(Image via independent.co.uk)
Staff Writer: Denise Badilla
Email: dbadilla@umassd.edu
When it comes to breaking down the barriers of the redundant, generic pop sounds of the last few years, Chappell Roan’s burlesque-inspired artistry and music has the shattering force of a wrecking ball.
Her queer, 80’s synth-pop style anthems have risen to prominence following her opening act performances for the U.S leg of Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts world tour. Her latest single titled “Good Luck, Babe” debuted at number 77 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in early April, shortly after her last Guts tour date.
But who is Chappell Roan outside of her elaborate “campy” outfits, flamboyant stage presence, and her undeniably catchy tracks?
Born and raised in Willard, Missouri, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz’s stage persona was named in honor of her late grandfather, Dennis K. Chappell, and his favorite western song “Strawberry Roan” by Curly Fletcher.
At an early age, she was known for playing in various coffee shops around her small hometown, where she found her footing as a performer, albeit feeling significantly restricted as an artist due to her conservative and modest upbringing.
Chappell’s career first took flight on YouTube, posting covers that eventually caught the interest of Atlantic Records, with whom she signed her first record deal in 2017. Under Atlantic, she moved to New York where she released her first EP titled “School Nights” and went on to perform as the opening act for Vance Joy’s Lay It On Me tour the same year.
Shortly after, she made a bold yet career-altering decision to move to LA in 2018, where she managed to land an opening act gig for Declan McKenna’s 45-show tour around the country.
Roan credits this significant transition in her life for the cementing of her true artistry, the vibrant, loud, and limitless potential of Los Angeles so jarringly different from her midwestern roots, allowing her to explore her desired style and her identity as a queer woman.
“Because I was not allowed to express that kind of showmanship in Missouri where I’m from, the pendulum has swung so far the other way… I think L.A. and New York give me this freedom to be whatever I want and wear whatever I want,” Roan shared during an exclusive interview with Cherwell.
In 2020, Chappell Roan began working with producer and songwriter Dan Nigro. With his collaboration, her single “Pink Pony Club” was born, a theatrical pop ballad following the story of a small-town girl (much like herself) enticed by the glittering limelight of the city club scene.
“Pink Pony Club came from me wanting to be a Go-go dancer in L.A., but, truthfully, I’m not confident enough to do that, so I wrote a song about it,” she said when asked about the inspiration for the song.
Chappell Roan earned significant recognition for the track, which ranked third on USA Today’s Top 10 Songs of 2020, but it was unfortunately not profitable enough for Atlantic Records, which subsequently dropped her shortly after.
Her collaboration with Dan Nigro also came to a halt in 2021, following the producer’s decision to shift his priorities to Olivia Rodrigo, who, at the time, was in the process of releasing her critically-acclaimed debut album “Sour.”
Roan returned to Missouri briefly to work on her music independently while working at a drive-thru coffee shop to gather enough funds to return to LA, her determination unyielding.
By 2022, she had saved up enough to support her move back to LA, this time giving herself a 12-month ultimatum. “I was like: I have no money, but I’m gonna push through; if nothing happens by the end of next year, it’s a sign I need to move back home,” she said during an interview with The Guardian.
An abundant year followed Roan’s return to the city of angels. She independently released her song “Naked in Manhattan,” a track described by NPR as “flirty, yet uncertain.”
NPR added in their piece, “Roan’s contrasting lyrics are supplemented with delicate, yearning synths and floating falsetto that transition into an unbridled, beat-heavy release.”
From that point, she had nowhere else to go but up. In August 2022, Chappell Roan was back on the road, opening for select dates in Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour tour and Fletcher’s Girl of My Dreams tour.
Shortly after, she independently released a few more of her songs, “Femininomenon” and “Casual,” the latter of the two is currently trending on TikTok for its scandalous lyrics.
With her successful return to the music industry, Roan resumed her collaboration with Dan Nigro for her debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” each track embodying her bold, loud, feather-ruffling, drag-inspired art style, painting a clear picture of Chappell Roan’s aesthetic for both new and old fans alike.
A few tracks from the album gained significant popularity following its release in 2023. Songs such as “Red Wine Supernova,” and “HOT TO GO!” are now well known on TikTok, with the latter even having a designated dance to go with it.
Chappell Roan’s journey from the heartland of Missouri to the dazzling lights of Los Angeles epitomizes a tale of artistic evolution and self-discovery. Despite setbacks and label changes, her unwavering determination has propelled her back into the limelight, where she triumphantly reclaims her place with chart-topping singles and electrifying performances.
The rise of this Midwest princess is just the beginning of what looks to be an impactful career in music, hinting at even greater heights to come.
With her name on the lips of fans and critics alike, Chappell Roan is an artist the world should undoubtedly be keeping a keen eye on as she continues to redefine boundaries and captivate audiences with her unapologetic artistry.