An Inspired Chat with Chris Vita of Upstate

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Chris Vita. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Chris, 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 do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think a lot of people assume my business is just about singing songs and having fun on stage. The truth is, being an independent artist means I wear a lot of hats — songwriter, promoter, manager. It’s long nights, planning, and constant effort to keep things moving forward. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work people don’t see. Every step, from writing a song to getting it heard, takes strategy and investment. People often only see the performance side, but there’s a whole business engine running behind it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Chris Vita, a country singer-songwriter from Upstate South Carolina. At 19, I packed up and moved to Nashville, where I cut my teeth playing the honky-tonks and bars six nights a week. About a year ago, I came back home to South Carolina, and now you can catch me every Thursday through Saturday holding down a residency at Cowboy Up Saloon in downtown Greenville. I just released my first studio album, Honky Tonk Daze—a project built on songs written in the ’90s by my good friend and hit songwriter Steve Clark.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents, without a doubt. They’ve been my biggest supporters from the very beginning and saw my love for music long before I had the courage to share it. I started playing piano when I was 4 or 5, but I was so shy I never wanted to play in front of anyone. When I was 16, I got my first guitar and taught myself a few songs — and from that point on, I couldn’t put it down.
The real turning point came on a beach trip when a friend’s parents encouraged me to sing. I finally did, and to my surprise, they loved it. That moment gave me a spark of confidence, and little by little it grew until performing became something I couldn’t imagine not doing. I’ve had a lot of influences along the way, but it was the people closest to me who believed in me early on and gave me the push I needed to turn this passion into a career.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Stay true to yourself, keep focused, and always dream.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say so! I don’t change myself for anyone. All my friends and family see the same person every else sees. I love people, being in front of people and most of all, love being the center of attention everywhere I go.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace with a guitar in my hands. Whether I’m performing on stage, writing a song, or just sitting on the front porch picking out a tune, everything else seems to fade away. The music takes over, my mind clears, and for a little while there’s not a single worry in the world.

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