Daily Inspiration: Meet Chastidy Ellis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chastidy Ellis.

Hi Chastidy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Im CHAZZY an independent R&B singer, songwriter based in Charlotte, NC, and music has always been a part of who I am. I started singing in church at a young age and later joined selected choir throughout school, which helped shape my voice, confidence, and love for performing. Even early on, I knew music was something special to me, and I always felt like my sound and creativity were different. Inspired by the emotion, vulnerability, and storytelling of 90s and early 2000s R&B, I’ve always wanted to create music that feels real, relatable, and timeless.

While music had always been a passion, my artist journey began taking shape in 2016 when I was nominated for Best R&B Artist at the Queen City Awards for my first mixtape. In 2020, I released my EP You Go Girl, continuing to find my sound and confidence as an artist. In 2021, I reintroduced myself as CHAZZY, which marked a new chapter creatively and personally, while also connecting with the multifaceted creative company THE ONYX MUSE Movement, an important part of my artistic journey.

In 2022, I released my first official music video, “Missing You,” which has reached over 165,000 views and counting and earned a nomination for Best R&B Music Video at the Carolina Music Video Awards. In 2024, I released Phases of a Capricorn, a project that allowed me to dive deeper into emotions, vulnerability, and personal experiences in a way I hadn’t before. That growth later led to another Carolina Music Video Award nomination in 2025 for my song “WORK 4 IT” from the project.

Most recently, I released N.E.X.T (Never Expect Xtra Time) on March 23, which shifted me into a new era creatively, mentally, and physically. The project brought a new level of confidence, growth, grown essence and strength, and intention to my artistry while pushing me to evolve in every area of my life. Fitness has become a major part of this chapter, teaching me discipline, resilience, and self-confidence through challenges and personal growth. I’m currently preparing to release visuals from the project, with “Slide” being the first visual of this new era. Today, I’m focused on authenticity, evolution, and creating music that helps people feel seen, understood, and connected.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but every challenge has taught me something. One of the biggest struggles has been balancing being an independent artist while working full-time. A lot of people see the finished product, but behind the scenes there are long days, financial sacrifices, and moments where you have to continue believing in yourself even when things don’t happen overnight.

I’ve also experienced grief, self-doubt, and moments where I questioned myself creatively and personally. Experiencing grief, especially around the time of creating Phases of a Capricorn, deeply impacted me and shifted my perspective in many ways. There were moments where I wanted to throw in the towel and give up, but music became a space for healing, reflection, and honesty. That project allowed me to express emotions in a deeper way, but more importantly, it really pushed me to believe in myself and trust my voice as an artist.

More recently, I’ve challenged myself mentally and physically in new ways. Fitness has become a huge part of my current journey, teaching me discipline, patience, confidence, and the importance of showing up for yourself even when progress feels slow. Through it all, I’ve learned that growth isn’t always comfortable, but every obstacle has helped shape the artist and person & woman I’m becoming.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an artist, I specialize in creating R&B music rooted in emotion, storytelling, vulnerability, and confidence. I’m heavily inspired by the feeling, honesty, harmonies, and emotion of 90s and early 2000s R&B while still bringing a modern feel to my sound. Over time, songwriting has become one of my favorite parts of creating because I enjoy turning real experiences, emotions, and everyday moments into music that feels honest, relatable, and timeless.

What sets me apart from others is my sound and songwriting. I’ve always felt like my sound was different and not like everybody else’s. My music blends nostalgic R&B influences with a modern feel while still staying true to who I am creatively. I love creating harmonies and emotional storytelling that allow people to connect with what they’re hearing. Every project reflects a different season of my life, from the emotional vulnerability of Phases of a Capricorn to the confidence, growth, and intention behind N.E.X.T (Never Expect Xtra Time).

Beyond music, fitness has naturally become a part of my brand and personal journey in ways I never expected. What started as a commitment to myself has grown into something much bigger. Even something as simple as jump rope has shifted my mindset, teaching me discipline, consistency, and confidence. It’s also allowed me to promote body positivity, share my journey, give advice, and be a voice for girls who look like me. More than anything, I’m proud of my growth, consistency, and continuing to evolve while staying true to who I am.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is being able to wake up every day with the mindset, discipline, and opportunity to do the things I genuinely love. Whether it’s creating music, working on myself, connecting with people, or simply growing into the person I’m becoming, I’ve learned to appreciate the journey and the little moments along the way. It makes me happy because it reminds me that I’m actively walking in purpose and becoming the person I’m meant to be.

Music makes me incredibly happy because it allows me to express myself, heal, and connect with others in a meaningful way. I also find happiness in being a vessel and someone who can inspire or encourage other people, whether through my music, my fitness journey, or simply being authentic and sharing my experiences. Knowing that something I say, create, or share can positively impact someone else is one of the most fulfilling feelings to me.

My friends, my family, my love, and my supporters also bring me happiness and keep me grounded. More than anything, I feel incredibly blessed knowing I was given a gift and purpose that has the potential to take me very far in life. I truly believe favor has played a huge part in my journey, and that gives me peace, motivation, and excitement for everything still ahead.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_chazzyworld
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@_chazzyworld
• Other: https://ffm.to/chazzynext