Chandler Stephens was born with the love of music in her soul. At a very young age she began singing in church, and her love for music only expanded and blossomed from there. Her musical influences come from a wide range of genres including pop, rock, and Motown, but she felt the biggest connection to the country music genre. Country icons like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Johnny Cash then progressing to modern day greats like Shaina Twain, George Strait, and the Dixie Chicks solidified country as the place she found her ultimate musical connection. The real and raw lyrics and the unmistakable melodies drew her in. Growing up she began performing her favorite country hits at live shows which inspired her to try her hand at putting her ideas, experiences, and feeling into writing her own songs.
A native of Lake Mary, Florida, her family of four consisting of her parents and her brother soon multiplied into a family of 18 as they added 14 adopted siblings over the years. Her family was unconventional in its makeup yet perfectly full of love and diversity which gave Chandler a broad world view. “I grew up understanding and knowing we are all human beings deserving of love and kindness and equality. I learned quickly that hate is taught but so is love. I love every minute of my life growing up in such a big family with so many different personalities and qualities. It is definitely something I draw from for my songwriting and a firm platform for my life.”
Deciding that music was her only path in life, she left Florida and her 15 siblings behind to chase her dreams in Nashville where she continued her songwriting and performing. She began to grab the attention of industry executives as well as singer songwriter peers with her uniquely soothing yet poignantly powerful vocals and her real life truthful and vulnerable lyrics to her self-penned songs. “I want to create music that people can relate to. I want to share my life experiences through my music. Music helped me through some tough times and it also made the good times even better. I want my music to be able to have that type of impact on others.”
Now a little older and definitely wiser than the 19 year old who packed her car after her first semester of college heading toward Nashville with a determination that music was her only path, Chandler has had success with songs like “Can’t Stop Love,” a duet with Kane Brown and “This Is My Life” both of which she co-wrote.
“This new music has definitely progressed to another level as I have reached these milestones of motherhood and marriage. My songs are like book marks for my life. I look back on each one to enjoy great memories or revisit lessons and heart aches that hopefully also speak to other people as well. Co-writing all 6 songs on the EP, this new music tells my life’s story through my own words, which gives me a great sense of accomplishment and even greater sense of connection to this music.” Chandler’s EP is set to release September 9th of this year.
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