How Christian Creatives Conquer Anxiety and Embrace Their God-Given Gift | Chantae Cann, Vocalist

Most people think confidence has to come before you step into your gift. It doesn't. If you're waiting to feel ready before you use what God gave you, that's exactly why you're still standing on the sidelines.

Chantae Cann proves that belief wrong. She's a renowned indie jazz and soul artist who has worked with luminaries like PJ Morton, Snarky Puppy, and India Arie, and she is also a creative and vocal coach for other artists. 

In this timeless interview, Allen and Chantae get into the shift in her thinking that lets her create from freedom instead of waiting on fear to leave first.

Press play to find out why waiting for fear to disappear is the wrong strategy, what to do with your gift while you're still scared of it, and how to tell the difference between God's voice and your own insecurity. 

Don't Build Your Creator Lifestyle Alone. Join the Community! 

In our 360 Creator Community, you get focused encouragement, guidance, and training on how to thrive as a God-centered creator. 

Joining gives you access to our app, workshops and community conversations, so you can stop being isolated and frustrated and start enjoying creative confidence! Join today!

GodandGigs.com/membership

Transcript

Allen C. Paul | Founder, God and Gigs (00:00)
Sometimes the creators that look the most confident are feeling something completely different underneath. A hidden fear and crippling anxiety that bubbles up at the worst possible moment. Today's guest lived that gap for years, and what she was feeling on stage during some of the biggest moments of her career is not what you would expect from someone with a voice like hers.

Our guest today, Chantae Cann is a jazz and soul artist and a former background vocalist for India Iree. She's a successful indie artist who has worked with top artists like PJ Morton and Snarky Puppy, and she also helps other artists as a creative and vocal coach.

However, there was a night earlier in her career in a room full of people that she was terrified to perform in front of when something happened to her body and her memory that she really can't fully explain and it changed the way she understood her own gift. So we're bringing back this powerful interview from our archives to show you how she moved from that fear instead of waiting for it to disappear.

You'll discover what she experienced that night, how she kept showing up after that.

And the shift in her thinking that let her create from a place of freedom instead of fear.

Now, if you're new to the podcast, my name is Allen C. Paul, and this is the God and Gigs Show, where we help you to become the creative that you were created to be.

You'll definitely want to follow through to the end of this episode because then you'll know why waiting for fear to disappear is the wrong strategy. What to do with your gift while you're still scared of stepping into it, and how to embrace God's call, even when your insecurity seems to be drowning out the voice of faith.

Allen C. Paul (01:37)
I want you to experience the light, the joy, the amazing spirit that is Chantae Cann my sister. Welcome to the God and Gigs Show. How are you?

Chantae Cann (01:47)
OMG. I am doing very, very well. It is so amazing to be here. Thank you so much for having me back. I do know we were kind of chatting about the last time we were here in these God and gig streets. Yep. And it was a long time ago. And I I had I had to remember some things because yeah, it was it was over.

Allen C. Paul (02:12)
I went I went I went down the the the mental playlist for myself just the the timeline just to try to figure this out okay so these are the things that were happening this is this is this what's happened since you've been on the show okay Barack Obama was still president

Chantae Cann (02:27)
yeah.

Allen C. Paul (02:27)
like like it was I know right like you I think it was it was it was 16 or 17 no yeah right or 16 I don't know what yeah right right at the election time right so it was it was back then it was

Pre-COVID, pre-everything. So we have we have had so much life. We've had so much life happen both in your life and my life. And yet what k the key is that we still have the same heart for relationship, the same heart for music. You have always been now, thank God we have been able to perform together since then, which is one of my joys. Now it has been it's been a few years now, so I've been fiending and I've just been living on Spotify and title, you know, to get my Chantae fixed. But

But no, this is real. This is real. This is a relationship you've always been. Absolutely. I mentioned light. It's not just one of those phrases. You hear it. I hope you hear it all the time from your album, Soul Empowered, from everything. Light just comes out of it. So let's introduce you first, those. We can do like the the friend, the friend zone, like us connecting forever. But we gotta let people who don't know you get to know you. So for those who've just meeting you for the first time, I know this is hard. The 30 seconds learn all about you, right? But

What do you want people to know about you the first time they meet you? The things that, you know, immediately you want to stand out if they don't remember anything else.

