Conversations with the Inspiring Chelsey Burkholder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsey Burkholder.

Chelsey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Hays, Kansas – a small town along i-70, about 5 hours away. I lived there until I was 23 and never really knew anything different. There’s not much out there – not a lot to do, as you can imagine. Art and music were always my escape – whether I was drawing/designing or playing around with a synthesizer. That’s how I kept myself busy and kept myself going. If I wanted to go to a concert (or do anything “lively” really), I had to make a trip out here (which I did as often as I could)… Of course, Denver is a beautiful and amazing place as it is – it’s alive and growing – there’s a lot going on. Growing up in Kansas, having that contrast and comparing the two, gave me a certain perspective that made me appreciate Denver even more. I felt at home out here, long before I actually moved here.

 In 2011, I experienced my first electronic show/first show at Red Rocks – The Glitch Mob & Lotus. It really sparked a fire in me. I’ve had a love for music for as long as I can remember, and around that time I was really getting into the electronic sound. I was fascinated by the endless possibilities of synthesizers and sampling. I was driven by the beats. I could not have picked a better first show. Experiencing electronic music in that way, for the first time, was definitely a life-changing moment for me. I was forever inspired. Back at home, I spent a majority of my time in my room, focused on my passions – working on graphic design projects and discovering new artists or producing my own music. I was self-taught. I didn’t go out much. I made a lot of friends through online gaming and social networking. The internet was my window to the world when I was living in the middle of nowhere. And I spent a lot of time looking out that window.

 In 2015-16, I got a gig doing graphic design for MartyParty (he’s sort of a legendary producer/DJ in the underground bass scene – a genuine genius). I had been a fan of his music for a while. We got to know each other through Twitter – I sent him some samples of my work when I saw that he was looking for a new designer and we’ve connected ever since. He gave me his old MacBook to help keep me afloat with various projects, and I eventually started sharing my music with him. In June 2017, Marty invited me out here to play an opening set for him at The Black Box. I had never played for a crowd ever before, so it was a big deal to me. It was honestly pretty unexpected – I mean I was just some girl in Kansas, of all places – my passion for music was there but I didn’t really have any experience in practice…like, who would have thought? It meant a lot that he believed in my art and supported me. Sometimes you just need that to get started, you know – that one person who listens to you and gives you a chance. I was kind of going through a difficult time then – I was in a relationship that was starting to become more than toxic – I was lost, to say the least. Music was my escape and I needed that opportunity. Not only was this my first show, but it was also my biggest. I was kind of getting a feel for things, but I gave it my all and my set went well. After I played, a friend of Marty’s approached me and urged me to drop anything or anyone that may have been holding me back in life – ditch any toxicity at home, and move out to Denver ASAP to pursue music…to do my own thing. Of course, I had known that all along…but I needed to hear it.

 The day after the show, a window of opportunity coincidentally opened up which allowed me to make the move to Denver one month later. I finally had a place to go and a chance to establish myself here. Ever since I was younger, I had always dreamed of living in Denver. Whenever I traveled out here, I could never take my eyes off the city or the mountains. More than that, this was my home for experiencing music. It was what I wanted more than anything… but even with a place lined up, it was kind of a risky move. I had spent my last couple of years in Kansas, just trying to make it happen – but the struggle was all too real – among other things, it was difficult to make enough money in KS, let alone save it. I was starting to lose hope, but I couldn’t stand to be in such a stagnant place any longer. If I had kept waiting and trying to save the money to move, I may not have made it here – at least, not when I did, not when I felt I needed to. The opportunity arose quickly, and unexpectedly, but I had to jump on it. All I had when I moved here was a credit card, and a couple hundred in the bank. It went fast. I was frantically selling my belongings on eBay, just trying to pay rent and buy groceries, until I landed a solid job. The first year was difficult – but I made things happen, I made things work. I have no regrets.

 Life started looking up once 2018 rolled around. I had just started a new music project, “SUPERMASSIVE” and (again, somewhat unexpectedly) started DJing. Actually, I had originally intended on keeping the project on the down-low, taking it slow, and just experimenting with it…but I sent a mix to Electronic Colorado and got a gig at The Black Box in January. What a way to start the year. …One show lead to another.. then another – I got on a bit of a roll… the project took off pretty fast and became a lot more DJ-focused than I had originally anticipated. I just started rolling with it. I was having a lot of fun playing shows – it was new to me. It had always been a dream, but I never had the opportunity to really get out there and do it. I was getting used to it – getting to know the scene and the community better. It was going pretty well and it was all really inspiring…but later on, half-way through the year, life became even more difficult when I needed to get away from my ex – things got ugly – the relationship nearly ended me, but I made it out safe. I spent the last half of 2018 on my own, trying to support myself and find myself again. It wasn’t easy. It got to the point where I had to sell my studio PC and my DJ controller to make rent, which was kind of heartbreaking to me – but I didn’t let it set me back – I tried to view it as an opportunity to get back to the basics. I told myself I would find growth through limitation and got back on some budget gear.

