COVEpod | Carganilla Online Variety Entertainment Podcast | Storytelling, Interviews, Poetry, Music, Arts & Inspiration

Chris Villain | Freakshow : Defying Gravity | COVE Podcast 35

• Paul Carganilla / Chris Villain • Season 1 • Episode 35

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Imagine the voice of the internet coming alive through song and spectacle; that's what Chris Villain embodies, and we had the thrill of hosting him on our show! He spills the tea on his metamorphosis from a Disney darling to a digital dynamo, weaving tales of his enchanting forays into singing, comedy sketches, and the vibrant world of geek chic. Our stroll through Chris's online odyssey includes peeking behind the scenes of his collaborations with entertainment powerhouses, offering a goldmine of inspiration for every artist yearning to leave their digital mark.

We rewind to the serendipity of viral moments, like Chris's aquatic adventure that rippled across the internet, unveiling the unpredictable magic of online content. We also celebrate life's spontaneous "yes" moments that can lead to heartwarming encounters, such as a musical duet with my daughter, Everly, and Chris's powerful rendition of 'Defying Gravity.' These narratives are not just stories; they're the stepping stones to discovering one's artistic essence and the courage to share it with the world.

Closing our session with Chris, we step into the hallowed ground of creators: the release of original work. Chris details his foray into solo artistry, through an exhilarating visual EP journey, and the revealing of his song 'Freakshow' – a track that captures his soul's melody. The chat with Chris Villain is a symphony of laughter, revelations, and the pulse of artistic ambition, resonating with anyone who has ever dared to dream in vivid color. Join us, engage, and be part of this conversation that dances to the beat of creativity and the power of owning your narrative.

CHRIS VILLAIN on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisVillain

EPISODE VIDEOS: www.covetube.com
COVE DIRECTORY: https://linktr.ee/covepod
COVE PATREON: www.patreon/covepodcast
CONTACT: covepod@gmail.com

VOICE-OVER INTRODUCTION: Jonathan Freeman ( 'Jafar' in the "Aladdin" animated films )
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM: Craig Jackman, Emily Thatcher, Christina Marie Bielen, Dary Mills, Amanda Benjamin
PATREON CURATORS: Jamie Carganilla, Emily Thatcher, The Faeryns, Charity Swanson, Krista Faith King, Kelsey B Gibson, Angelica Bollschweiler, Anna Giannavola, Gina Dobbs, Merrill Mielke, Susan Kuhn, Josefa Snider
INTRO MUSIC: “Papi Beat” [ KICKTRACKS ]
CREDITS MUSIC: “Fat Banana” [ KICKTRACKS ]
HOST, CREATOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EDITOR: Paul Carganilla

Speaker 1:

I feel like we're both kind of Peter Pan's in our own right, where we're just like we're gonna be these fun kids who love to just Do crazy stuff forever.

Speaker 2:

I agree.

Speaker 3:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the carganilla online variety entertainment podcast here's your host, paul carganilla.

Speaker 1:

Hello and welcome to cove. This is the online variety show in which we aim to both entertain and inspire both our podcast listeners and YouTube viewers through a variety of art forms, including Music, poetry, storytelling, special guest interviews, travel blogs, dramatic readings so much more. A grab bag you never know what you can get. It's like Open up opening up a brand new bag of Pogs and tossing them into the air and who knows what's gonna land in your lap every Tuesday. Yeah, I went to Pogs. I don't know why that pops in my head, but I'm a child of the 80s and it was in there somewhere. I just dusted it off and I'm gonna bring it home with a slammer.

Speaker 1:

And that is a special guest that we have today that I have Known. Gosh, I should have done the math on this quite a while, I want to say at least a decade. We performed together back at the Disney parks, but he is a ball of energy, endless entertainment. He is a multi hyphenate actor, director, producer, cosplayer, youtuber, singer. Of course, that's like the main thing and we're gonna get to know him and check out all the highlights and landmarks along his creative journey. Can't wait to introduce you to him, but first we must go down to the creek and draw some water from the well, which is also by the creek, and sip of it. Say hello to our producer behind the scenes, producer Craig Jackman.

Speaker 4:

Welcome. Pogs and creeks.

Speaker 1:

I don't know okay that's a good combination. I like that you know we're recording this on a Friday morning and my brain is misfiring left and right. This is gonna be or is it firing?

Speaker 4:

that's the thing.

Speaker 1:

I hope it's not firing well, not well.

Speaker 4:

at least it's moving forward, at least it's doing something doing something there we go, there we go. I'm alive.

Speaker 1:

it's another beautiful day on this earth. Absolutely live stream on on YouTube on a say hello to everyone joining us here on a Friday in the YouTube live stream and everybody listening to the podcast version whenever it drops. Oh, craig, are you excited?