Chantae Cann (03:47)
what do I want them to know? I want them to know that. So I consider myself to be a jazz soul artist that is kind of.

Influenced by world music, hip hop, of course, gospel. I really honestly what you said, like it is my goal to be a light wherever I go. It is my goal to be an encourager wherever I go. It is my goal to kind of just leave leave a lasting impact, whether it's through my music, whether it's through conversation, whether it's through

just you know, my own personal devotion or prayer time. I just, yeah, I just I'm here to yeah, to walk in that purpose.

Allen C. Paul (04:45)
See you, you did good. See, I think you were worried from the get-go that my gosh, I gotta put all this in this little container in a box. And we all none of us wanna be in the box, right? But you don't fit in the box. Let's let's go first to that part when you started with the jazz and soul. Let's let's get let's let's nerd out on the music stuff first, right? Okay. So ever since you started, and I'm gonna allude people to the bonus episode. Again, it was so far back, I'm gonna have to post a link for it.

Because you know, it was literally at the beginning, but it was it was a bonus episode that came out right before you released Soul Empowered. So your journey to Golden Album, your time as a BGV with India Arie all of that, like we kind of touched on it, but we couldn't even get into that back then. So give me just some of the history of how you started to what was the genre that caught your attention first, as whether it was church, whether it was

You know, hearing a certain artist, like who were your first few inspirations? And I know that's another hard question, but just give me a couple of the people that like started to make you feel like, I want to do this, I want to sing like this, or I want to make music that sounds like this.

Chantae Cann (05:51)
Okay, so quiet is kept. I can remember having an affinity for harmonies at a very, very young age. I would like lock myself in my room and listen to artists such as Take Six. I would listen to a lot of Bobby McFerrin. I would listen to a lot of classical music, honestly, because my mom was a music t teacher, so she had every type of genre. My dad

Who's also a music connoisseur kind of expressed me to, he exposed me to all genres all across the globe. So he has everything from Mississippi Mass Choir to Tupac to incognito. You know, my dad is very well versed. If you would just look at him, you would not be like, okay, this man just listens to all the other things. But so that kind of combined, that exposure combined with the raw talent of my mom, who I also

Was a saxophone player. She played in the Philharmonic Jazz Society at Clark College when she went there back in the day. So she got to go on tour and open for artists like Dizzy Gillespie. And yeah, she got to go all over across the world, Switzerland, doing all these Montreaux jazz festivals. so it was innate kind of in the DNA when it came to both of my parents. and then my mom.

was the music teacher at the school that I went to. And so I was

Allen C. Paul (07:20)
Did not know that. Wow. Okay. So we have that common.

Chantae Cann (07:23)
Yeah.

Allen C. Paul (07:24)
My mom was also my music teacher for a few years. Exactly. So yes, that is the both the best and the worst because you can't get away with anything.

Chantae Cann (07:32)
What she I mean, I was just like, man, I was either like I was either the second teacher or I was getting in trouble because my mom demanded more of me and she knew that I, you know, had a knack for it and a and a and a mm, like affinity for it and a desire for it and a and an intelligence for it. so I couldn't just like mess around and be like, Yeah, I'm tired of this. But

The funny thing is, I actually really enjoyed it. Like, not a lot of people used to ask me, like, how was it having your mom as a teacher? Now, granted, when she wasn't teaching, you know, I was getting on her nerves, she was getting on my nerve just like any other parent. And she did embarrass me a couple times. because the the the period of time that she taught me was from like kindergarten through eighth grade. Wow. Yes. So those were kind of some crazy years. And I remember one time.

Had these glasses that I did not want to wear. I did not want to put them on, but I needed them to see. And there were these pink plastic glasses that I hated. I thought they were so ugly in third grade. And I remember her telling the class, like, well, we were getting ready to start class, right? And so everybody's like, okay, why aren't we starting class? And then my mom was like,

class, I want you to tell Chantae to put on her glasses because we're not gonna start the class until she puts them on.

Allen C. Paul (09:04)
I just sold you my god the entire class of stick.

Chantae Cann (09:08)
Be inside and everybody shout aí put on your black.

Allen C. Paul (09:15)
I would love to be a fly of the wall when you got home that night. my gosh, that would

Chantae Cann (09:20)
So

mad like you have to you had to go. You just had to go. Yeah, so there weren't too many other instances other than that that kinda was like, mm, so you know, since then we we got along.

