What a blessing to be here today @skopemag as we continue on this musical journey. Today we have Chris Chilton, whom is now relaunching himself as a solo artist. He is continuing his journey and calling to spread his message and passion for Christ throughout the world. He lives with his wife in Spokane, Washington where they just welcomed their first son into the world. In these times of uncertainty and mass hysteria throughout the world I think Chris and his message & music is what we could all use, join us!
@skopemag: Where are we talking from today and how is your summer going so far as we are already in mid June?
CC: I am in Spokane Valley right now in our house we’ve just moved into. It’s been a hectic summer so far with moving and fixing up the old house with a family reunion in California mixed in.
@skopemag: Do you have any plans to play or attend any music festivals this summer?
CC: We are still waiting on word for a couple festivals. It would be a blast to play but we’ll just see where I’m lead! I’m finding the year has just flown by so fast that I’ve barely even thought about the summer aside from the few dates we’ve been looking to secure.
@skopemag: Do you feel that the warm weather enhances your songwriting or no difference?
CC: Ha. I would say it doesn’t make a difference overall except maybe that it actually takes me out of the house a little more so if anything being stuck inside for the winter is a bigger help.
@skopemag: At what age did you know that music was your passion and did your family / friends support your journey?
CC: I was a late bloomer. I didn’t pick up a guitar until I was 18. I will admit that I had a passion for singing much younger but I was a pretty shy kid and was afraid to put myself out there like that and pretty much hid it most of my childhood. I remember when my brother and some of our friends stumbled across one of my cassettes I would practice singing on with one of my grandparent’s old cassette players and being so mortified. My first car was monumental not only as transportation, but also as a place I could sing all I wanted away from judging ears. When I finally did start to express an interest, I remember my parents and grandparents got me my first instrument: a bass guitar and a keyboard amp to play it through. Since then they have helped me out whenever I’ve needed it and have been amazing, especially when times have been tough and I wanted to keep pushing my dream.
@skopemag: You recently went solo from the VanMarter Project. You achieved such success with that group. What made you want to go solo?
CC: I would say I went solo as much as the band had reached the end of its run and we were all just moving in different directions in life. If was a very amicable split where one of our members basically brought it up and the rest of us agreed. We all just got together just a few weeks ago with all of us in the same place for the first time since my wedding and it was great to know that we have been able to stay in touch and stay friends. I just never stopped moving forward and that just meant being solo at that point. Everyone in the group has been extremely supportive of the direction I’ve gone in.
@skopemag: I respect your passion for faith and in Christ. When did you come up with the idea to merge music and spirituality and how do feel when you see the evil side of the music industry?
CC: I have always merged my faith with my music. VanMarter Project was a secular group but I would not take a clever person to hear my faith coming in the lyrics. I just always wanted to express myself and my thoughts in the music and when your faith is the most important thing in your life, it almost has to come through or it isn’t really honest, I don’t believe. I see, hear, and have even experience as lot of the evil in the music industry and have even been sucked into it at different times in my journey. It is not a good place to be and it does frighten me quite often to think how I might deal with different scenarios should they arise and the fact that I tend to think the best of people so it often leaves me open to those without the best intentions. I have just resolved to keep being me and hope that the journey I’m on and where it goes is where I’m supposed to be.
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
@skopemag: Where would you like to see your music career in two years and how will you make it there?
CC: What I feel is the right answer to this question always feels presumptuous, but of course I’d like to be playing and writing music full time and being able to provide for my family while spreading the gospel to all that will listen. Any heights attained beyond that is a bonus. A bonus I strive for and would love to achieve, but spreading the word while providing for the family is all I could ask for!
@skopemag: I really enjoyed your single, ‘Adonai’ on YouTube. Where did the inspiration to put that song out and will you be posting other singles?
CC: Thank you so much! Adonai basically came from the feeling of life just knocking you down and getting caught up the ups and downs and losing sight of what is most important which is Christ’s love. Too often I find myself not turning to Him in times of need, trying to take it all on myself and it is just a reminder remember what I am living for and where to turn when things feel too heavy. I hope to get some more music out soon. I have a lot of music to share, it just a matter of getting it all together with my amazing manager and producer, Jerad Finck, and start tracking! The video for Adonai can be found at –
@skopemag: You have been blessed with your wife & newborn son. What does Father’s Day mean to you now as a dad and what defines a good father/husband in 2018?
CC: Well he’s not newborn anymore! He is running everywhere and is chattering gibberish at me as I speak! I feel that defining what makes a good father is a bit above my pay grade, but the father I try to be is attentive and watchful and supportive, even at this young age, and to most importantly be the example of what I want to see in my little boy. I fail every day but I also think I get a lot right every day and I just keep trying to make sure its more of the latter than the former. Its really not different being a husband except its a lot easier to talk to my wife. Lol. Its’ been a blessing for both of us and we constantly watch him sleep and are amazed at the miracle that he is!
@skopemag: What is coming up for Chris Chilton and where you @ online?
CC: I am coming out of this moving chaos and putting my head down to get more music out there and have been speaking with the local Director of Evangelization to do some rural outreach shows up here in Eastern Washington. I’m hoping I can get more details as that comes! I am on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Instagram and Twitter both being @chrischilton86) and also can be found at ChrisChiltonMusic.com.
