Chappell Roan has been a name on my playlist for quite some time now. Living in Bangladesh, I’ve never had the chance to see her live, but her music has reached me across the oceans. Her journey from a YouTube cover artist to a pop sensation is one that resonates deeply with me and countless other fans around the world. This is a story of resilience, authenticity, and the power of music to transcend boundaries.
Discovering Chappell Roan
I first discovered Chappell Roan while scrolling through YouTube late one night. It was around 2014, and I stumbled upon a video of a young artist named Kayleigh Rose performing a heartfelt cover song. Her voice was captivating, and her raw talent was evident. Little did I know, this was
the beginning of my journey with an artist who would soon become one of my favorites.
Fast forward to 2017, Chappell Roan released her first EP, School Nights, under Atlantic Records. The songs were dark, moody, and reflective of her “witchy” phase, as she described it. However, it wasn’t until her rebranding and subsequent releases that I truly became a dedicated fan.
The Struggles and the Breakthrough
Chappell Roan’s path to success was anything but straightforward. Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz in Missouri, she started her music career by uploading cover songs to YouTube. At 16, she wrote her first original song, “Die Young,” which caught the attention of Atlantic Records. By 17, she was signed to the label and adopted her stage name in honor of her late grandfather, Dennis Chappell.
In 2017, she released her first EP, School Nights, while navigating life in Los Angeles. However, the singles she released in 2020 didn’t achieve the commercial success Atlantic had hoped for, and she was eventually dropped from the label. This could have been the end of her story, but Roan persevered.
After being dropped, she returned to her roots, working at a donut shop and writing music independently. Her song “Pink Pony Club”, inspired by her experiences at a gay bar in West Hollywood, eventually gained traction. By May 2022, she had released new tracks like “Naked in Manhattan” and “My Kink is Karma,” leaning more into her queer identity and drag-inspired aesthetic.
The Music That Speaks to Us
Chappell Roan’s music is a blend of pop, queer experiences, and raw emotion. Her songs are catchy, fun, and filled with heartfelt lyrics that resonate deeply with her fans. Tracks like “Pink Pony Club” and “Red Wine Supernova” quickly became staples in my playlist. Her ability to capture the highs and lows of relationships in her music is what sets her apart.
“Pink Pony Club” speaks to the desire to escape the confines of a conservative hometown and find a place where one can truly be themselves. It’s an anthem for anyone who has ever felt out of place and yearned for a community where they can thrive. In “Red Wine Supernova,” she sings about the intoxicating rush of falling for someone, and in “ Casual ” Roan describes being hung up over an old relationship and staying as a form of self-sabotage while clearly understanding her weakness towards this person is being taken advantage of. “Good Luck, Babe!” which is currently charting perfectly encapsulates the bitter sarcasm of having your queer love taking the “ easy way out” and choosing a heterosexual relationship over you.
Chappell’s music is raw, sexual, unfiltered and unapologetically queer. It resonates with many of us navigating our own identities. In a world where pop music can sometimes feel formulaic, her willingness to be vulnerable and authentic is refreshing and needed.
A Rapid Ascent
The numbers speak for themselves. In March 2023, Chappell had around 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. By June 2024, that number had soared to over 20 million. Her performances have drawn massive crowds, from Boston Calling to Gov Ball in New York City. Watching clips of her Gov Ball performance, where she arrived dressed as the Statue of Liberty, was surreal. Her decision to turn down an opportunity to perform at the White House during Pride Month was a bold statement. She made it clear that she stands for liberty, justice, and freedom for all, and she won’t compromise on her values. This act of defiance only endeared her more to her fans, showing that she is not just an artist but also an advocate.
Social Media and Mental Health
Chappell Roan’s rise to fame has been documented on social media, where she maintains a genuine connection with her fans. On TikTok, she shares everything from makeup tutorials to behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life. Her openness about her mental health struggles, including her diagnosis of Bipolar 2 disorder and body image issues, has made her a relatable figure for many of us who face similar challenges.
Chappell often talks about being overwhelmed by the accelerated nature of her success and how it has been hard to keep up with it.In a video posted last year, she had said how her success, while exciting, “is making her quite uncomfortable and self-conscious”.
“This career is f-cking hard, but I’ll be fine.”
Her honesty is a breath of fresh air in an industry that often glorifies perfection.
However, she has her own way of self-preservation. The career of a popstar is one where you can’t really call anything as explicitly “yours”. After a certain point, the audience feels entitled to dissect and know everything about your life. This is why Roan is insistent on fans calling her by her stage name instead of Rayleigh to keep a degree of separation between her work and personal life as a way of preserving her mental health.
