Drugs and Alcohol

Cory Chisel, originally from Appleton, is a Midwestern guy with classic sound, who recently released his debut record with Black Seal Records, an affiliate of RCA.

Drugs and alcohol go hand-in-hand with the devil’s music – or so we’re told in movies like Almost Famous. Chisel agrees it’s prevalent (as he sips his wine), but argues artists use substances for self-preservation more than anything.

“I think a lot of times it’s not born out of this sense of rebellion, but out of a sense of trying to really meet people’s expectations,” Chisel says. “Really great performers … throw a lot of energy into what they do, and sometimes it’s got to come from somewhere. So people fault on the side of having a little secret, you know?”

Chisel explains touring can take a toll on the body, and in order to perform, musicians use substances to make it through another night.

“Every time people see you, they expect to see this magnified – the greatest performer that they’ve ever seen – regardless of the fact that you’ve driven for 16 hours and you’ve been away from those that you love for two months at a stretch. People don’t give a shit about that,” Chisel says. “They just want to see you light up.”

Though his distaste for traveling by bus and hanging out with club owners is obvious, Chisel says once he gets on stage, the outside world melts away.

“When the lights are down and I’ve went through all this chaos of the day usually I’m pretty able to convince myself that it’s just me and those that I love on stage. For the most part – unless something awful happens – you can block it out,” Chisel says.

The voice

Every person I talked with at his Sept. 26 album release concert, in Chisel’s hometown of Appleton, said his voice and simplicity in song drew them to his music.

“I love the sound of his voice. I like the lyrics,” says Kim Olson, a 30-something fan, who has seen Chisel twice before in concert. “I like the simplicity of the music and kind of the beauty of it.”

Appleton High School freshman Brad Prellwitz says he was drawn to Chisel’s musical style. “It’s got a good grunge, grass sort of fusion,” Prellwitz says.

Coplan agrees that Chisel’s voice is an asset to his overall sound.

“His voice, it’s very natural, it’s very easy,” Coplan says. “It just kind of flows out and it’s really, I think, one of the better qualities of both the album and his overall performance.”

Coplan says although Chisel’s sound is not unique, his music is real and genuine, and his wisdom is beyond his years.

“You get the sense that he knows more than he probably really should for his age,” Coplan says.