Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Davidson.
Hi Chris , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Harmony happens in the center of extremes. Live instrumentation and multilayered soundscapes come together in CHNNLL’s unique vision of hypnotic, organic indie. Chicago-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Chris Davidson tempers emotional subject matter with bold melodies, coating raw truths in hummable hooks.
He introduced CHNNLL with the self-titled CHNNLL EP in 2018, following up with the 2021 full-length album The Test, produced by Joey Waronker (Atoms for Peace, Beck, R.E.M.). He followed with the self-produced album Miles Away in 2024, and in 2026 his song “Golden Days” was featured in Netflix’s Ransom Canyon, marking his first major television sync placement. In addition to Joey Waronker on drums, both albums also included the likes of Zac Rae (Death Cab for Cutie, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks) on guitar, piano, and synthesizers, and Gabe Noel (Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles, Father John Misty) on bass and strings.
In between, he has shared stages with artists such as The Moth & The Flame, Wingtip, Red Leather, and Beach Bunny, among others, while building a palpable buzz with fans and critics alike. IMPOSE Magazine praised his work, writing, “CHNNLL is not most artists.”
Most recently, CHNNLL released the EP Overstimulator, a hypnotic collection of rhythm-driven indie songs that showcases his drummer-first approach to songwriting, blending live performance, electronic textures, and introspective storytelling into his most personal work to date.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an artist and trying to make a living from your original music is a tall order. The toughest thing is to get people to listen to your music and come out to shows. You invest financially and emotionally into something you’re passionate about and may not ever see a return. But in art, you can only control the work you put in and not the outcome. You have to love it and if you mostly focus on the love and having fun, others will notice that.
The hardest thing really is performing live. You can spend months planning, organizing, rehearsing and invest a lot of money in a show or tour and end up playing to no one. But you need those experiences and still need to find a way to maximize even the poorest attended shows.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. I play drums, piano, guitar and sing. I’ve released two EP’s, three albums, a bunch of singles and am gearing up to release more music this fall into 2027.
I chose the name CHNNLL because when I started I didn’t want t moniker that you would read and say, “oh that’s a metal band”, or “that’s an indie band”. I wanted a name that could evolve with me and not box me into genre. It was also my grandmothers maiden name. So I think what separates me is that I don’t change genre drastically, like from indie to country, but I do experiment with different soundscapes on every record. I’m also now a father of 3 and I think that gives me a unique perspective as an artist.
I’m very proud of all my releases, getting to work with great musicians and engineers such as, Joey Waronker, Zac Rae, Gabe Noel and Drew Brown. I’m also very proud to have my music featured in prominent streaming shows and the big batch of music I’m getting ready to release.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t focus on metrics, or pay someone to “solve” the problem to your career. And most importantly don’t rush to do the things you think you “need” too soon, like spending money on a big tour. Most importantly, try your best not to compare your art and trajectory to harshly against others.
Really take the time to hone your craft as a songwriter before you go to the next step. Write as much as you can because it takes time to evolve. Spend the majority of your investment capital on recording. Building community is also important and playing live is a great way to do that and hone your craft as a songwriter and performer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chnnll.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chnnllmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CHNNLL
