Diandra Interviews Christee Palace: For The Love of Music

2020 was a really hard year for a very hard business: music. While, on social media, we take pictures and act like we are living it up from our living rooms, the truth is, a lot people hit a serious, existential crisis. People didn’t just survive 2020, they changed because of it. In our interview, Christee Palace discusses how 2020 solidified a truth she has always known: she wants to be a singer.

Diandra: How has music taught you about what you want from someone in a relationship versus what you want to give someone in a relationship?

Christee Palace: I think the wonderful thing about songwriting and, music in general, is that once you finally sit down and allow all your emotions and deep, inner thoughts to come out, you figure out how you truly feel about something: all your truths come to the surface. I think, in becoming a musician, and even in listening to other music by other artists, I have figured out who I am and who I want to be as a partner, as well as how I expect my partner to be.

Diandra: You have said your most favorite albums, currently, are Halsey’s Manic, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Lennon Stella’s Three. Two. One.

Diandra: Pick one song from Manic that embodies your past and explain why?

Christee: The song “Graveyard” in every sense of the song represents a dark phase of my life in which I gave so much of myself to a person who constantly let me down. In a lot of ways, my new song ties in with this song specifically– going above and beyond what the boundaries should be in a relationship in order to show how much you love this person.

Diandra: One song from Lennon Stella that embodies your present and why?

Christee: Lennon Stella’s “Older Than I Am” is that type of song that I connected to instantly. In a lot of ways, I have grown up and taken huge steps to be where I am today (some of which I thought I could never do). But I realize the more I progress through my life how truly afraid I am of getting older, and how much I don’t feel I am ready for it. I think many can relate, but especially now at this phase in my life, I feel it more than ever.

Diandra: One song from Future Nostalgia that embodies your future and why?

Christee: I love the song “Boys Will Be Boys”—I think in general this song is a positive representation of the changes that are being made in society in regards to equality of women. In listening to it, I am reminded of the power us women have, and the way in which our world is changing for the better.

Diandra: What have your learned about yourself in terms of how you fall in love versus how you heal from heartbreak?

Christee: I fall in love with beautiful minds—I have always been that type: the hard working, humble, unknowingly, brilliant type, and the quiet and unassuming. I fall in love hard and fast with these types of people. In the past, I have had a couple serious relationships that ended in heartbreak. I am not certain that anyone quite deals with this easily. You tend to immediately assume your own flaws that resulted in the relationships demise. Heartbreak, I feel, is the open door for your insecurities to flood in. Interestingly, heartbreak brings me to write songs, and in writing songs, I learn to heal and accept what is and will be.

Diandra: If you could pick one S Club 7 song that matches your personality, which would it be and why?

Christee: That song that goes “S CLUUUUUUBBB” (LOL) – I am not totally familiar with S Club 7 but I remember listening to that song as a young girl. It reminds me of simpler times, and I am always looking for reminders of my younger self to keep me young and fun (aren’t we all?)

Diandra: What is something you discovered about yourself in 2020 that you wish to build in 2021?

Christee: I discovered that I am truly resilient. I had so many heartbreaking disappointments as a result of the pandemic and the music industry’s current state. I am proud of myself for continuing on even though, some days, it is hard to know what my next steps are. I hope this year I can continue to be strong and resilient, and push through all of the setbacks.

Diandra: Singing to breaking barriers and building self-esteem, what is an insecurity that music helped you turn into strength, and how did it push you further?

Christee: I just think my overall lack of confidence. I remember recognizing how insecure I was with myself: to the point of no longer taking opportunities. I was so badly affected by this that I started making myself do things that scared me: even though I didn’t want to. In the end, it made me stronger and helped me to get over my fears as an artist.

Diandra: If you could incarnate music into a literal lover, angel, or friend, which would you choose, why, and what qualities would you give it?

Christee: I’d incarnate music into a lover. Music and lyrics are the two most deeply personal ways of expression. If I was able to have a lover who had the ability to connect and understand me the way my soul does in music, well then, I’d have it pretty good I’d say.

Diandra: What is a movie you think would be a great concept album? Why and from what angle?

Christee: I recently saw the movie “Soul” (Disney). I think everyone should watch it, but, as a musician who is trying to make a living with many disappointments, it is quite easy to lose track of what is important in life. We forget to live, and be happy. Instead, we work ourselves so hard and treat ourselves so very poorly. I think having an album that explores these struggles, and later expresses the enlightenment of discovering life’s purpose would be such a beautiful album.

Diandra: What is an album you think would be a great film? Why, what would be its premise, and who would you cast?

Christee: I would have loved to actually say that Halsey’s “Manic” would be such an interesting film. Every song of hers is a personal narrative. I’d love to see her in the film. I think an artist living out their own life stories, in a film, would be so interesting to watch. Listening to each one of her songs, it’s clear that the film would be based around her life and the inner demons she struggles with. Anything mental health related is something that should be highlighted more often.

Diandra: Name 3 things music taught you to love about yourself?

Christee: Music has taught me to love where I come from (the way I was raised), how emotional and sensitive I am (it makes for some kick ass songs), and the fact that I am not a classically trained musician (I know enough to write songs, and I love being able to play by ear and write purely with my heart).

Diandra: What is your favorite childhood memory with music?

Christee: There are many, but one of my favourites was singing in my basement with my sister and dad before our basement was fully furnished. I was so young and had not a care in the world, but loved to sing, and would steal the microphone away from my sister. I guess you could say this was the moment I knew I loved music.

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