Whiskey Chain — Country / Gospel / R&B | Rising Star Underground Radio
Settle in, this week’s spotlight might just surprise you. Our guest didn’t pick up songwriting until eight months ago, has no formal musical background, writes under a pseudonym, and is 77 years old. And yet his YouTube channel has already crossed 80,000 subscribers, growing by up to 20,000 a month, with his latest video pulling in 150,000 views in a single week. Meet Whiskey Chain, a retired Internet entrepreneur turned late-blooming songwriter, proving it’s never too late to start. Let’s get into it.
The Origin Story
RSU: Can you briefly introduce yourself and your background?
Whiskey Chain: I’m a 3rd generation Canadian, born in the province of Saskatchewan. I grew up in British Columbia and Manitoba. I graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, then pivoted from a focus on arts to property management worked for 20 years as a Regional Manager for an international company, managing staff and properties across Canada and the United States.
I launched my own Internet company in the late 1990s, then partnered with a friend in Kentucky to launch a newsletter and advertising company. Sold my share in 2001 and started several Internet companies of my own, focused on search and email advertising. Eventually retired after 20-plus years of that.
RSU: What inspired you to pursue music?
Whiskey Chain: About 8 months ago I heard the AI song “Walk My Walk” by Breaking Rust, which inspired me to try my hand at songwriting. The advent of AI music gives songwriters a way to put lyrics to music without needing live musicians and vocalists a means to deliver ideas, insights, and messages to an audience through the medium of music. To date, I’ve published 64 songs, with 13 more still to be released.
The Sound
RSU: What do you hope people feel when they hear your music?
Whiskey Chain: I hope they feel what the music tries to convey through word images and melody – joy, sadness, hope, regret, humor, inspiration, reflection, and everything in between.
“Good music resonates with listeners and can elicit a variety of emotional responses based on past or current experiences and circumstances.”
RSU: Which musician would you like to play or collaborate with? And are you open to collaborating more broadly, what gender and category?
Whiskey Chain: I don’t have any particular musician I’d like to collaborate with, but I’m open to the idea. I have no gender preference, and my preferred categories would be Country, Gospel, and R&B.
Behind the Music
RSU: What is the most exciting project you’re currently working on?
Whiskey Chain: Currently, I’m in talks with several singers to record several of my songs. Looking forward to seeing how that turns out.
RSU: Can you share any recent achievements or milestones in your career?
Whiskey Chain: Given that my music career is only 8 months old, I’m hoping those milestones are just around the corner. But my YouTube channel is growing quickly over 80,000 subscribers, gaining roughly 15,000 to 20,000 a month. My latest music video received over 150,000 views in just over a week.
RSU: Can you share a memorable experience or story related to your music journey?
Whiskey Chain: My musical journey hasn’t been that long, and much of my time has been spent learning about the music industry and how to publish and promote my music. What I find most memorable is how many people have been drawn to my music and how quickly that audience has grown.
RSU: What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Whiskey Chain: I’m not sure I’d call 8 months of songwriting a career I see it more as an enjoyable hobby. The biggest challenges have been technical. Writing the songs is the easy part. Learning each platform’s criteria, how to create videos, where and how to promote those have been the real challenges.
RSU: What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
Whiskey Chain: Considering I write under a pseudonym and my music has only been online for 8 months, most people know nothing about me. They might be surprised to know I’m 77 years old and have virtually no musical background.
What’s Next
RSU: Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations?
Whiskey Chain: I have several collaborations underway, but it’s too early to say how they’ll pan out.
RSU: What role does networking play in your career?
Whiskey Chain: Networking is an important factor in any career endeavor, and I’m open to forming connections in the music industry, but I’m not actively pursuing them.
RSU: Are you looking for broader ways to market your music?
Whiskey Chain: I am looking for ways to market my music and grow my listening audience, but there are hundreds of music promotion services out there, with the majority being far less effective than they claim. Finding the most effective services has been a challenge.
RSU: What advice would you give to someone starting in the music industry?
Whiskey Chain: I’m a little too new to the music industry to give advice, but I do know that to succeed in any endeavor, you have to have a passion for what you do and a reason for doing it.
That brings us to the end of this week’s One-On-One Spotlight. Huge thanks to Whiskey Chain for proving that reinvention has no expiration date, from decades in property management and Internet business to a fast-growing music career built on nothing but curiosity and a passion for storytelling. Go check out his catalog of 64 songs (with more on the way), from Listen Up, Let Me In to You Can Take It All. Go stream them on https://open.spotify.com/artist/4D83uwpP5OmBmC0GCVXi62 follow his channel https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyChain
catch our next spotlight right here on Rising Star Underground Radio.
https://www.rsu-radio.com
Connect with Whiskey Chain:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4D83uwpP5OmBmC0GCVXi62
https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyChain
This interview is part of Rising Star Underground Radio’s One-On-One Spotlight series, bringing you the stories behind rising, underground, and independent artists worldwide.