Speaker 4:

I'm very excited. It's been a while since, I mean, we have communicated with this gentleman. It's been a while since I know I have and I know he's a very good friend of yours and when we've worked together in the past. Wow, just an amazing artist, entertainer, and it's so great to see someone be successful Because of how they believe what they do and their passion for it. So I'm excited to share this episode with everybody so they get to learn about this amazing individual.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so I've known him I mentioned probably over a decade now, and he was just a young lad when we met. But I was impressed right away by not only his energy in his drive but his vision. He has a very clear creative vision and it's been so fun to watch him carry it out over the years and can't wait to share it with everybody right here right now as I tell you a little bit about him. Our guest today, chris villain, was born and raised in Orange County, california, where it did not take him long to gain quite a following on social media platforms like tiktok, youtube and Instagram. He is a jack of all trades and has racked up millions of views on his viral singing, parodies and nerd culture videos. We have to explore nerd culture because I need a definite.

Speaker 4:

I like that idea.

Speaker 1:

I mean, I have an idea, but I want to explore what that means. But he's now boasting well over 600,000 followers across the social media platforms, and Chris's videos have grabbed the attention of entertainment hubs around across the country, such as the Huffington Post logo, tv Broadway world and many more. These viral videos have also allowed Chris to direct, write, produce, act and collaborate on projects with Disney, disney Channel, nintendo, comedy Central, geico, sci-fi, hot topic and universal pictures. We're gonna unpack as much as we can in under an hour, so let's get to it. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming to the carganilla online variety entertainment podcast our guest today, chris villain.

Speaker 2:

Guys, you're gonna make me cry.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I'm just so happy you could join us and we're so excited to have you here in the cove.

Speaker 2:

I'm so excited to be here. This is, this is a I don't know. I just love you guys, so I'm just excited to be here.

Speaker 1:

And we love you. Do you off the top of your head. Remember what year did the Phineas and Ferb DJ show open?

Speaker 2:

when you said that, I was like oh, let me wrap my brain, it had to have been like 2012, 2013, ish, like somewhere around there. I want to say Do you still work at the Disney parks at all? I do not. I think technically somewhere. I think I'm still employed by them somehow and some weird fine print, but no.

Speaker 1:

That was me through covid, and then, after covid, they called and said hey, we're just gonna have to trim some fat here. I hope you understand. And I was like, yeah, we are throwing the cart in front of the horse again and we have to first put you through the ringer. We do this with all of our guests at the beginning of every episode and it is our 60 second icebreaker introduction challenge. So we read your bio, all the professional stuff. Now we want to hear everything else that you can possibly tell us in under 60 seconds. Are you up for the challenge? Oh, I'm ready, bro. All right, here we go, and three, two, one.

Speaker 2:

Okay, I have a puppy named Lance lot. He's a mini husky. I love him very much. I feel like we knew each other in a past life.

Speaker 2:

I'm a big fan of anime. I am also a big video game nerd. I love all things video game gamers, all of the good stuff. You will not meet another person who believes in Bigfoot more than I do. Bigfoot is real. He is my boy. Don't get me started on anything paranormal. I love aliens. I love ghosts. We have to circle back to that one ghost honey show that you did that one time. All of these things are incredible. Fun fact I grew up as a gymnast, so I'm a little bendy. Favorite music let's see. Let's see. I'm kind of mainstream trash. Anything that's on the radio, honestly, as long as it's not respectfully country, I'll vibe. I'm what else? Food, listen, I love a good protein bar. You know this about me. Anything protein related, put it in my body. You know what I mean. A protein shake, a protein bar, a protein cookie, even I don't know how much time do we have, how we do, when you just hit a minute, but if you want to keep going, how okay great.

Speaker 1:

Perfect so we have so much to talk about as far as your career and your music and your videos, but I need to hear about Lancelot and your connection. Explain row.

Speaker 2:

okay, so Do you have any pets? Yeah, I do what pet, what kind of pets I?

Speaker 1:

have a dog and two cats and a fish perfect.

Speaker 2:

do you ever like? Does your dog ever like? Look you in the eye and like you? Just, the dog is like, all knowing. Does that happen to you?

Speaker 1:

It does, and the dog that are dog. He's waiting for a W A L K behind me kind of patiently on the floor, but he holds eye contact better than any dog I've ever come across in my life. It blows my mind. He will just stare into your eyes for for hours if you let him. It's crazy.

Speaker 2:

It's not the same way he's the same way and like so we'll just sit and stare at each other, like For like 10 minutes and I just and and and also. I feel like my mind wanders when this happens. And then, also, just knowing him, I'm like, oh no, I need to investigate this. But we're like past life homies. I don't know in what capacity just yet, but for sure, for sure it was a thing.