Allen C. Paul (09:33)
that's so beautiful. But no, I love this. I mean, family clearly meant a lot to you, right? Because it gave you that musical direction and they were there for you. Now, when you talk about that, because I see this, I again it's so hard for me not to skip ahead, right? Because I want to just skip ahead. I I see all this in you. It all makes perfect sense, right? When I see your personality, I know your personality. But again, we gotta open up a little bit one layer at a time for people who are just who just now say, Wait, okay. Yeah. So maybe they have it been exposed to you just musically.

So tell me, I know I I know something you told about even when it came to church and fitting in at our le our last interview, I remember you talked about your voice and how people kind of try maybe to keep you in a box there. But meanwhile, your voice is your voice. Your personality is your personality.

what point did it become like professional and was it a struggle at all? Because you got this great musical c education, but now you gotta apply it to being in this, you know, music industry? What was that like?

Chantae Cann (10:35)
Hmm. And guess what? You never quite stop being a student. I'm still a student right now.

Allen C. Paul (10:42)
That's a great point. Great point.

Chantae Cann (10:44)
I at least I feel that way. I feel like there's some some other thing that I'm always learning, whether it's music related or not, there's something that is impacting my artistry as a whole. and so I really appreciate you know, the gift of that. I'll say what was the moment that I had to put everything like put the pedal to the middle and like literally step out.

Past my fear, past my anxiety, which I had a lot of. I didn't know what the word was until much later in my adult years. yeah, that's absolutely an anxiety. I was singing in church. at this one particular church, I joined a youth group in about maybe tenth grade or so.

And I went to this place and I was like, wow, this is really, really cool. The youth pastor was awesome. He was crazy. He was saying all these things that would just really relate to the kids our age and nobody else was really, really relating to them that I saw. So I wanted to go more. And so one of one of my friends went with me and she ended up like telling on me that I could sing.

Now granted, still introverted. I mean not I mean shy as I don't know as all get out. Like I literally had to go in people's I would go in inside people's pantries and like get myself together and then come out and sing. So at that point when they told the person over the praise team that I could sing, I was just like, man, why did you do that? And so the lady made me sing for her.

and then she made me do these harmonies and I repeated them like verbatim back to her specifically. And she was like, okay, you can sing anything. And I was like, Okay, guess so. And so then she was like, I want you to sing this. And I was like, Okay, so being scared out of my mind in that environment, and also there were times in in that environment where you know the hard churchy singing.

That we do every single day because this particular place we were there Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and if there's a special event, Friday, Saturday, back at Sunday, and a lot of hard singing. So I did notice myself getting hoarse a lot. I noticed, like, hey, no, this is all fun and games, and yes, I'm expressing myself to the Lord. but also

I'm hurt over here. Like I can't be sounding like a chain smoker. I'm only 15. So I'm like, okay, there something has to happen. So then through that, through the through the fighting, you know, of of singing, which I I really enjoyed, but I started to find different textures of my voice and started like working on using that a bit more and working on expressing myself with those.

Tones and textures. And I I knew the difference between what felt good and what didn't feel good, what felt safe and what didn't feel safe for my vocals. And so I was like, okay, cool. Like I don't necessarily have to do all this hoopla over here. There's a time and a place for it, but for my voice type, it's just not is not, you know, helping me, I don't think. so I found this.

this this safe space, I found sort of my own voice out and it began to be cultivated. And I have to shout out the lady that made me do all this because her name is Dimitria Doc. Shout out to Mimi because she ended up being one of my big sisters and literally one of my vocal coaches to this day. and I really appreciate her because she took me under her wing and cultivated me from a creative standpoint, from a

like art of development standpoint, like she made me less afraid. She kind of gave me the courage to just get out there and do stuff and yeah, let alone all the like vocal acrobatic that she is well and able to do. So I was just like, wow, this is cool. So so during during that transition, I started to kind of sing at open mics. because at church was one thing and and I did notice people kind of giving this heartfelt

gratitude and like a or they were expressing like admiration for what I was bringing to the table. And I was just like, wow, that's okay, are you sure? Because I was just expressing myself to to to God the best way I knew how and to have people like connect with it and say that they're moved or they're inspired or that they're, you know, they feel a sense of healing or they feel God through what I'm singing. That right there, I was like, wow, okay. Like that was a the utmost

like a like a compliment in in that arena. And so that kind of gave me the curiosity and the courage to go do open mics. And it was there that I kind of branched into my more improvisational skills and like the musical shedding and all of the things that I was scared to do or was sheltered from in the church, I was able to kind of see and still be

used in in those arenas and so

Allen C. Paul (16:22)
I know, but

Chantae Cann (16:24)
I'm gonna go to bed.

