Today we’d like to introduce you to Anilia Elize and Chaunc’ey Chavis.
Hi Anilia and Chaunc’ey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Chaunc’ey and I (Anilia J) met in college in 2016 and have been inseparable ever since. As we began to get to know each other more, we found out that we were both vocalists and musicians and had a shared love for music. Not long after, we found ourselves lyricizing any instrumental that came our way. The genre of the instrumental didn’t matter, we would record over Jazz, soul, gospel, pop, and more. We found that because our tastes in music complimented each other well, making these recordings were very easy to do.
We were both Christian and for a long time wanted to do something more impactful with our music. For years we came together and made freestyles that would only exist as voice notes on our phones. We had talent but weren’t sure what to do with it. Fast forward to the year 2020, and God told us to stop playing with the gift that was given to us and use it to glorify Him (as He intended). After much prayer for guidance on what this would look like, we eventually developed our first album “Psalms of the Heart”. Our album “Psalms of the Heart” literally showcases how Christ spoke to us, our love for Him, and our individual personalities. At first, it was a struggle to create the album simply because we had so much music stored away for years. We didn’t know what we should use and what we shouldn’t.
But in the end, the Lord placed new songs in our hearts which caused song creation to flow effortlessly. For example, the lyrics for our single “Grace” came in like a flood. Chaunc’ey and I got in the studio together one day and that song was written in just a few hours. For an even more strong example, the lyrics for “Make Us New” was done in just 30 minutes. We discovered that this album represents how Christ speaks to us and that others needed to hear it. This album is real, it’s inspiring, and it’s relatable. Ultimately we want to bring people closer to Christ through our music while being our authentic selves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve faced some personal challenges along the way. I (Anilia) moved out of state.
Although Chaunc’ey and I were able to finish recording before I left, we find it a little difficult to work through the distance but there was nothing that we can’t overcome. Our gift is making room for us.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re both very passionate about music. We specialize in singing/songwriting and have a long history in music starting at a young age. R&B, jazz, and soul all have heavily influenced our style of music. Chaunc’ey & I (Anilia J) began developing our craft in singing first then in instruments shortly after. Chaunc’ey picked up the flute in band class and has had a knack for it ever since. I (Anilia) taught myself how to play the guitar by ear and wrote songs along with the instrument at the age of fourteen.
We’re well known for how we embraced our R&B approach to Christian music. We love Jesus and want to be obedient above all else. We believe that not only our sound but our desire to please God and use our gift so that he can be glorified, instead of our own personal gain, is what truly sets us apart. We’re honestly most proud of this project that we plan on releasing soon and the fact that we’re being obedient!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anilia.j/
- SoundCloud: https://music.apple.com/us/album/grace-single/1605624477
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/itstrillchigga_/
Image Credits
@J.white4life, @Nexgenvisuals, and @Thamichaet