Speaker 1:

All right. Well, your YouTube video or your YouTube channel has how many subscribers we?

Speaker 2:

I think are loosely at 200 ish K.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you need to do a live stream where you bring in a medium and you do some sort of say on see magic and find out if you guys what? Who was he to you in your past life? Was he a sibling, was he a parent or a pet in the past life?

Speaker 2:

Well, that's the best idea I've ever actually heard in my life. So Riding that one down, that's great.

Speaker 1:

Also I don't know if you know this, but I also. I have another podcast that I co-host called the magical mystery hour. We have to have you as a guest. We do ghosts, bigfoot, aliens, conspiracies, true crime. We've been my co-host, amanda Benjamin and I. We have to have you on. We're on a break between seasons right now, but season two for sure, but we talked to a medium in season one and she told us about an experience she had with a ghost that came back for his dog and they left together like this ghost and the dog were connected in the past life, like they were together. What? Yeah, so it's, it's a totally possible.

Speaker 2:

Oh no, yeah, we're doing that too. We're doing all that. We're doing all that and some.

Speaker 1:

Love it. And in the live chat here, kelsey says on YouTube the Phineas and Ferb dance party where, which we did together, ran from 2011 to 2014. So, my friend, it has been nearly 13 years. That's not even real, that's crazy. Are we even 13 years old yet? No, I feel like we're both kind of Peter Pan's in our own right, where we're just like we're going to be these fun kids who love to just do crazy stuff forever.

Speaker 2:

I agree, I agree, I feel the exact same. I'm like in my head, I'm like maybe, maybe 18, maybe Right, that's a region.

Speaker 1:

Everyone around us just keeps getting older, but we're, we're just living our 18 year old lives Can't relate All right. So how old were you when you made your first viral video? Let's talk about that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I feel like that would have been. I think I was 18. Actually, I need to look up the exact date. Perfect yeah, perfect segue. But it was.

Speaker 1:

You made this viral video and you froze in time. You never aged again.

Speaker 2:

No, I said this is I. Now I, my age is not a thing. I've married the universe, can we?

Speaker 1:

unpack that. What is marrying the universe mean?

Speaker 2:

You know, don't worry about it, right.

Speaker 1:

I'm jumping over to your channel now to see what this is up to, because I remember when it took off and watching the numbers soar and being like bro. This video your first video here that I want you to talk about for a second is now looks like up to 16 million views on YouTube. That's so funny to me bro Million.

Speaker 2:

That's ridiculous.

Speaker 1:

Tell us how this came about and what. Why did this happen and what was the experience like, making it yeah for sure.

Speaker 2:

So I, before before that video, I was kind of doing off of the recommendation, actually, of our little fan group at the Disney parks. They were like you need to do YouTube videos, we want to see some stuff. And I was like I will do them if you watch them, cool. And so I kind of started doing what I call now like living room covers, where I just put a mic and I would just do little performances, and it was something that I enjoyed doing. And then a friend of mine who worked at the parks with me was like hey, these are good. Have you ever thought about doing like proper music videos? And I was like no, but that sounds great. And he's like I went to film school, let's do it. And I said, perfect, let's go. And so this video was that art, was that Art Vega? Yes, it was Art Vega, who I love for all reasons that he literally just like started or helped me start this path. You know, amazing guy too.

Speaker 2:

So this video was like just our first like attempt, like, oh, let's just do something like funny and fun and we'll just like it'll be a test run and we'll see what happens. And so we do this video and as we kind of start planning it, it slowly evolved into a little bit more than we had planned, but like it was still going to be a practice, kind of like you know, funny video. And so I rented a mermaid tail, as you did, as you know, as one does so and I found a red wig and I said, oh no, we're doing this. If we're going to do this, if I'm showing up and seeing on a beach my guy, we're going to show up and we're going to sing on the beach, okay, and so we made this video and in my mind it was going to be this sounds like cliche, because this is just you know how it happens. I was like this is going to be something really funny for my friends and like my family and, like you know, once we get this under our belt, we can do some like good stuff, you know. And so we put it out.

Speaker 2:

It was great, it was funny and I think it was like out for like about a week ish, a give or take a day and I woke up one morning and it was like a bunch of notifications and like emails and tweets and I was like what happened? What's going on? I thought it was like some kind of like national crisis or something. I was like, oh, what is this? And then I was like simultaneously like oh, it's. Oh, this is kind of cool.

Speaker 2:

And then I was like, no, why this video, please? Of all the things, why this one? But it really kind of jump started the rest of my like social media career, which is kind of insane because it took when that started happening. I was like, oh, because then I got an interview with the Huffington Post Broadwayworldcom was covering it and I was like, oh, this is like kind of serious and I should probably take this a little more seriously moving forward than I have, especially considering this wasn't what we were trying to do and it just kind of like. I was like I need to think about everything from this step forward, you know.