Allen C. Paul (16:26)
I I want to stop because as soon as you said used you and I and everybody that's listening that knows what that word really means in that environment, because you're switching from church to open mics. And you're switching and you just said improvisation. And you I wanted to catch another word you said before before I got too far and I forgot. You said sheltered by the church in the improvisation.

And that's why I thought was really important, especially to this audience, to people who know what it's like to live in both worlds, right? That you found you weren't ever saying the church wasn't a good place for your creativity. You literally just said you developed yourself there. But also within that, because you need to change, you know, you got a metria there to help you like start to figure out what your voice was really capable of. And then I think it's like as a both and, I guess, is what I'm seeing in your development. It wasn't church. and then I threw away everything from church.

So I can go do my thing and learn to be a professional singer, a professional artist. You you brought both to the table, and that's why I stopped you when you said use, because God was still in it when he when you went to to the to the club, right? Like he was still that's why it's like it's like, see, that's why I want people always to catch. Like there isn't like this dividing line where she stopped

Chantae Cann (17:40)
Yes.

Allen C. Paul (17:41)
you know what I mean, and then started doing it in terms of gigs. It's like no, it's the same process.

You just got even more freedom to understand like what your voice and your musicality was gonna become through that process.

Chantae Cann (17:53)
Absolutely. And I'm glad that you brought that back up because that was a very defining moment in my life, like figuring out, like, hey, like there might be something for me in both worlds. It's not either or it's both and. And there was a time when I was first developing my relationship with God, like in my teenage years. And I was like, Yeah, God, I'm only gonna sing for you. And I'm only gonna, you know, sing gospel songs, and I'm only gonna blah blah blah. I was like, yeah, whatever you want me to do, I'm

You know, I'm I'm there, you know, very sold out. Sold out, Lord. And I I I I'm actually glad I I said that because that allowed e even though I said I'm only gonna sing gospel music and I'm only gonna sing, you know, for you.

At the end of that, I still said, I I wanna do what you want me to do. And so he then later on showed me that where he has me is gonna be in both places. And one is not more important than the other. They're both very, very necessary. obviously my spiritual foundation is the the foundation. My relationship with God is the foundation out of everything, but they are going to be both both met very necessary.

for what he's called me to do. And when I was singing at I did a show at Sugar Hill years and years and years ago. this was like when I was first starting to realize like the the like the gift that was within me. Like I I was still figuring out for my own self. Like it it was surprising me, me sometimes. And I was like, Lord, I'm so nervous about this performance. But I mean one of my friends, we prayed in the back

I was like, listen, guy, whatever you do, just use me, whatever it is, you know. And of course I wasn't singing gospel songs at all. It was like Soul and RB and Neo Soul, maybe some old school classics songs, covers that I that I kind of did my way. And when I tell you

I felt God in that place. Like I well, like I had to tap out because back then when my anxiety was like through the roof, I had to tap tap out. I blacked out, literally black out. And I sometimes don't even remember until I watched a video of it. And I'm like, wow guy, you really were there. And even crazier, I felt the this prophetic voice. Like I felt the voice of God like showing me, revealing me, pe revealing to me people. Like, and I was.

there was things that I would say to them like, hey, like just encouraging encouraging words. And I I never really did that before. And I was just like, okay, God, I this is crazy because I felt like it was an officer call, but it was literally at the club, Shaq, you know, yeah.

Allen C. Paul (20:49)
Wow. I love it.

