Zionsville — Most people just dream of becoming famous but 14-year-old Chrisy Dant is working hard to make her dreams come true.
Chrisy, a Lebanon High School eighth-grader, has a copyright on two songs that she and her mother, Debbie, co-wrote. The first song is titled “Just Call Me,” which was recorded at The Lodge recording studio in Indianapolis three or four years ago. Her most recent original song is “Wounded Love,” which was recorded in 2011. The song has had more than 1,600 views on YouTube. She also has recorded five cover songs and hopes to record two more this month.
Chrisy, a self-taught piano player, has wanted to become a recording artist since she was 9 years old.
“I just listen to a song and then can figure out which notes to play just based off hearing the melody,” she said. “I love to sing. I do it every single day. It’s my passion, it’s in my soul.”
Debbie says there is more than a good ear, a good voice, and a knack for songwriting behind her daughter’s early accomplishments.
“Chrisy has a mature voice and has something special most people don’t have,” Debbie said. “It’s her favorite thing to do.”
Although Chrisy is young, she is slowly gaining experience within the music industry.
In 2010, Debbie won a trip from a radio show, which gave Chrisy a chance to go to Orlando, Fla., and audition in front of 65 talent scouts. She also was enrolled in classes that helped her improve her stage presence.
Chrisy received a call-back from Capital Records after the audition. She also traveled to Chicago that same year to try out for the NBC show “America’s Got Talent.”
During the summer of 2011, she got a call from a Watersound Music Production agent, who asked her to meet with a New York media consultant.
Chrisy and Debbie traveled to New York in December to meet with the media consultant about creating her own label.
“The media consultant listened to my YouTube post for ‘Wounded Love’ and after 20 seconds, he told me that I was ridiculous and that he wanted to work with me,” Chrisy said.
Chrisy enjoyed the extra boost of confidence.
“It gives me inspiration and makes me think I will be able to succeed some day,” she said.
Chrisy also earned a gold medal in her first contest for the Indiana State School Music Associations Solo and Ensemble Contest in Avon that took place in January.
In addition to school and being a “regular” 14-year-old, Chrisy is taking singing lessons with local vocal coach Teresa O’Connell. She has been taking lessons weekly for the past two years, and has been working with O’Connell since September.
O’Connell says Chrisy is a devoted student.
“She is incredibly hard-working and has a great attitude,” O’Connell said. “Because of Chrisy’s great attitude and motivation, she will be a success at whatever she does.”
Recently O’Connell has been giving Chrisy lessons three times a week to help her prepare for her next studio recordings later this month. Chrisy says she is planning to record two new songs — one she plans to write on her own. She will also record two more cover songs.
She said she is also preparing for this year’s Fourth of July Talent Competition and 4-H contest, and will try out for the hit Fox show “American Idol” and the new NBC show “The Voice”, when she turns 15 years old in December.
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