A Peninsula teen's priorities include time to just be a kid between gigs singing for thousands ahead of an NHL game and wowing the crowd at Sidney market.
It’s a fine balance, with the young Central Saanich country singer preparing for the stage at Sunfest later this summer, while still songwriting and planning a pair of potential ticketed events in Alberta come fall.
“I don’t want it to be a full career when I’m 13, I don’t want it to take over what a kid does,” Chase told the Peninsula News Review. “I still want to do shows, I want to do big events.”
It likely wasn’t a surprise for his family when Chase picked up a guitar a couple of years ago and wrote a song for his late grampa. As a middle kid among four children, mom Rena Varnes says he’s a natural-born entertainer. He plays drums and piano and loves writing and performing his own work, while also doing the covers country fans adore.
“I started learning covers and different songs and started playing in front of the BC Liquor Store in Sidney,” he said of his foray into public performance. He soon gathered a little fan base, with folks posting clips online. Then, a year ago, he started taking it seriously.
That social media presence led to gigs on America’s Got Talent (this season) and NHL games. But he always makes time for the Sidney Market, where Chase is a regular.
He loves the big events or any moments of recognition, whether it’s a stranger’s front door on Halloween (that happened) or the Sidney Market.
“His soul is on fire when that’s happening; he loves that,” Rena said.
Influenced by the songwriting of Ed Sheeran, originality of Zach Bryan, and Luke Combs’ unique voice, Chase feels age – or more precisely lack of life experience in the areas – keeps him from writing about the country big three: trucks, girls and beer.
Though he does have one song that covers the tryptic and started as a joke. Titled Me Without You, it's starting to reform from its roots as a joke, he noted.
His current favourite is a song penned for an aunt’s wedding. She asked for something for the first dance and left the tune up to him. Steering clear of a cover, Chase surprised her with an original, a “solid song” about the couple, how they met, and the positive changes in their lives since that moment.
“It’s hard because I don’t want to write about stuff I’ve not experienced, or stuff that’s not necessarily true,” he said. In a way wise beyond his years, he will delve into hopes, dreams and “what ifs”.
“He’s a real natural at that, and I think it’s a hard combination to find,” Rena said. “He’s very musically gifted, so that really helps with his songwriting.”
He’s working on several new songs with Austin, Tex. producer Mike Meadows, with more writing and recording on the horizon this summer in Alberta.
“They’re going to be amazing. They’ll be out this fall,” Rena said.
Chase also performs Sunfest – a long-running, massive country music festival held at Laketown Ranch near Youbou – on opening night July 31, with a small set at 6:30 p.m. and returns to the stage for the BC Country Music Association showcase Saturday afternoon.
Amid all the fanfare, Chase still finds time to be 13, pedaling the back roads of the Peninsula with his wholesome gang of six buddies on mountain bikes. On a warm summer day, they’ll head out and wind up at a favourite place like Thetis or Elk lakes, or discover a random new find.
“When we ride, the point is just going somewhere, and not knowing where we’re going until we find a spot that looks cool,” Chase said. “We just get on our bikes and choose roads as we go.”