Connecting with the Crowd
While I haven’t yet had the opportunity to attend one of Chappell Roan’s live performances, I’ve been following her shows through social media and fan videos. Her energy on stage seems infectious. From fun and addictive ad libs in the middle of songs to her steps for songs like “H-O-T T-O G-O”, there are myriad of ways Chappel makes the crowd have the time of their lives. She is a ball of explosive energy and a joy to see. Those who have never heard of her before, in shows like Coachella, leave the show being her fans.
During her performance in Raleigh, North Carolina, she got emotional and shared how overwhelming her rapid rise to fame had been.
“I just want to be honest with the crowd. I feel a little off today, because I think my career is going really fast and it’s hard to keep up,” she said, wiping away tears. “I’m just being honest, I’m having a hard time today.”
Her vulnerability on stage resonated deeply with the audience, who cheered her on, not just for her talent but for her courage to be real with them. It’s moments like these that make Chappell Roan more than just a pop star; she’s a beacon of authenticity in a world that often feels fake.
Opening for Olivia Rodrigo
Opening for Olivia Rodrigo‘s GUTS World Tour in early 2024 was a turning point for Chappell. It introduced her to a broader audience and solidified her place in the pop music landscape. Watching her perform on such a grand stage was captivating. Considering the massive following Rodrigo has, it was extremely impressive how she held her own and even managed to steal the spotlight at times.
Her Coachella debut in April was another milestone. Being invited to perform at one of the most esteemed music festivals in the world is a true reflection of her talent and the effort she has put into her craft. Witnessing her momentum was a proud moment for all of us who have been following her journey from the beginning.
The Future of Pop Music
Chappell Roan represents the future of pop music as he’s unafraid to push boundaries and challenge. Seeing as how the audience has embraced her, this is exactly what the world wants right now instead of releasing derivatives of same old songs. “This is such an exciting time in queer music, but pop music in general,” she told TIME earlier this year. “I think people are getting a little bit more risky, and that’s always when great pop music is born. No fear of looking raunchy or that you’re gonna make people upset.”
Her fearlessness is inspiring. As a fan, I can’t wait to see what she does next. Her success is a reminder that being true to yourself and your art, and not being afraid of taking risks can lead to incredible things.
The Impact of TikTok
Chappell Roan’s rise is inextricably linked to her presence on TikTok. The platform has become a powerful tool for artists to reach new audiences, and Roan has leveraged it brilliantly. From viral concert videos to fancams and clips of her dancing along to her song “Hot To Go,” TikTok has played a significant role in her ascent. Even the Empire State Building’s account has jumped on the Roan bandwagon, showcasing just how far-reaching her influence has become.
TikTok is a platform dominated by young people, and Chappell, at 26, is a quintessential Gen Z artist. She understands the internet, committing to an image and a bit, from her bold makeup and lipstick-stained teeth to her wigs and striking colors. Her lyrics, confessional and explicit, are like a Tumblr dashboard come to life, reflecting the digital age she grew up in.
Her song “Good Luck Babe,” teased on TikTok, quickly became a sensation, proving once again her knack for creating music that resonates with our generation. As someone who spends a lot of time on social media, it’s been thrilling to see her rise play out in real time on my FYP.
The Importance of Representation
One of the most significant aspects of Chappell Roan’s rise is her representation of queer experiences. In a music industry that has often marginalized LGBTQ+ voices, Roan’s unabashedly queer music is a beacon of hope and pride. Her songs about love, heartbreak, and self-discovery from a queer perspective resonate deeply with fans like me who have longed for such representation in pop music.
Her willingness to tackle these themes not through subtle metaphors but head-on without filters is inspiring. It sends a powerful message that queer stories deserve to be told and celebrated. For many of us, seeing someone like Chappell Roan succeed is a validation of our own experiences and identities.
Looking Ahead
Chappell Roan is more than just a favorite artist. She’s a symbol of what it means to be true to oneself in a world that often demands conformity. Chappell Roan’s path from a girl in a small town who shared her songs on YouTube to becoming a pop sensation is a remarkable tale of perseverance, talent, and staying true to oneself. As a fan, I can’t wait to see what she does in the future. Her unabashed charm, extravagance coupled with honesty and authenticity lets us know that we will not be disappointed.
Her journey so far has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I have no doubt that she will continue to break barriers and inspire countless others with her music and her story.