Chantae Cann (20:51)
was like God okay this is mind blowing because help me understand God help me understand and so later and later he clarified more and more you know like why I have your foundation you know God and then you are supposed to be being a light and darkness in the world

Allen C. Paul (21:10)
Mm. See, yes, that's a hundred percent what I think a lot of us in the industry and say industry, those of us who are called, right, who call to the industry. Let people use it let him say it like that. I think that's a better way to say it. Those of us who are called to the industry, called to the masters, called to the mainstream, called to be a light in dark places. I love what Trent we we just talked about the fact that we

We got to meet even a talk a first interview at Trent's conference where I launched God and Geeks all those years ago. And I remember Trent put it in the book. He said to know where you're planted, that if you're planted in a house to be only or strictly or reserved, right? Wow to the ministry to

Then do that. But if you are called out, then do that. Like you said, I love the obedience and the humility that you said. That eventually it was like, Yeah, God, if you called me to be on stages with Snarky Puppy and Little John Roberts, if you called me to be behind NDIRE, if you called me like your humility sounds almost like what I'm I was about to pivot to this, I just realized I did it without even thinking. Right. People are seeking those positions.

Where you get to sing in these big stages and you're on YouTube and you got millions of views, right? Some people are seeking that. Sounds like you were almost seeking not to, or at least it wasn't a goal. Like tell me, tell me whether that

Chantae Cann (22:28)
it was not. I had no idea it was gonna. I had no idea. I just knew I loved music. I knew I could sit and listen to it for hours in my head in my own little world being lost in my own little safe place. I had no idea the magnitude to which being a vessel would would would play a part. I had no idea the magnitude to which my purpose, my God,

My God Yeah, my God connection. Yeah. I had no idea how much it would play a part into what I was supposed to be doing. yeah, because like I said, when I I when I went to college for a couple years before I was like may not be for me right now, my focus was just all over the place. Child that was that was a that was a very similar time back then. so

Yeah, back before I was trying to figure it out, I went to school for early childhood education. I was interested in teaching kids. I was even gonna do some Spanish education type things. I I remember I switched majors right in the middle and then I lost a little focus, got got overwhelmed. and I just kind of was like, Yeah, I don't know, guys. I kind of just stopped trying basically because I got

very much overwhelmed this yeah in my own little world. But in that being overwhelmed, God is very strategic because even in that, I was like, I'm gonna just go and get a nine to five. I'm gonna figure out my life, figure this thing out. I started working at this this call center. It was like a a telemarketing call center for like some MCI or somebody back in the day.

Allen C. Paul (24:22)
Yeah, it's too bad. Okay. Long

Chantae Cann (24:27)
Anyway, so I was trying to figure it out. And Amitria, the lady who cultivated me at church, we're gonna call her Mimi for now because that's what that's what we call her. So she had already had a gig singing background for India. And so, you know, because she was my big sister, she came to me and she was like, yo.

there's a an opportunity to sing background for her for maybe like a month because one of the guys was taking a break and doing a play. yeah. So they were like, You wanna come sing for like a month? And at that time, I think I was trying to figure out if I was gonna do school, if I was gonna do work. So that was the first time. And I was like, I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out my life. I don't know. So then a second time she comes back with the same opportunity. Hey, this is this is

This is happening again. We can really use your help because all I gotta do is say, Hey, I got my girl Chantae. I'm gonna get her straight. I'm gonna teach her all the time. I'm gonna make sure she's she's great, you know. Cause I was already a protege of Mimi. I was already a student of her. So we were like that. And so it was nothing for her to just come in and prepare me, which she did. And so at that time I was like, okay, this is coming back around again. I I cannot pass up on this opportunity. So I I took it and I said,

Count me in. I was scared as all get out like

but Mimi made sure I was ready as re as ready as I I could possibly be. And yeah. I was supposed to fill in for a month and I they never asked me to leave.

Allen C. Paul (26:08)
Look at that. Look at God. Wow. I I'm still I'm still stunned that you said no to what people are like again, like you said no. You're like, nah, amazing opportunity, no thanks. Like, come on, like who does that? But I think the beautiful thing though, my the the beautiful thing about it is like you said that if if you're seeking

the right things for the right reasons. Right. You're seeking like you said, you were going through that. I I I went through the same season. I didn't gig. I I I know we're probably right off the rails, but we'll get back there somehow. I didn't gig for about eight years, nine, ten years after college because I just was like, okay, I got a family like you. I was like church, church, church, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. So Jesus don't want me to play no, no, no, no love songs. And it wasn't until again I got to that kind of like like crossroads. It was like, wait, am I doing am I am I

Am I making myself small or keeping myself here because God said so or because I said so? Right.

Chantae Cann (27:10)
Yeah.