Speaker 1:

So funny because I imagine like seeing all those notifications and realizing what's happened happening. And then you see the scene from that thing you do in my head, when they're hearing their song on the radio for the first time and they're running down the street and turning on their car radios and banging on windows and this is our song. But then you have that moment of but why this song?

Speaker 2:

No, please. I'm in a mermaid tail. I'm not wearing any clothes. What's happening?

Speaker 1:

All right, well, we're going to show the video, but before we do, I want to encourage anybody who's listening on your favorite podcast platform to find these videos on his YouTube channel, chris Villan, and check them out, or check out the if you want to watch the whole recording of this podcast. See his face while he's talking to my face. That's at cove tubecom. But, gosh, I encourage you to go to his YouTube channel and I'll say this again before we go home because it is just chock full. We're going to share a handful of stuff here today, but just everything. There is something that your eye holes and ear holes will enjoy. We teased that it was an aerial thing, but what's the song?

Speaker 2:

It is part of your world, transposed into a key for the male voices.

Speaker 1:

Though your voice knows no limits, I'm sure you guys in the original key, but so excited to share this with everyone. Here's Chris Villan and his first viral video. Part of your world.

Speaker 2:

Maybe he's right, maybe there is something about it with me. I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.

Speaker 5:

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat, wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the guy, the guy who has everything? Look at this trove Treasure's untold. How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here, you think, sure, he's got everything. I've got gadgets and gizmos a plenty. I've got who's it's and what's it's galore. Oh, you want thingamabobs, I've got 20. But who cares Big deal. I want more.

Speaker 5:

Maybe where the people are I want to see, want to see them dancing, looking around on those, hey, what do you call them? Oh, feet, for open your fins, you don't get too far. Legs are required for jumpin', dancin', strollin' along down the what's that word again? Street Up, where they walk up, where they run up, where they stay all day in the sun, wandering free. Wish I could be part of that world. What would I give if I could live out of these waters? What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand, betcha, on land? They understand that they don't reprimand their own sons. Greatest, strong men, sick of swimmin', ready to stand. And you're ready to know what the people know? Ask them my questions and get some answers. What's a fire and why does it? What's the word Burn. When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love worth to explore the world above what of the sea? Wish I could be part of that world.

Speaker 1:

Instant magic, and I've seen that video a bunch of times, but this was the first time I noticed probably because your eyes were so dreamy a surfer in the back of one of the shots Whoa, what kind of looks were you getting from people on the beach when you were filming that.

Speaker 2:

So we shot that in Dana Point and the beach was actually shockingly vacant, which was great. I think that's why we shot there, yeah the rest of the shots were.

Speaker 2:

it was like cordoned off for you shut down, yeah, and then there was like one I met one girl, a small girl, there and I think she actually thought I was like a merman and it was very sweet. And then, like I think a week after so maybe two weeks out from it being posted she called me and she's like wait, I met you when you were there. I saw this and I was like that's you.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was sweet the day that Everly auditioned for yes Day.

Speaker 1:

We were really early for her audition, so I stopped at this, one of my favorite cemeteries in Westwood and, like Dean Martin's there, natalie Wood, marilyn Monroe, jack Lemon, walter Matha, like all these celebrities. So we were walking around and there were some tourists there with their video camera, not even like a phone but like a video camera and we were at Natalie Wood's headstone and it was like an old couple from like back somewhere in the south and they said you like Natalie Wood, you look like Natalie Wood when she was in the Santa movie to Everly. And Everly said, yes, I'm an actress, I have an audition today. And they were like oh my gosh, can we get video of you? And she was like, of course. And so they start rolling camera on Everly and they're like hi, who are you? And she's like I'm Everly Carganilla. I'm an actress, I have an audition today for a movie called yes Day. And I imagine, like this couple somewhere in the world maybe has no idea they have that video, or Listen, Everly's a star.

Speaker 2:

Everly's a star. Now I don't care.

Speaker 1:

But it just reminds me of like some day, maybe they'll comment on one of our videos. We met you that day that you auditioned for your first movie. It'll absolutely happen. Tell me about your descendants video.

Speaker 2:

Oh man, so this one has a little bit of a different, I guess, story to it. Where, so fast forward, we did that and then, you know, the YouTube channel is thriving a little bit, we're getting some recognition and I think when we come to the descendants video, this is an X milestone for me, because it was the first time I kind of like Took everything into my own hands, whereas before it was like I need, I don't know how to do this and like I don't know how, can somebody help me do this, and I had been doing it just long enough to where I was like, okay, I think I understand the different aspects of how to do this, and also the timing on this video was I knew that this Descendants 3 was like about to come out or they had just finished filming, so I was like I need to do this fast, right now, for like relevant purposes, you know. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

So you had no idea that Hades? Or did you know that Hades was in Descendants 3?

