Interview with Chantal

Rebecca: How and why did you begin singing?

Chantal: I don't remember exactly when I began singing because I think I was very very small but whenever I did start I couldn't stop because I liked it so much. So the reason I began singing all the time and I making it my life was because I loved it so much.

Rebecca: What inspires your songs?

Chantal: Usually real experiences are what inspires my songs be it watching other experiences other people have or experiencing what I'm going through. Sometimes it is the sad things that make me the most inspired.

Rebecca: How important to taking care of the environment?

Chantal: It is very difficult for me to have a consistent system to take care of the environment as someone who travels but I'm noticing more and more because I'm staying in hotels and even in the remote places they are starting to design rooms so that even you can contribute by using only using one towel so that you don't waste all the water or packaging the soaps in the rooms are all made of recycled materials. And also whenever I can if I notice someone throwing away something into the trash, I like to say 'hey, you know can you throw this in a recycle bin instead of the trash for me?.' I'm certainly trying to do my best. Also, I would like to maybe on my next record, package my record so that it is not a hazard to the environment, maybe use recycled materials, something like that.

Rebecca: What source do you use to find out what is happening in the environment?

Chantal: With my schedule and how busy I am I do depend on other people. I try to read the paper every day when I'm traveling and pay attention to my surroundings so I learn what is going on

Andrew: Is there any environmental theme in any of your songs?

Chantal: I'm very nature oriented. I really adore nature. I think that comes through on my records.

Andrew: What bugged you most about adults when you were growing up?

Chantal: I think the thing that bothered me when adults didn't pay attention. Not that anyone specific wasn't pay attention but that little girls were meant to be seen and not heard. I really love in my adult life paying attention to children and it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly brilliant especially this new generation of children are and they seem to be the ones setting the pace especially in the things like the environment.

Andrew: Did you know you were going to be as successful as you've become?

Chantal: ah, well, I think that is all relative. I don't wake up in the morning going 'wow, I'm successful'. I don't really perceive myself that way, I think on the level you're talking about, my career and so on. My idea of success doesn't completely depend on my career, it depends on my personal relationships and the happiness in my heart. I didn't know that I would feel as blessed as I am but I don't really think about the career thing that much.

Andrew: What advice would you give kids about pursuing their dreams?

Chantal: I would advise them to be realistic because when we create major expectations for ourselves they can often be let down like even when those expectations are met, when they become reality there is also a down side to them. So, don't put so much on your expectations but I would advise children to be leaders and not to follow what the trend is or what other kids are saying in school. I would say follow your instincts and really follow them and don't just see them or feel them and not pay attention to them. When you feel an instinct, really really follow it.