Allen C. Paul (27:11)
And it's like that's two different people. Yeah, two differ totally two different ways. Like this is the my will, his will. Like and then it's like, yeah, they they're they're the same. Like, no, I'm I'm making mine sound like his. Right? And so and so that's where I I hear you say, like, okay, you you were humble about it, but at the same time, like I mean me is like, hey,

Please? Like you're literally holding out on this. Hilarious. Like they're begging you to put this thing like this. my goodness. So okay, so now we we do have

Chantae Cann (27:43)
I didn't have to audition for her. That's good. I literally I sung for the music music director on on the phone. He was like, yeah, we good, we good. I just we we know she good cause you said she good, but we just want to make sure. So sung for the music director with a phone and I was like, god. It was all right, pack your back. Headed to Chicago. That was the first one of the first shows in yes, I don't want to date myself, but I don't care because I'm grown.

Allen C. Paul (28:10)
Yeah.

Chantae Cann (28:13)
so yeah, and six was my first show with her.

Allen C. Paul (28:18)
Wow. And all these years later and and I and that's where I did want to pivot because I was gonna ask this question. I think, yeah, I think it does need to be asked. what were the biggest lessons once you got in the professional realms? What what was the thing because someone's listening right now, right? Someone that's that's gonna be signing up for coaching, someone that someone that wants you to be their meme, right? Like someone's gonna ask you the same question or they're listening right now or watching right now, they're gonna say, like, okay, so what

what did you

Find out that they need to know. Like we want you into that world.

Chantae Cann (28:53)
Okay. So my main thing was there was a time when, like you said, when I was doing open mic nights and I was just singing. and this is kind of when YouTube was like first popping off. So I was not saying, Hey everybody, look at me, I can sing. I was just in my element and people noticed me in my element. And because I was

rehearsed in my element or because I was comfortable in my elements, so to speak. It's almost like

Allen C. Paul (29:28)
Yeah.

Chantae Cann (29:30)
you can really see that. Like when when I'm not in my element, I'm not comfortable at all. But when I'm in that thing, I I'm just like, yeah, it it it's something else, man. And then when I was kind of exposed to these other musicians who pulled those things out of me, it was like a a vocal conversation. It was a musical conversation

A conversation happening right in front of me in in that very moment. Like, whether it was impromptu, whether it was a cover, whether it was rehearsed, like there's always some those very special moments that really, really made me listen to all the instruments, like every single solitary instrument and the rhythm section. Like I'm listening to it all. So all of those I'm following somewhere.

along the way. I may not be able to articulate it through just my voice, but I'm feeling what the drum is doing. I'm listening to what the keys is doing. I'm I'm feeling the bass and I'm reiterating like a call and response almost. So it it's like this magical moment that can only be created when you have those like those like minded people in those circles and you have the freedom to where you don't have to worry about, if I do this, is he gonna catch is he gonna catch me or do I have to play it safe?

So those people those musicians that are safe and intuitive and learning and want to not overshadow anybody or take over the takeover spirit is overdone. You know what I'm saying? We have a million of those, especially in today's society, child. So I would just say knowing your strengths, knowing what makes you comfortable, and people will discover you, they will find you.

They will when you perfect your craft, they will find you. You know what I'm saying? You can be your own business card. And yes, it's good to be professional, have all the things, have all your ducks in a row, but don't rely on the let me shine a light on me right quick. You know what I'm saying? Because if I if I don't, I won't get seen. And so that's kind of like a, you know, it's not a it's a very come from that comes from a place of insecurity and

people are not really gonna want to deal with that because it will show through what you're through what you're doing. So I will say just get solid in who you are, get solid in your why. Why are you doing these things? Why, like what is your message to people? What do you want people to to gain from your craft and in in the way that you're you know speaking to them. So I would I would say figure out those things as early as possible and then you can build from it.

Allen C. Paul (32:06)
I'm I'm stuck on what you just said about perfecting your craft. That's your business card. I'm still stuck on that. I know they can rewind, but I would just like say like rewind like the poets. Yeah, no.

Chantae Cann (32:15)
That's fine.