Speaker 2:

So it had been kind of like hinted at, but I didn't know, nobody knew. And the I had a YouTube representative at the time who was sending I think she had sent one of my peers, I think she had done a red carpet or something for Descendants, and then also like made a cameo in one and I was like, oh perfect, beep, boop, beep. Hello, youtube represent, lady, can you please do this for me, because this is right up my alley? And she's like oh, my gosh, of course, why didn't I think of this? Yeah, we'll make it happen. And I was like boom, great. And then I never heard back from her. And so I was like what happened? I thought this was going to be cool. And then I'm. And so, in a kind of rebellious act of defiance, I was like now I'm going to have to show you why this would have been perfect because you passed up on this. And so I called my music producer, I choreographed something in my living room and then we made this video, I kid you not in like Days.

Speaker 2:

It was very the turnaround was very fast, it was wicked fast, and it was part of the reason why I'm so proud of it, because, on top of the fact of it being the first time where I was choreographing it, I was costuming it, I did the set direction, I was like I wrote the song. It was the first time that, I think. Looking back now, I was like, ah, look, chris Villan is starting to show his face. He's not there yet, but this is like he's making his first little baby step in something that I'm still trying to wrangle and embody now. But I feel so much more comfortable now than I did back then and it was like I didn't even realize it at the time, but I was like, oh, we're stretching our wings a little bit, you know, and that's why I think it was a milestone.

Speaker 1:

Well, some of the best work is created when the creator has a chip on their shoulders, and I love that. That's kind of what drove you to make this. Tell me about the song Make it Hot.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So again, it had kind of been hinted at in like little previews. I was a fan of the Descendant Series when it was coming out and it had been hinted at that Hades. There was a lot of like little blue flames and I was like okay, so it's gotta be something Hades. I didn't know in what aspect but I was like okay in, if I were to do this, if I was writing the Descendant Series, what would I do? And I decided to make like Hades' Son who, if you look in the description of the video, there's like a very long paragraph of this whole synopsis that I wrote out for it that kind of explains the storyline of where he fits in and we talk about on Cove Podcast.

Speaker 1:

So much the importance of fan fiction, because it takes being inspired by something that you're a fan of, that something that you love and you're passionate about, and then you, it lights your own creative fire and causes you to make something out straight from your heart's fire, in your heart, and it sounds like that's exactly what this is. Can't wait to share it with everyone. Here is Chris Villan and his own Descendants world, his own Descendants universe with Make it Hot.

Speaker 5:

Let's go. Don't pretend that everything's fine. Don't you wait ready for the power of mine? Can you see the smoke that's rising? Can you feel this kind of heat? Ain't no way that you're surviving, cause you know I can't be beat. Let's make it hot. Let's make it hot. Let's make it hot. I've been taking names here. We've been taking names here. I've been taking names there. We've been taking names there. Big plans in the making, big plans in the making, and I ain't playing fair. What's wrong? Can't you feel the flames? When I'm done, they'll never mind name Friends of the underworld feeling my pain, making the fates ground, changing the game. Now the temperature is rising. Can you feel this kind of heat? Ain't no way that you're surviving, cause you know I can't be beat. Bring the fire, let's make it hot. Let's make it hot.

Speaker 1:

Let's make it hot, let's make it hot, let's make it hot, let's make it hot.

Speaker 2:

Let's make it hot. Let's make it hot. Let's make it hot when.

Speaker 2:

I reference nerd culture now I feel like nerd culture has become so mainstream that it's mainstream media now Pop culture. It's just culture now. But at the time when I was doing this, cosplay wasn't even nobody knew what that was. I was like, oh, you're the cosplaying YouTube guy and I'm like, what is that? I don't know what that is and they're like, you know, you'd like just some characters and I was like, oh okay, I didn't know that had a name and I feel like that's just become so. Anything that used to be like nerd culture, that you were, that was considered nerdy or you were a nerd for liking it, it's just kind of pop culture now. It's just kind of great.

Speaker 1:

Well, and I love that. You just you took it and you ran with it ever since. You know that first aerial video. You started that YouTube channel. You had your online presence. You were so connected with your fans. You did the mailboxes and that is so important to make you know people in your community or your tribe feel seen, and I've always been impressed with how great you've been at doing that and bringing everybody in your tribe along with you on your journey. It's so, so amazing.

