Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Martinez.
Hi Chase, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello Voyage Magazine, thank you so much for having me! My name is Chase Martinez. I am a singer/songwriter, dancer, actor & model and this is my story.
Where shall I begin?
According to my parents, I started singing at the age of 3. Apparently, I was a dancer at first at the age of 2 then the singing came naturally the year after. They said I always had the passion for music that no one could have taught me or can teach me. It was just who I was. That story never fails to inspire me and it’s my greatest reminder that I am on the right path. This is what I was born to do. My dream for as long as I can remember is to become the next biggest thing in music. I don’t know how I’m gonna do it but I will make it happen in God’s will.
I am the third child out of 4. I was born in Manila, Philippines, I lived there for 8 years then lived the rest of my childhood in the UK. My parents left us to go abroad (UK) when I was 6 years old leaving us with our grandparents, uncles and aunties. They wanted to build a better life for their children. My dad’s family lived in Manila and my mother’s family lived in Lemery, Batangas which is a small province. Each year we would live from one family to the other so that we can even out our time being spent on both families while my parents were away.
You can imagine how confusing it was for me at that young age. I couldn’t really define what home was. I just remember moving a lot, attending new schools, making new friends and readjusting to a new home. I was never in one place. Specially since I was treated like a little celebrity in my school in Manila. The principle would get me out of most of my classes every week just so I can sing at gigs and charity events. I remember how everyone looked at me with so much awe compared to the other students in my year group. It was fun but that all changed when my parents decided to come back and take me with them back to the UK.
I was 8 years old when I first landed in the UK. I’ll never forget how excited I was to watch smoke coming out of my mouth because of how cold it was. The frost on the grass and the grey skies, I have never seen anything like it. That was probably the last time I had to move to a new home except it was a much larger scale. Growing up in the UK was one hell of an adjustment. It was a struggle specially since English isn’t my first language but with perseverance, it became rewarding over time. I struggled making friends and fitting in in school specially after that one incident where I became a very popular kid in such a short amount of time. It all began on my first year 0f high school where I sang in front of people one day during lunchtime. Next thing I knew I was surrounded. It was insane. Everywhere I go people wouldn’t leave me alone and they kept asking me to sing so they can record it on their flip phones. Some of them even followed me back home. My teachers had to act like my bodyguards and escorted me away. I don’t think any teacher or student has experienced anything like that in my high school. It lasted a couple months then it started to die down but I ended up being alone most of my school years ahead. It took a while but I made some friends along the way so it wasn’t too bad.
After high school, my first job was at McDonald’s. That was the time I started questioning my purpose in life. So at 17, I decided to leave my home and live with my uncle and his family in London to pursue my dream to become a singer. Little did I know the struggles and failures that was waiting for me. After years pushing through my failures and hard work, I ended up being casted to a boyband. That was an exciting chapter of my life. I felt like the dream that I was working so hard for was right in front of me and having people believe in me was all I could ever hoped for. It was also personal for me because I never really had a group of friends before. It was new and different and I became close with the boys. They meant a lot to me. It was a waiting game but the results were worth it. We got to tour all around the UK, we met and created memories with our incredible fans, traveled to America, met some friends along the way and lived the life I’ve always dreamed of. In the end, I had to part ways from the band for personal reasons. I am incredibly grateful for the time I had with the band. I have grown in ways I could never have hoped to achieve on my own. The journey was filled with overwhelming struggles, trials and faith-testing tribulations but I know in my heart that the Almighty God had to prepare me for what’s coming next. This next chapter of my life is where I am today.
Today, I am happy to say that I have never felt more aligned and at peace within myself and I am so proud to announce that I am working on my debut album. The process of putting this album together so far has been one hell of a journey because it’ll reveal parts of me that even myself have never confronted and acknowledged before. This album will be dedicated to the broken. A message to say that just because you are broken you do not have to stay broken. The broken will flourish into a beautiful beast, I truly believe that. I know I’m an oversharer but I hope someone out there can be inspired by my story. This isn’t the end of it though, this is only the beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have to say the main struggles along the way is probably confronting my past and facing my battles that I’ve neglected for so long. When I decided to put this album together I had no idea what I was getting myself into. These songs would relate so much in my love life, my upbringing, my pain and how I see the world in general. It was almost as if this album was a diary of thoughts and feelings that I had tucked away because of self-negligence. In a way, this album became more effective than any kind of therapy that I’ve ever received including my own therapist. This has taken raw strength and a strong willpower to put together so once you hear these songs, understand that it’s my life and I hope you can hear the rawness and realness in the music.
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 have been in the music industry for more than 5 years. I have worked with some of the biggest names like Diane Warren and even got signed to Warner Music Asia. I got to tour around the UK and was able to gain a lot of success from it. I am proud of my achievements but nothing beats being obsessed with the process of gaining those achievements. I love writing songs, playing guitar and piano, producing my own songs and being my own mixing engineer. Anything surrounding music I have an immediate obsession. So much that it even extends to dancing. I am a self-taught dancer and I naturally have the talent for it but also naturally passionate about it. Anything upbeat I will immediately transformed by the music!
I think what sets me apart is my passion. Someone can look at me and call me talented but the truth is I am just in love at with I do. Creativity is in my blood and I am surrounded by it. I learned how to edit photos and videos of myself purely because I wanted to explore more of my creativity. I got myself into fashion purely because I love being creative with what I wear and project my personality. So much to the point that I also became a model. My energy on camera became contagious and natural, I looked comfortable on camera because I was really was. I enjoyed modeling so much that I became an actor later down the line.
Can you see the pattern? It’s my passion, I take time and effort into developing these skills along the way. When I am invested I have sharp focus and pay close attention to detail. From editing videos to changing a different colour sock and mastering a dance routine. I believe it all aligns and it’s all driven by passion.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Here’s my perspective on risk taking.
If you want the same then move the same. But if you want different you gotta move different. Different can mean multiple things but one thing for sure, if you really wanted something go get it, period. I actually got that quote from a movie called “The pursuit of happiness” and it’s an incredible film.
If you truly believe in your goals and dreams, there is no plan B or a backup plan. It’s taking the risks that takes you to another level, it’s that uncertainty that tests your belief in yourself that’ll determine whether you make it or not. The mind is a powerful ally or it can be your greatest enemy. To be honest with you I don’t have it all figured out. Someone can take one good look at me and see that I seem to be aligned with my work and where I am going towards in my life and career but that is far from the truth. I pretty much freestyle my way around things but I know where I am aiming to be, keeping my eyes on the prize. Having faith is a necessity. I have faith In the Almighty God who gave me this dream and faith within myself and trusting that I am more than capable in living the life that I have envisioned for myself.
In conclusion, if you don’t want more that’s perfectly fine but if you have big aspirations in life then you gotta be willing to take the hits and persevere through it all until you win.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasemartinezmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKxaKpFCe3TjK4O77eV75fw
Image Credits
Some images captured by: Dinkz Jpeg (https://www.dinkzjpeg.com)