Allen C. Paul (32:16)
That is that is so powerful because I think we do and again I'm the same way with my, you know, people in our community that we're helping. I do say, hey, you gotta get your website together. You gotta be able to like show up and you know show up on time and be professional and wear the right stuff and you know, know the songs, but there's so much more about being comfortable in yourself.

that that really does that is what I think people are looking for, not the prove yourself to me kind of spirit that you're saying, like whether it be musicians or singers or even you know, media, any creative side where you're like trying to prove yourself through your art, people can see right through that. Like they can see that you're not really comfortable and then you like you said, like they you know, it's like where is it that people that are needy, you know, like

Chantae Cann (33:00)
You make them feel

like they have to prove theirselves. So

Allen C. Paul (33:03)
True, it's multiplies 100

comparison as 100%. Wow.

I've you know the times we had a chance to perform together, the fact that you your music has always really inspired me in that freedom of it because I've always felt challenged. I've always felt like it makes me want to be a better musician. And then those peop the people who listen, like I see the I see the Instagrams, my friend. I see the reels where people be singing Free Your Dreams and and covering.

And covering your stuff. Tell me a little Yeah, but tell me a little bit because I know that means a lot to you, but tell me a little bit, you know, about because again, we're you're you're you're now helping other artists. So I really want to make sure artists hear this part. Like tell me what it is that you you feel when other people are now following in your footsteps because

All the work you just we just talked about, we just talked about all the the the hard work you did, the internal work, the insecurity, all that stuff. So now I want someone to say or hear from you, hey, this is why I did it, because you see what the results are. Like what are the what are the results that you're looking at right now that make you feel most proud of what you've done?

Chantae Cann (34:13)
Wow, yes. Okay. So I would have to say, kind of piggyback off of what you brought up. And when people tag me in songs that they covered of mine or people that I collabed with, it's just so it's it's it's still surreal, even even in this very moment. Because listen, when I say those things are on time all the time, it's like, okay, you guys said you need another reminder of

what I'm doing and and why I did it and and why maybe, you know, here's another in inspiration for you to stop comparing yourself or here's another bit of inspiration for you to stop second guessing, you know, the plan of God. And so when I'm seeing these people like cover these things and some people like they really, really have been inspired from it vocally. I'm just like, wow Lord, it it's it's amazing. I feel very blessed. I feel very honored. I feel

very it's a sometimes it's an out of body experience because I'm just like, wow. Like I I know the feeling of like I know the people that I look up to musically. And so it's like these people are looking up to me the same way I'm looking up to them. And it's like it's it kind of freaks me out sometimes. But more so now I I am learning how to own it in in my elevated states.

I'm learning how to own it. I'm learning learning how to not I'm learning how to fight the spirit of imposter syndrome because that's still a very real thing. and so I'm just like, you know what? I just take it for what it is. I I I try to take a little moment and just, you know, say a little prayer, just be thankful and grateful and just yeah.

Just let that continue to inspire me to keep going. And I I call I'll call something like that inter inspiration because it's like I'm inspiring them and they're inspiring me right back. So it's like this.

Allen C. Paul (36:15)
Wait, okay, wait, see

that.

Chantae Cann (36:17)
E so so E

with an I

Allen C. Paul (36:20)
I'm so for real now. I really need to get this exactly right. Like E, you're saying enter as an I. I enter. Enter inspiration. That's what you're calling.

Chantae Cann (36:27)
Yeah.

Allen C. Paul (36:28)
Please tell me that you've already like trademarked that.

Chantae Cann (36:30)
I haven't. I but I I've used that that phrase, but I have not trademarked it yet. Maybe I should.

Allen C. Paul (36:35)
You should. You should a hundred percent. Cause my lord, I'm I want to steal it right now, but I'll give you credit. I will definitely give you credit. That's an apocal come on, author. Say, look, explain.

Chantae Cann (36:46)
you you inspired me too. You inspire too now.

Allen C. Paul (36:49)
Exclusive. Come on now. All right.

Chantae Cann (36:51)
yes.

Allen C. Paul (36:52)
It's such a great way to explain it though. Like I've never heard that. I'm telling you in all the books, all these books behind me, I've never heard anybody explain what's happening the way you just explained it.

Chantae Cann (37:01)
And let me tell you what kind of inspired that phrase. One of my dear good pastor friends, Daryl Ford. he used to be the pastor of Icon Community Church, which I used to attend back in the day when it was around. And his his daughter is so sweet. I love her so much. her name is Audrey Ford. I gotta shout out to her. She's, you know, in her teenagers now, but back in the day, I remember Daryl sent me.