Speaker 1:

I want to jump ahead to COVID, that time in life where everyone got shut up and put inside and nobody could do anything and we started to do here on the Vodacity Network, live shows live streamed through Zoom onto YouTube and we eventually started doing musicals. And that's when I reached out to you again. I said, bro, we're doing musicals over here in the pandemic on the YouTubes. You want to come play around, play with us? And you said, of course, yes, I do. I think maybe the first one you got involved with it was Into the Woods, absolutely. I asked you if you would do a duet with my daughter, everly, who was just six at the time.

Speaker 5:

I watched this video last night Sweet little baby.

Speaker 1:

So this was after she had filmed yesterday, but she still seems like such a tiny, tiny person to me when I watch this now. She's nine, almost 10. But you hadn't I think you hadn't heard the song yet, when I was like, hey, would you do this with her? So you learned it. Not only did you learn it, but you decided, in the height of COVID, you'd cosplay this as well. Tell me about that.

Speaker 2:

I remember you reaching out and I was like I think I had met Everly just briefly in person once or twice and I was like I am obsessed with this kid, I love her so much. And so when you said that, I was like this is so sweet, not only because I'm obsessed with Everly, but also I was like that you would think of me. To like do a duet with your daughter in general is like just the sweetest thing, and I was like I'm not going to say no to this for obvious reasons. And so, yeah, you, you were like this is the song. And I was like, okay, I've never heard it, let me, let me learn it real quick. But it had to be done this way. There was no other way to do it, which made me very excited because I was like, oh, I see why he asked me to do this. Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to go ahead and do what needs to be done.

Speaker 1:

And here is Chris and Everly with Hello, little Girl from Into the Woods. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, magic.

Speaker 5:

I love Everly so much. Oh, she's so cute.

Speaker 1:

Over the magic of the internet, your past or a flower in the thick of COVID. That was in June of 2020. That that was made. It's so much fun. And then you stuck around and we did a couple more musicals and when we did Wicked, I said, chris, we're doing Wicked. And you were like, yes, you reminded me. For when we actually did the live stream on Vodacity, you did popular. Yeah, you made a video where you played both characters. Of course, alphabet doesn't sing in that one, but you had the reactions in the acting. But that, I think, inspired you to take on another project and we're going to get to share that. What Tell us about your? The Chris Villain Defying Gravity magic video here I can't wait to share.

Speaker 2:

So another milestone. You asked me to do that and I was like it would be super cool to sing popular. I just don't know if that's in my wheelhouse of like range and like what I can do. But I was like we're not doing anything else, like let me, just let me see if I can do it, you know. So it was a very happy surprise. I was like, oh, this is in my wheelhouse and I wouldn't have known unless you asked me. And then I was.

Speaker 2:

This video that we're going to watch is a big milestone for me because I mean, I've always been able to sing and I've, you know, like I can hold the tune, great. But this was the first time I think I really like OK, but how much like. If I really tried, like if I was not just like OK, it's a tool in my belt, like what, if I like try to be like a singer, you know, like what does what does that look like? And this was the first time where I was like let's put some gas. Let's put some gas in the fire and see how, how far I can go.

Speaker 2:

And I recorded Define Gravity, which one other YouTuber had done, but it wasn't all in the original key. So I was like, well then, I need to do it all in the original key. And so I it was. It was difficult, for obvious reasons, but I was like whoa, this is crazy. I didn't know that I had this skill. And so it was because I had that realization, I was like I need to put this in the proper light, and the proper light just happened to be spending a vast amount of money just restaging our own broad version of it. But I don't think I've ever really actually come full circle and come back to thank you for that, because it really I would not have done it if it was not you asking me to do that initial popular video. And like, ever since then I've, I felt I've to this day, feel like I'm a singer now, and it wouldn't. I wouldn't have been because of that. I first of all, I always thought you were a singer, I know it's crazy.

Speaker 1:

We all have our demons in our heads and, like I always say, I'm not a singer, I can't, I can't do this and I can't do that, but I've always considered you to be a singer.

Speaker 1:

And, second of all, that's very nice of you to thank me. But I think a such a huge part of person's development and growth is that their willingness to say yes and take on new things. Of course, we talk about it at length on this podcast, but pushing yourself, spreading your wings, trying new things but it all starts with saying yes, whether you're saying yes to yourself and something you've always wanted to do and finally taking that first step, or when someone reach out, reaches out and says, hey, you want to try, would you get involved with in this project with us? And just saying, yeah, let's do it, and diving in 100%, as you are apt to do. So I want to thank you for being that person that does. And when I text you out of nowhere, out of the blue, hey, want to be on my podcast, want to record tomorrow and you say yes, that spirit that you have is it's immeasurable and it is so valuable and I thank you, sir. I love you man, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2:

You're welcome. Thank you, man, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1:

You mentioned staging this. How long was this production? Because, as people are about to see, it's incredible.

