We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ella Chadwell. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Ella, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important. I think today people are being challenged in things, even when they don’t realize it. You have to make a choice — to make the right decision or make something up. You should always want to (choose integrity) rather than deciding they want the easy way out. When we’re walking in integrity, and we *choose* it, that says a lot about their heart. And when you take the high road, the vision is much better.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What I do right now I never dreamed of (being a jazz singer). People will say, “You’re living your dream,” and it was never my dream. I wanted to be a storyteller when I was a little girl. And now where I’m at, I *am* living my dream because I’m being a storyteller with my music. Even my piano player carefully chooses the songs we perform because they have to have a good story. That’s why I call our shows, “A Night to Remember,” because I want people to walk out feeling that they heard a song, a story, that touched them. So we’re very careful about the songs we choose.
I actually started off as a gospel singer, which, like the songs we choose today, was an effort to make people feel good.
It’s important to me that people get an opportunity today to experience something that makes them happy. If I can give them a good memory, then I’ve accomplished my goal.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Without question, my dad taught me the most about work. My dad shaped me. He was a man of wisdom. Even in simple daily routines that people take for granted he had a lesson for me. Make no mistake, though, he was a hard worker. He was always working, including in the coal mines — even though he was partially blind! He was already working as a little boy and those stories inspired me to see the importance of integrity, being on time, your word being your word, and being honest in everything. He always impressed upon me the importance of doing good work, not just going through the motions. He also taught lessons about presentation and how we say something. The way we present ourselves, yes in our work, but all facets of our life. It goes together with keeping our heart good — you’ll be a good worker too. I still tell stories about my dad to this day because there is so much to be learned from the way he lived. Even my performances, I feel there’s a sense of hospitality.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It’s okay to be a dreamer! How else could I have started a play — with no script or cast. How else could I have supported a charity through a boutique sale — simply from sitting on the porch and talking with a friend about staging a dinner theater? My friend said, “I don’t think we can do that.” And I said, “I think we can.”
“A Night to Remember” became “An Evening of Hope.” I don’t even write letters, yet I wrote that whole play. I brought the heart to the show (and the actors brought everything else out). It might’ve appeared to be a dream, but in my mind all I knew was it could and should be a reality.
As a young girl I always had big dreams that, at that age, felt more like a fantasy world. But I would tell that young version of myself to not abandon that mindset. In fifth grade my teacher was always surprised at what I would come up with. (He called me an “old soul,” even though at the time I didn’t know what that meant.) We did a talent show and I chose to perform the song, “Non Dimenticar.” Only a dreamer, an “old soul,” could choose that song as a fifth grader. And present day, I have performed that song with my piano player. A full circle moment.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Making people happy. I was always wanting to create atmosphere. Even in my home it was always important to me that people feel welcomed. I’d rather have money to give somebody than have possessions to show people.
Somebody once said, “You let people take advantage of you.” And I say, “No, I *give* advantage.” I know where to draw the line with that.
Family has always been a top priority for me, and I’m a firm believer in the expression “one big happy family.”
Even with my music, I feel I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to make people happy. When people come in for my shows, I don’t know where they are in their life. One thing I’ve learned with my music is that everybody’s got a story. I want everyone to be given the same opportunity to feel joy through my performance.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I loved, I forgave (a lesson from my dad — not always because they deserve it, but because it’s the right thing to do), and that I showed mercy. These things are so important. I didn’t have unresolved conflict. When things were lingering I was somehow able to drop it.
I want people to tell my story and remember how I showed kindness regularly. It’s part of the nine fruits of the Spirit.
I’m hopeful that people will talk about what a good Christian I was, including as a wife, a mother, a friend, and maybe even through my music. I’m optimistic people will have seen and will talk about the light people saw shine through me.
It means the world to me that even my daughter in her women’s ministry exhibits signs of the seeds that I’ve sown. Those are the memories I want people to have of me and the stories I want them to tell.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellachadwell.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaChadwellMusic/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qXUxlsVDnoCQ9rftlF9qH?si=qrov7B9LSn2Cxl7gKHZHvw