 Here we are now and I’m doing better than ever – still getting better every day. I couldn’t be more thankful to be where I’m at. Maybe I have yet to reach my full potential, but I don’t think I’ve ever been on a better platform.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Yes and no. Relationship and personal growth-wise? No, it’s been pretty rough. But that’s life – I’ve learned from it. It’s still not exactly smooth sailing, but I’m pushing forward. For the most part though, in terms of music, the road actually hasn’t been terribly bumpy – at least, since I got out here and started DJing. I didn’t really have any opportunity to do this sort of thing back home in Kansas. I didn’t even attempt to DJ or share my music there, because I didn’t expect people to understand or appreciate what I was trying to do. A handful of people maybe – but it didn’t seem worth the effort to me at the time. There weren’t really any clubs or venues to play at there – at least, not anything like we have here. It was kind of frustrating – I was holding onto this dream, bursting at the seams, ready to do my thing. Once I started sharing my music and mixes out here, a new path opened up for me. Denver gets it – this city is filled with open-minded music lovers, there’s no shortage of great venues – there’s something for everyone. There have been a few bumps in the road – enough to put some things into perspective – but I’d say I’ve been pretty lucky for the most part. I get a good response at shows – I’m surrounded by some incredibly supportive and inspiring people. There’s a great music community out here. I couldn’t be more thankful. That helps – I think a big part of pushing forward in a healthy way, is surrounding yourself with other hardworking people who care about their craft. You gotta keep your friends and family close – be open and honest with yourself – follow your heart and don’t give up. Whatever it is – you just gotta get out there and do it. Nothing beats experience.

 In a sense, I’m already living the dream. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do – that’s just being out here in Denver, and sharing music that I love. Although, I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface with my art, and I’m excited to keep moving forward with it. No matter what kind of obstacles which may be presented along the way. I’m open – I’m ready for more.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into SUPERMASSIVE story. Tell us more about the business.
My project is called “SUPERMASSIVE” – the inspiration comes from vastness of the world of music – much like space. I love it all. Love to discover, listen, and get lost in it – love to share it with others. It’s all about the sound. There’s so much incredible work out there, it’s unreal. The possibilities are endless. I’m taking it all in and spitting it back out – I don’t allow myself to be limited by any one style or genre. DJing is an art that I pour my heart into – I feel the music and it feels natural to me. I spend a lot of time browsing the internet for interesting pieces of work – breaking away from the algorithms and digging deeper. I allow the search to suck me in. Songs are like stars in the sky, and the world of music feels as infinite as the realm of space. You never know what you’re going to find out there. I dig up music from all over the world – a lot of great stuff from lesser known artists and it’s great to be able to support them and help spread their work. I’ve had artists reach out to me and say things like “Wow, you’re the first person to ever purchase my music! That really means a lot” ..or, even more often “How did you even find my work?! (We live on opposite ends of the Earth!)” …it’s exciting to be able to play that kind of material to a crowd – knowing you’re likely turning them onto something they’ve never heard before and shining a light on these artists that may not otherwise be discovered. There are all sorts of connections to be made. There’s something special in that. When people ask what kind of sets I play, I usually don’t even know how to describe them – but that’s what I go for. There’s a little bit of mystery to it. I like to take risks – I kind of like to go all over the map. I try to keep people on their toes, touching on a number of styles (though I generally dig into the darker, bass-heavy sounds). I like to break away from traditional approaches and find unique ways to segue from one sound to the next – connecting tracks like constellations, however I can. At the end of the day, it’s all for the love of music – I’m just having fun and connecting with others – that’s what it’s all about.

 While the project is more DJ focused, currently showcasing sounds and artists that inspire me, I aim to start incorporating more of my own music into my sets as I go along. Drawing inspiration from the all the music that I’m taking in, and the experiences that I have connecting with others and mixing live. I like it honest and raw – I like to make interesting soundscapes, taking sounds from everyday life and turning them into something different. I tend go wherever the wind takes me, often deviating from the norm. I’m working on bringing my productions up to the next level – I have a lot of ground to cover in relation to the ideas in my head. It’s a journey with no end.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
First and foremost, you have to be yourself. Be genuine – that works well in networking – you’ll make meaningful connections and long lasting friendships. Don’t be afraid to get out there and share your work, even in the early stages of your career – even when you’re still learning. Nobody is going to take notice if you’re not giving them anything to take notice of. Sometimes I hesitate when it comes to sharing certain ideas or pieces of work, but then I tell myself – if I put it out there, and connect with even one other person – that’s something – you never know what one interaction could lead to. Dream big and keep your inspirations close. Share your work with friends, then start branching out – find people with similar interests and see what they’re creating. Respond. Interact. Promote what you love. Support those who inspire you. Join the conversation – whether it’s online, or out in your community. Be a good fan, and you’re sure to make all sorts of connections and grow into a good artist. Don’t be afraid to hit up those who inspire you because you never know what kind of response you might get – maybe they’ll really like your work and that will be the start of something. I was no more than a fan of MartyParty’s back in 2015 when I decided to send him some design samples – I definitely didn’t expect that I would later be playing shows with him. Throw yourself onto the field and get your hands dirty. You’ll find your path and make friends along the way. Nothing beats experience.

Contact Info:

• Email: supermassivebeats@outlook.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supermassivewav/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPERMASSIVEwav/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/supermassivewav
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/supermassivewav

Image Credit:
William Brehm, Keith Herman

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