Speaker 2:

Thank you. We again, with these things it's like I get an idea and then my problem and it's such a blessing but such a curse is that for certain projects and this one was one of them we're like I can play a video in my head from beginning to end and like watch it, and once I've seen it, it's done, like I have to do it. And so I'm like, oh no, I've already seen the full Broadway production of this and so like now we have to do it. And then after that initial like pill has been swallowed, it just like vomits out. And so we shot it in two days one day, actually, that's a lie.

Speaker 2:

We shot it in one day, but we took the first day to go to the theater rig, the lighting test, the fly rig, and so that was a prep day really, but we shot it in one day, which is wild because and a lot of people still don't know this, going through the comments that I do play both of those parts and so we had to shoot the video twice, essentially, and also twice in a very complicated way because it's like my face can't be shown in certain ways. But it was a marathon and again, another milestone in the sense where I was like this is insane. Nobody I don't know a lot of people that do this and also, like I'm doing it, it's happening. I'm capable of this, which is very good to know, but terrifying to know because now the next one has to be bigger, you know.

Speaker 1:

Isn't that crazy when you have this crazy idea and you're like for me, it was, I'm gonna write and produce and make a feature film and that seems like no, I'm not, I could never do that.

Speaker 1:

And in the middle of doing it you're like I'm doing it, like we're actually doing this, and the team you mentioned. You play both roles. You do like a full on parent trap Lindsey Lohan kind of a thing here, but I mean your Glinda and your Alphaba and just the camera angles and the movie magic it's. The amount of work and how exquisitely it is carried out is a huge credit to your direction and your crew's ability to make some really convincing film, stage film, but it's an incredible video. It looks like you dropped it a couple of years ago. You got 89,000 views on it already, but it deserves millions more, as people are about to see. Here is Chris Villan and his production, his performance, the stage performance, broadway's quality of defying gravity, alphabane why?

Speaker 2:

couldn't you have stayed calm for once instead of flying off the handle? I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy now.

Speaker 5:

I hope you're happy how you've hurt your cause forever. I hope you think you're clever.

Speaker 2:

I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy too.

Speaker 5:

I hope you're proud how you would could follow in submission to feed your own ambition. So though I can't imagine now, I hope you're happy right now. Kofi, listen to me. Just say you're sorry. You could still be with the wizard. What you've worked and waited for. You could have all you ever wanted, I know, but I don't want it.

Speaker 4:

No.

Speaker 5:

I can't want it anymore. Anymore, something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I'm through with plaguing by the rules of someone else's game. Too late for a second guessing, too late to go back to sleep. It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and if it's time to try to find gravity, I think I'll try to find gravity and you can pull me down. Can't I make you understand? You're having delusions of grandeur. I'm through accepting limits cause someone says they're sore. Some things I cannot change, but till I try, I'll never know. Too long I've been afraid of losing love. I guess I've lost. Well, if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost. I'd still never find gravity. Kiss me goodbye. Find gravity and you can pull me down.

Speaker 5:

Gwyn come with me. Think of what we could do Together, unlimited. Together, we're a method. Together, we'll be the greatest team there's ever been.

Speaker 5:

Gwyn, oh, dreams the way we planned them. If we work in tandem, there's no fight. We cannot win. Just you and I defying gravity. With you and I defying gravity, you'll never bring us down. Alphie, I will. You're coming. I hope you're happy Now that you're choosing this, you too. I hope it brings you bliss. I really hope you get it and you don't let you regret it. I hope you're happy at the end. I hope you're happy, my friend. Hey, wait, no, it's me. You want, it's me. So if you care to fight me, look to the western sky. As someone told you lately. Everyone deserves a chance to fly, and if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free. To those who cloud me, take a message back from me. Tell them how I am defying gravity. I'm flying high, defying gravity, and soon I'll match them in renown. And nobody in all of us, no wizard that there is or was is, ever gonna win. They die. You want my hand? You can't get it? Run my friend, so we don't have to bring it.

Speaker 1:

Run. My friend Goosebumps chills. I'm like blown, just blown away. And people in the live YouTube chatter just like dude, I'm listening at work and getting goosebumps right now.

Speaker 2:

Oh, they're so nice. Thank you, chills.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh dude. Incredible, incredible, not just vocal performance, and I encourage again anybody listening to the audio podcast. Find this defying gravity mail cover by Chris Villan on YouTube. Watch the video Holy buckets. It'll bring goosebumps to your arms, chills to your soul. Amazing.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, dude. Comment back to it Literally I would not have done it if you didn't ask me that first time. Well, you said yes, you said yes.

Speaker 1:

So what is the as of today? What is the culmination of all of this work, this creative journey? What are you working on right now?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so we've now and you know, I think this whole time it's definitely been something that I've been wanting to do.

