Chantal Kreviazuk

Canadian singer-songerwriter Chantal Kreviazuk started out as a classically trained pianist and has also incredibly penned a horde of number one hits for the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Pit Bull and Christina Aguilera.

Adding another string to her bow, Kreviazuk joined Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock on Saturday Night Live, performing "Pay For It", a song she co-wrote.

The talented musician recently took time out of her busy schedule to have a chat with Music News about performing with the iconic Neil Young and her latest song "I Will Be".


Music News - When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in music and what was the first song you ever performed live?
 
I remember when I was very little, my grandparents and my parents and I went to see the Christian singer "evie." My grandpa took me up to the stage and I said into the microphone "my grandpa lifted me up."  That's all it took to make the crowd roar. How easy it all seemed!  

I cannot remember what I sang that day. But I will never forget how that microphone felt! I have played everything back on the piano, like a weirdo since I was three. So I always knew I was musical, and it was never questioned what I would be doing for the duration.

Music News - Which artists have influenced you the most? 

Lennon, Stevie Nicks and Neil young, whom I got to play with the other night and meet and he was simply phenomenal.

Music News - You have a song out now with Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock called, "Pay For It"; what can you tell me about that?

I wrote the hook at the piano and sang it into a voice note on my iPhone and sent it in. Kendrick replied with some notes and I finished it and then we tracked. Then the song went away for a while and I actually thought it was dead. It reappeared about 3 weeks or so ago and it's been quick to shine since.... You really just never know.

Music News - You have written #1 songs for the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Pit Bull & Christina Aguilera. Do you know in your mind you have a "hit" on your hands when you are writing these tracks for other artists?
 
You know it's strange.... You will think in your mind, "hey this is really good!" And then something just won't see the light of day. Other things you didn't have quite a lightening strike listening back to, they emerge winners. I believe that in life, as a rule, we just need to show up and put our craft to practice and then the rest figure itself out. I go through really down periods where I just don't believe in me, my purpose, my brand or ability, and usually inspiration is right around the corner and I just don't know it yet. It's a bit of a roller coaster ride but I seem to keep getting back on.

Music News - Where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process? 

I have to say that it's usually an "unknown." And what I mean by that is that the environment or a mood or particularly strong coffee or something will instigate a chord change or something.... It's a trajectory .... One little event after another causes an effect and the next thing you know, a new living breathing thing exists that didn't before. It's a really vulnerable and frightening process. Sometimes I leave a session with zero. I mean zero. And I think to myself, well, I just blew it with them! I will never hear from them again... So be it. Next! 

Music News - You are about to release your latest song, "I Will Be". Why is this new song so meaningful to you?

"I Will Be" reflects a hurt, a catharsis in me, I think in everyone!  We just cannot fix the world or everybody on our own.  But we'd like to. Empathy is a tough thing. Can't help anyone else if we don't help ourselves. Yet, I have so much love inside sometimes that it aches. And I would love to pour it directly on the pain source in others.... And I would like to believe that in my time of need it is being poured into mine from within my world/community and from the universe too.  The song is about unconditional, unprecedented epic love. 

Music News - If you could perform with anyone, either living or passed, who would it be?

Lennon.  Performed with Neil Young the other day, so there is that. What do you say after that then?!


For more on Chantal: http://www.chantalkreviazuk.com or on Twitter at@chantalkreviaz