BY MARK DARE
Photo credit Colin Jones
I had the extreme pleasure of talking to Chapel Hart during this year’s Festival.
The band are led by sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, and their first cousin Trea Swindle. They have many strings to their musical bow, and their live shows are full of fun and sassy foot tapping tunes, and some breathtaking 3 part harmonies. They are entertainment with a capital ‘E’, sharing their Mississippi roots and Louisianan inspirations.
It makes total sense that their familial harmonies should be so tight…they have grown up with one another, it must be second nature. I said I could imagine them all sitting around the kitchen table growing up, making up harmonies. There was a fair bit of amusement as Devynn mentioned that there would probably not be a house, let alone one room, that could fit the whole of their family in at the same time (over 100 members).
They used to travel down to New Orleans to busk on the streets and eventually started recording and releasing original music under the name ‘Hyperphlyy’ (which is pronounced ‘hyper-fly’, not ‘hyper-filly’…my bad!…another laugh out loud moment!).
Their album ‘Under the Mud’ in 2019 was released at about the same time they decided to change their name to Chapel Hart, and became the group’s debut LP. This was followed in 2021 with ‘The Girls are Back in Town’…both albums filled with a pleasing mix of effortless harmonies, along with some ‘get up and dance’ rock ’n’ roll inspired music. Common in both albums is a message of trying to make it in music.
I’d noticed that one tune, ‘Jacquie’s Song’ appeared on both albums, and wondered why. I’d taken it as a female empowerment song from listening…it kind of was, but so much more than that as Danica explained.
Jacqui Stavis was a very good friend of the band. At age 28 she was tragically hit by lightning, so this serves as a beautiful tribute to the passing of a close friend. She was tiny (5ft wearing high heels) but full of life and energy. Danica further mentioned not to be surprised should the song appear on future works too.
It says so much about the band that they would write a song for a friend as a permanent reminder of the times they shared – music aside, Chapel Hart are wonderfully warm human beings and family, friends and just general unity between people underpins everything they do.
2021 was a breakout year for the ladies, when America’s Got Talent came calling.
There is some sense of serendipity about this whole episode of their careers as initially, they were supposed to be supporting the Indigo Girls on tour at that time, however Emily Saliers had to pull out due to COVID -19.
While the band were looking to find something to fill those gig gaps, an agent from AGT kept calling. Eventually, they decided to take up the offer…what was the worst that could happen.
Fortunately nothing bad did happen, but a whole load of good. They performed their original song ‘You Can Have Him Jolene’ (written as an answer song to Dolly’s Jolene) which gained them a Golden Buzzer. They didn’t win the competition in the end, but contacts made, and increased visibility for the band from the TV showings have definitely helped in spreading the CH message.
They were subsequently invited to the Grand Ole Opry to perform, and were also on the listings for CMT’s Next Women of Country, Class of 2022.
The band’s third album ‘Glory Days’ was released January last year…same formula of honkytonking singalong tunes, and another reply song; this time to Loretta Lynn’s ‘Fist City’ (Welcome to Fist City) and their trademark harmonies woven throughout. I’d recommend you listen to all of their albums.
2023 was when I first came upon the band performing live at the Chevy Vibes stage in downtown Nashville during CMA 23. They were a band I had noted to make sure I saw and I wasn’t disappointed. I was even more lucky when they made three appearances at The Long Road festival in England later in the year, which won them many new followers across the pond.
Just before this interview, they performed at the platform stage at the Nissan stadium! They loved the experience and, if all things are equal and right, they’ll be gracing the main stage there very soon.
They have an energy you really need to encounter at a live performance. Music means many things to many people but when you can bring people together through the music and inspire and entertain at the same time, it’s very special…they brought that same energy and infectious sense of fun to the interview as they always do to their music.
For the future:
Well, they love coming to the UK, and we love having them here, so they’ll be back again in August…returning to The Long Road Festival to headline on the Friday night (23rd August), followed by an intimate gig at St Pancras New Church in London the next day (24th).
If you’re at Long Road, don’t miss them and if you can make yourself available for the 24th August, I’m sure it will be just as enthralling…and I’ll see you there.
Particularly looking forward to how they amend their set to cater for the reverential setting of a church but hey, they grew up singing in churches…if anyone can make full use of the acoustics, they can!
They will have a Christmas album out later this year too! They are doing a few intimate sessions in the US to showcase this, and also have what amounts to a GoFundMe campaign to help finance the album. If you can help out, go to their website (www.chapelhart.com) and select ‘Christmas in July’ to find out more.
Many thanks to Lyndie for organising, and to Danica, Devynn and Trea for their time and enthusiasm during our chat.