Speaker 2:

It's just, I think I've realized this, or up until now, that, like, if I wanted to do this the way that I want to do it, I need more time, and we've gotten here, finally, and I'm now on this like solo pop music venture, which is so, has been so cool and is really my next kind of like hurdle and obstacle that I'm navigating through, because it's very easy to replicate people's work at least for myself and in my experience and it's something that I've polished and I'm like, okay, I can do this, and creating something of your own that's brand new, that doesn't exist, is its own new kind of adventure, you know.

Speaker 2:

And so, yeah, I just released a song called Freak Show and it was a song, and this has been such a nice little walk down memory lane for me, honestly, because this is now like this video that I'm so proud of is the culmination of, I guess, chris Villan has now polished his skills and we're presenting it, and it's not perfect. It's not exactly where I want to be and where I want to go, but I'm very, very proud of where I've come and how far I've come, and so we're kind of just seeing what happens from here, you know. Yeah, I was gonna ask, is it?

Speaker 1:

part of a bigger project.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, this video was actually. I'm working on a visual EP, so meaning there's a few songs and they all will correlate together in a singular storyline and it will end up being a very cool hybrid of short film but music video, and this video was supposed to initially be a part of that, but it grew too big too fast and I was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, this is gonna steal the spotlight from everything else. So let's just make this a coming out solo song, because I had also before this never really we I dabbled obviously with the Descendants video, but I had never really released like original music under like Chris Villan as an artist, because that was kind of still leaning on like the Descendants IP, and so this was also like a very nice hey guys, I'm doing solo music now.

Speaker 1:

Creating your own thing. Yeah, I mean, as you said, like this is an original Chris Villan original. I feel like along the way, you have, just as you said, polished your skills, your vision and used covers as a tool to grow as an artist, and I'm so excited to see, just like the butterfly that comes out of this cocoon and this is the first step and it is so beautifully executed. I get when I watch it, I get a lot of, you know, britney Spears, circus vibes, some greatest showman vibes, but it is also just 100% Chris Villan as well and I just I love it. And here is an original Chris Villan freak show ı I iz we don't wanna.

Speaker 3:

Tonight, your life is about to change. Once you've crossed this line, you'll be something incredible, fantastic and amazing. You'll never be the same, Ladies and gentlemen. The Frenchman of Crisvillain.

Speaker 5:

Watch the curtains open or do you want an assurance? Now, don't believe everything you know. But let your mind be blown. No looking back, just take a seat, cause I'm ready to amaze. You never seen anything like me no mirrors, no haze. I got no strings. You can see for the tricks of my sleeves. Anything goes for a little fee. Baby, the spectacular freedom. Welcome. Come on, come on light. Give me what you want, what you need. All night, feeling good, feeling flirtatious. I'll make you feel rich. I'll make you feel famous. Angle rules under the big top, bright lights, nitty-gritty, and we won't stop. This is when your heart's screaming. You should let go. Come on, babe. Won't you join the free job? Feel the heat inside of you.

Speaker 5:

The show's just begun. Crowd's crazy on the feet. The best is yet to come. Father, son, who's to judge? Only in misfits, I trust. Don't you wanna go? Don't you wanna be? I need you to keep your eyes on me. Yeah, welcome, come on. Come on light. Give me what you want, what you need. All night Feeling good, feeling flirtatious.

Speaker 5:

I'll make you feel rich. I'll make you feel famous. Angle rules under the big top, bright lights, nitty-gritty, and we won't stop. This is when your heart's screaming. You should let go. Come on, babe. Won't you join the free job? This is when your heart's screaming. You should let go. Come on, babe, won't you join the free job? Welcome, come on. Come on light. Give me what you want, what you need. All night, feeling good, feeling flirtatious. I'll make you feel rich. I'll make you feel famous. Angle rules under the big top, bright lights, nitty-gritty, and we won't stop. This is when your heart's screaming. You should let go. Come on, babe, won't you join the free job? Welcome. Come on, come on light. Give me one night. I'll change your life. Something new, something outrageous. You wanna see it. You wanna feel famous. Make a picture of you, and I've got bright lights, nitty-gritty, and we won't stop. This is when your heart's screaming. You should let go. Come on, babe, won't you join the free job?

Speaker 1:

If you enjoyed this episode of Cove, please leave us some positive feedback A comment on YouTube if you're watching the video or a review on the podcast platform if you're listening. And, of course, be sure to subscribe or follow on YouTube or wherever you're listening to us, whatever podcast platform. Every like, comment and review helps us with the algorithm to reach new audiences as a small, independent podcast. This is very important to help our show grow. So thank you in advance. I appreciate your time always. I hope you'll tune in to the next one. Until then, make each day count.

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Paul Carganilla

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