Chantae Cann: Empowered to Shine (Bonus Interview)

What empowers an artist to express his or her unique voice? In this bonus episode, recording artist Chantae Cann provides exclusive insights into how she embraced her creative freedom through her newest project.

A Chicago native, Chantae has traveled the world as a background vocalist with the likes of Leon Timbo, Darlene McCoy, P.J. Morton, Gramps Morgan, and Grammy Award winning artist India.Arie. Her collaborations with artists/bands include: Snarky Puppy, Tarriona Tank Ball (of Tank and the Bangas), Jarrod Lawson, Jonathan McReynolds, Tony Momrelle, Jaspects, The Foreign Exchange, Zo!, Mike Hicks, Sho Baraka and Khari Cabral Simmons. Her first solo album, Journey to Golden, was released in 2016 to rave reviews. Both that album and her new project Sol Empowered are eclectic collections of soul, rock, funk, jazz, and world music-flavored songs, linked together by Cann’s melodic and inspirational vocals.

Co-hosts CriStyle and Allen met up with Chantae in Atlanta while attending the 2017 Collective Music Conference, and recorded their conversation outdoors in the courtyard at their hotel. This relaxed atmosphere fostered an engaging dialogue about Chantae’s musical and spiritual foundations, how they were tested as she learned the ropes of the music industry, and how they ultimately helped her create a project that showcases her unique style and perspective on life.

HIGHLIGHTS from this episode

Chantae’s musical influences and what draws her to certain artists

Why artists should not be limited to a single genre (including church music) and why individuality is so important

How serving in church music ministry helped prepare her for her solo career

How the different experiences of recording her first and second projects helped her to deal with internal anxiety and grow more confident

How working with charitable organizations helps her reach people on a deeper level and adds meaning to her work as an artist

Quotes from this episode

“To me, music is the soundtrack to the universe and beyond”

“I feel free, and I feel like I want to help other people get free too.” –

Learn more about Chantae Cann

For more info on Huntington’s Disease, visit http://hdsa.org/

Watch Chantae’s YouTube clip on her experience with HD here

Chantae Cann

Known primarily for her session work, Chantae Cann is a singer and songwriter who specializes in mature R&B filled with joy and positivity. The Atlanta-based, Chicago-raised Cann made appearances on Maysa's Smooth Sailing (2004) and India.Arie's Testimony, Vol. 2: Love & Politics (2008), but her résumé stretched out to a remarkable length during the early 2010s. Her sweet, gentle voice was featured on the Foreign Exchange's "Laughing at Your Plans," Zo!'s "All Is Well with Love," and Khari Cabral's "Get Back," all highlights of their respective parent albums. In 2015, after she had made contributions to recordings by the likes of Snarky Puppy, Avery Sunshine, and Lil' John Roberts, Cann teamed up with Incognito's Tony Momrelle on a cover of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's "Back Together Again." Early the following year, Cann released her debut solo album, Journey to Golden, on the Ropeadope label.