these stunning photos