A picture now, granted, we kind of we kind of look alike, like like she looks like she could be my sister or like my child. So he sent me a picture of her when she was four years old, watching a video of me. And it was almost as if she saw herself in me. And when he sent me that picture, I'm looking at her, looking at me, looking at me. So I was just like, whoa, this is crazy.

It was really, really insane. I was just like, wow, this is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Like, thank you so much for sharing this with me. And it it just, yeah, it it means the world, man. It means the world.

Allen C. Paul (38:13)
gosh, it's been too beautiful. My friend, my look, your very name means song. And so

Chantae Cann (38:20)
Hello, hello lights. You better do better know.

Allen C. Paul (38:24)
So I know that everything that you're doing, God already ordained that to be that inter inspiration, right? Where we're, I mean, so many verses come. I don't want to preach right now, but like spur each other on to good works, right? That's that's a hundred percent like what you're talking about. Like we are we are helping each other. Like that's how we all are coming together, what God has brought us to do. So I gotta finish this off. You know we could talk all day. We're probably gonna talk all day after we turn this mic off, but

Chantae Cann (38:47)
Yes, let's do it.

Allen C. Paul (38:48)
But I need to make sure that we we leave them wanting more. So I want to ask you this one question. I love to hear this. I can't wait to hear how you answer this question. I want to take you back because somebody is where you were. Somebody is that shy girl either in church trying to figure out her voice or she's hiding in the pantry right before she comes out to sing. Somebody is where you were. So, what would you tell yourself now that you know what you know? What would you tell your younger self? Someone else needs to hear that.

Chantae Cann (39:17)
gonna say do it scared.

do it afraid. these moments are literally about your own training ground. And once you do it over and over and over again, they're gonna become less scary and less scary and less scary. And this is literally just the beginning of where you will blossom into.

And so if you can conquer this right now, if you can face your fears and say, Hey, I'm scared, but I'm gonna do it anyway. I I just believe that that's gonna be a very, very powerful place for you to be in the long run. And that way it'll be less scary and less scary and less scary sooner. So that you don't have to spend years and years and years in in debilitating darkness. You don't have to spend years and years and years.

in the insecurities of your mind in the in the ruminations. You don't have to do that because you already have what is inside of you.

Allen C. Paul (40:20)
my gosh. Okay. That inspired enter inspired me right there. Okay. Come on, my right there. Yeah,

Chantae Cann (40:27)
Yeah.

Allen C. Paul (40:27)
we're going to we're going to we're going to drop the mic for now and let them come back later. And by the way, if they want to come back, if they want to hear more from you, if they want to buy a ticket to the next show that's coming to their city, right? Or they want to make sure to to connect with you if they're a singer, sing, musician, or artist who wants to learn from you. Like tell them how they can reach you so that they can get more of this goodness from you.

Chantae Cann (40:50)
Okay, so there's a couple different different ways depending on what boat you're in. You may be in a couple and that's fine. so if you want to get tickets to the show or just follow up or follow about like what I'm doing in the future, follow you know the tour schedule and things like that, you can go to shantecan.com. That's C-H-A-N-T-A-E-C-A-N-N.com. And there's all the tour information. There is merch on there. but if you just want to follow

music or download some of my albums you can go to wherever digital you know music is spotify youtube iTunes or do people say iTunes Apple music sorry I don't want to be blaspheming on here yeah so you can stay connected that way and of course I'm on all forms of social media

You can find me at Chantae Cann C-H-A-N-T-A-E-C-A-N-N. If you want to be a part of the coaching group that I have, you can send an email to info at ChantaeCann.com and some will we'll give back to you if you're interested in learning about creative coaching or vocal lessons or industry insight, any any of those categories.

you can yeah, send an email to info at shantecan dot com.

Allen C. Paul (42:19)
And those links are right in the app that you're using right now. You should be smashing those buttons to make sure that you find her everywhere she is. I am once again just a better person because I get to call Chantae my friend and my sister and the and the Lord. So I know you're gonna be better off when you get connected to her. Chantae, like again, we're not gonna make this the last time. We're not gonna wait another seven years this time. Promise. Picky swear. Okay. You're not gonna make it laugh, make anyone wait that long before we get together again, but for now.

God bless you, my friend. Thank you so much for being on the God and Gigs Show. Can't wait till we do it again.

Chantae Cann (42:53)
Thank you for having me. Love you.