NYVC Singer Spotlight: Chenzo V

Preferred full name and pronouns:
Chenzo V
He/Him

1) How did you discover your passion for singing?

I discovered my passion for singing actually through playing the piano and writing my own songs. Everyone in my family played the piano because they were forced to (unfortunately, haha). I was the only one who actually stayed with it because I really enjoyed making music. And you know, I was trained classically, but most of the time I really preferred just playing freestyle, creating my own compositions, and then eventually writing words and singing along. I wrote my first song when I was 16 years old after my first break up because I needed some kind of way to process my emotions. You know, emotions were always something difficult for me, and music is probably the best way for me to process them. That and being in nature.

2) What’s something recent or exciting in your singing journey?

Well, I’m pretty excited about my EP called FALLEN dropping on October 27. It’s the first time I’ve released a group of songs that I feel really tell the story of the past year for me. It’s been pretty dark, but there’s also this feeling of acceptance and finding myself spiritually. I think what’s also exciting is just continuing to discover my own voice since music has been the best way for me to really express myself. Not only am I exploring new sounds and styles, but I’m also discovering more about myself each day. I write songs pretty much every week. I mean, most of them will never see the light of day, but it’s almost like journaling to me.

3) What is an interesting or funny fact about you?

People who’ve known me for years joke that I’m in witness protection because I’ve changed my look so much and so many times. Some people from my past don’t even recognize me at all.

4) What led you to studying at NYVC?

Not only did I want to improve my technical skills as a singer, but I also needed to build my confidence and work with someone one-on-one in person so I could get more comfortable with my voice in front of people. Most of the time, you know, I’m singing or recording alone or on camera, and I don’t always have an audience, so working with Roberto has been a huge help.

5) Who or what are your biggest musical influences?

You know, my influences are always changing depending on the season of life I’m in, but I would say over the past year or so, I’ve been finding a lot of inspiration from music I listened to growing up, like Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, and Nirvana. I know some of these could be kind of cliché, but I find myself really inspired by the past. I’m drawn to sounds that blur the line between raw, natural instruments and synthetic distortion. To me, technology is an instrument of its own. I also have a bit of a thing for the 1960s and going back to folk artists and old, old country music. I think most people wouldn’t expect it from me, but Ned Miller is one of my favorites. I actually listen to him on vinyl like every week. Lately, I really struggle to connect with modern music, even though that’s what I make! And I don’t exactly sound like any of my influences either, in my opinion. A bunch of people have said I have a similar vibe to Chris Cornell from Soundgarden.

6) What styles of music do you sing?

This is a loaded question because I love to sing all genres; it’s a pretty wide range. I know that’s a lame answer. I’m from New York, but I do love to sing a little bit with a twang. I do love post-grunge and country and a lot of distortion and rasp in the voice, so probably, I think rock is my primary style for singing. And we’re not gonna get into my rap phase!

7) What is one piece of advice you’d love all singers to know?

I mean, I don’t think I’m the best person to be giving advice here, but I would challenge singers to step outside of their comfort zone and to try styles that they wouldn’t normally sing. Even if they don’t move forward with it, I think they can apply a lot from what they learn. Think of a football player learning ballet. Sure, the football player isn’t gonna be dancing on stage, but the movement and the grace they learn is going to help them out.

8) What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an artist?

Dude, everything is a challenge. I think time is the one thing you really can’t change. The amount of time and effort that goes into creating music and the time it takes people to recognize you, to promote yourself, or do gigs, or just to do anything! It can be hard to find time, and it’s a game of patience, cause you want things to happen as soon as possible, but you know, this is a career path in a sense. Like, you’re not gonna become the artist you want to be overnight. You gotta develop a library of music, and you need to develop yourself. You need to learn and live life, and you need to have experiences to tell your own story and to have your own point of view. It really just takes time.

9) What has been your greatest victory as an artist?

Victory? Probably just getting over what people think of me. You know, it’s weird to have a regular day job with coworkers or friends who aren’t into the same stuff. And for them to see you after seeing your art or listening to your songs, which is very vulnerable. That side of you as an artist is probably not the person they see every day. I think it could be a bit uncomfortable to show it and, you know, not a lot of people will accept it. A lot of people will think it’s weird, and you just have to accept the weirdness. It’s part of life.

10) Where can people find more about you and your music?

My music is literally everywhere except a record shop… but coming soon! I want to make some vinyls. My artist name is Chenzo V, my Instagram handle is thisischenzo, my tiktok is chenzo_v, youtube is ChenzoV, and you can find everything with this link: https://chenzov.com/all. I’m a weirdo, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!