This A-Profiler we bring you Celia Chavez, a 21st century torch singer whose debut full album titled Sailor's Daughter has just been released. We find out how this Filipina got her start in music, how her father inspired some songs on her album, and how knitting and yoga help keep the creative juices flowing.

Your site URL:
www.celiachavez.net/

What is your ethnicity?
Filipina. Both parents - My mom is from Luzon, my dad's from Ilo Ilo. They met and married in Seattle.

Have you always wanted to be a singer? At what age did you start singing? Who were your inspirations for singing?
Music seemed to come naturally when I was a kid. My mom started me in piano lessons as soon as I started first grade, and I remember loving getting to learn about composers and theory. (Yes, I'm a closet nerd.) I remember singing as early as 4 years old but I'm told that at that time I seemed like a bit of a loudmouth! I was one of those kids that was in choir the all the way through school, all the way up through college. Of course I wanted all the solos and didn't always get them, which was probably a good thing or I wouldn't have worked as hard on learning music and how to sing well.

However, career-wise, I believe I wanted to be a writer before I wanted to be a singer. I taught myself to touch-type using books full of exercises from the library. I was writing poetry and short stories as early as age 5. I actually have a letter from one of my favorite authors responding to my offer to write a screenplay based on his series of children's novels. He very politely told me that he wasn't at liberty to grant me the rights since he'd already signed the rights over to Disney. I think I was 11 at the time. I don't think I thought that I could actually seriously attempt a musical career until at least a few years later.

Relating my influences always feels complicated. When I was younger I remember female singers like Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald, because my mother listened to their records a lot. She listened to opera a lot too. The male pop vocalists, like Sinatra or Mel Torme, I appreciated later (I developed a pre-teen post-mortem crush on Bobby Darin) but couldn't initially relate as their voices were so different from mine. As I grew older more modern and soulful artists like Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder got my attention. Currently, I really dig Leslie Feist as a singer/musician/songwriter. Songwriting influences include Cole Porter, Dorothy Fields and Johnny Mercer, as well as Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits and Joe Henry. I love PJ Harvey and Bjork because they continue to stretch boundaries and expectations for female artists. Their expression is raw and powerful, yet they are still in amazing control of their voice, and are powerful and skilled musicians, song creators, and producers as well.

I actually don't know if these artists I just mentioned can actually be heard in my work, but they were the ones I immediately thought of as important in my listening life.

You've been a background singer but now you are coming to the forefront. Has that been an easy transition? Are you enjoying being the center of attention or do you also enjoy being in the background?
Both! Being a part of the band and the challenge of making my voice an instrument in the harmony structure of a song is something I enjoy. I also enjoy singing in styles that I would not necessarily perform, and I get that opportunity to stretch and try on other personas when I support other artists' music with my voice, or when I'm a character in a stage show.

It's funny to call this a "transition" since I led my own bands in Seattle, and during my time singing in New York, the two roles coexisted. I love being out front, singing my original songs, no question about that. What's tedious is all the business stuff. But that's got to be done too. When it's someone else's gig, I can just show up, sing, play, look good, and go home. When it's MY gig, however, I have to coordinate the band, promote the gig, sell CD's, pass the email list, chat with fans (don't get me wrong - I love my fans!), NOT forget to pass the tip jar, pay the band, all that multitasking. I just wanna sing!

You are often referred to as a 21st century torch singer and you've just released your debut full album titled Sailor's Daughter. How would you describe your music? Does the album title have any special meaning?
The music is jazz-influenced eclectica, and incorporates sounds borrowed from Latin, rock, and Americana. When I listen back to the songs I think they sound a little heartbroken and blue, but definitely hopeful and optimistic.

But if your readers want to hear for themselves, they can search for me on www.cdbaby.com, iTunes, or on my sites: www.celiachavez.com or www.myspace.com/celiachavez. This record, Sailor's Daughter, has a dreamy tone throughout, and I'm hoping it sounds like a sea voyage - the first couple of songs like pulling away from the shore, then eventually the sailing through adventures, learning some lessons and ready to come home with a sense of reflection and by the end. I'm hoping that there are still music fans who would listen to an album like this in its entirety, as I definitely tried to have the music relate something and not be just a bunch of songs thrown onto a disc.

What are your favorite memories of your father? Has the album been well received?
My dad had lots of amazing stories about his years traveling in the merchant marine. In his later years I heard more of his stories than I heard during my childhood since he was at sea most of the time. Then my parents divorced when I was starting school. I saw him even less after that until I was an adult, so he was a bit of an enigma who didn't become more human to me until I was older and we could get to know one another on that level.

He had one story about working on an icebreaker and disembarking to dance with the cute Russian girls who were running on the frozen sea ice alongside the ship, waving at the sailors. Or my favorite, which I know he told to me at least a dozen times - when he was shipwrecked after a U-boat attack during World War II. He and the rest of the survivors in his lifeboat were terrified when the U-boat surfaced - they thought they were about to be shot. Instead, they found themselves face-to-face with an apologetic German submarine commander. Seems he had been educated in the States, was a reluctant German Navy officer, spoke perfect English, and so felt remorseful enough to provide the surviving sailors with enough food and water to last them some time, but not bad enough to rescue them (not enough room in those old submarines for extra passengers). The commander bid them adieu, and he and his sub descended into the water. My dad and his friends were rescued several days later.

So far, feedback has been good on the record, and I'm proud that my first record is being so well received.

Are there any plans to go on the road and perform live beyond New York?
Well, I just relocated to LA, so I guess I will be performing outside NYC! I'm hoping to get back to the Pacific Northwest and do a proper west coast CD release for my hometown fans. But as far as extensive touring I'm reviewing whether that makes sense right now with the resources I have, or if there may be better means to get my songs heard.

As a songwriter, do you find sometimes the creative juice a little lacking at times? If so, what are good distractions you enjoy to get you back on track creatively? Hobbies? Interests?
Well, for me, songs come when you least expect them. Inspiration can come from a dream, a movie, a bite of a good meal, a remark overheard on NPR, the look on someone's face on the subway. I just try to stay open to what the universe is showing or telling me.

When inspiration seems a little slow, I try to practice one of my instruments, journal, or read something - whether it's the newspaper, some poetry or a novel.

To get out of my head, I like to watch good films to chill out as well, or go for a bike ride or a walk on the beach to clear my head. Spending time with a good friend over a meal or coffee is important and always good time spent. I knit and crochet too - last year I made my friends' Christmas gifts! But what I really love is a good yoga class to free up energy.

Where would you like to see yourself as a singer/songwriter in 5 years?
I simply would like a career that is self-sustaining. I'd love to write with and/or for other singers, be promoting album number 4, continuing to be able to travel and work, live bicoastally, performing internationally (hopefully developing a following in Europe). Also I hope to have secured a good business team that I trust and who believes in what I'm doing well before 5 years from now!

What advice can you lend to others out there trying to be singer/songwriters out there?
Be yourself, be able to play solo gigs so you can gig whenever you want, and write, write, write. Listen as much as you can too, but know when to turn off the player and listen to what's in your own head and heart. And, learn how to edit yourself without being hard on yourself when you toss things out (I'm still working on that). But write as much as you can. And try not to compare yourself to others; be true within your own voice. And for goodness' sake, have FUN. We're blessed to be able to do what we love AND have people pay attention!

**Thanks to AArisings and Nelson Wong for asking a bunch of interesting questions - it was my pleasure to join you here!**

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Celia Chavez.

Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).