Chappell Roan is Surfing on Uncharted Waters: Crashing through Lollapalooza and Beyond

Written by Giulia on December 30, 2024

Music

2024 was certainly a memorable year for pop music, but one artist’s triumph has been particularly noticeable. If you don’t recognize the name “Chappell Roan” by now, you most certainly recognize several poppy tracks behind her chart-smashing name. Her profound impact was on full display in Grant Park back in August during Lollapalooza. Facing a sea of festival-goers, Roan sang some of her most popular songs like “HOT TO GO!” and debuted Chappell’s most streamed track “Good Luck, Babe!”. The young woman – dressed up like a glittery wrestler – broke history that day, with Lolla representatives reporting that the crowds Chappell attracted were the “biggest daytime set we’ve ever seen”. This must have certainly come as a surprise considering that the budding artist had not been originally destined for the larger stage she ended up on. Though the singer’s career may feel like an overnight success, the performer has been building her career for a decade now.

In 2014, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz trudged past the deep-red Ozarks and attended a summer camp across the country with piqued interest in the art of songwriting. The camp proved to be fruitful, as “Die Young”, the song she had written during her time in the woods, gained sufficient traction to get the young artist signed at only 17. Amstutz soon swapped out her legal name for who we know her as today: Chappell Roan arose. As difficult as growing up is, it was particularly challenging for Chappell, who landed back in Missouri after being dropped by a big label and being diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder. After taking some time to claw past the rough patch many other creatives land in early on in their careers, Roan eventually moved to Los Angeles for a second time. She soon rekindled her professional relationship with Daniel Nigro, who she had worked with to birth the then-hidden gem that was “Pink Pony Club”. The singer still found herself in between lows and highs, though she began to profit off of her internal struggle. Chappell credits her Tiktok account’s success to her issues with mental health, stating that she “[...] realized that this app is fueled off of mental illness. Straight up.”

The self-described “Midwest Princess” accompanied the established Olivia Rodrigo; this meant that the addictingly whimsical persona and art behind a project like Chappell Roan were on full display for a fresh yet targeted audience. The deal was sealed: a well-deserved career was accelerated by new listeners enjoying “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”, a particularly marketable album in an era of heightened queer visibility. Chappell Roan has been open about being sapphic and has centered her looks around the art of drag. Roan has prioritized providing credit on behalf of the queer community many times. A particularly viral moment was her ode to drag artist Sasha Colby after coining the phrase “your favorite artist’s favorite artist”.

The troubling side-effects of A-list fame accompanied the change from a relatively niche success to an international pop juggernaut. Watching celebrities try to cope with being perceived by the masses (and the profit made off of the world’s curiosity) is not entirely new, but the determination Roan has held onto in combating toxic obsessiveness and arrogant entitlement bordering abuse from consumers and profiteers alike has led to quite a lot of noise. Matching the energy of testy photographers and drawing a clear line in the sand for fans who take it too far (often tied to over-normalized stalking and harassment public figures face regularly) has characterized Roan’s resilience.

A further escalation took place during election season when Roan initially refused to endorse Kamala Harris and demanded more from politicians regarding LGBTQ+-related issues and Palestine; she concluded by stating that she would vote for Kamala and urged her fans to research all candidates and participate in local elections.

The internet split in public opinion: one half argued that Chappell was entitled and spoiled for not understanding and accepting both how the entertainment industry works and what was expected from female queer artists in times of perilous politics. The other half stood fiercely behind the artist, stating that those who criticized the singer were in fact the spoiled brats who refused to recognize Chappell as an individual removed from her art and persona (the artist herself describes Chappell Roan as her “project”) that naturally reserves a right to privacy and personal opinions regardless of what faceless X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts had to say.

Perhaps reestablishing what defines the relationship between all entertainers and the general public itself would offer a satisfying resolution to both sides of this discourse: cutting away at unhealthy parasocial ties and separating an inevitably flawed human from their creations would allow space for preserving the dignity and humanity of an artist while allowing for more introspective and detailed examination of their work and thus their societal contribution. Focusing on artists who prioritize the message behind their work over those who emphasize their impact through controversy might have more to offer in an increasingly more complicated era of culture. Roan’s values are particularly apparent in her music and any added noise simply diverts attention away from the bigger picture she has painted for her listeners.

Obliging to a more thorough investigation is the duty of any well-meaning journalist. The good news is that anyone can get the gist of Chappell by merely skimming through some lyrics or watching a few minutes of a live performance. Chappell Roan is loud about being a woman who loves women and a passionate member of the queer community. Whether detailing a storyline of a woman suppressing her true sexuality–something often referred to as compulsory heterosexuality–through the lens of a former sapphic lover or writing a feminist lesbian anthem titled “Femininomenon”, Chappell’s music leaves nothing to the imagination and caters to a particular audience. It is fascinating to observe the manifestation of her success, especially considering that other artists have only ever dreamed of scratching part of Chappell’s surface with similar pursuits.

The reality remains bitter; most artists attempting to build a similar brand often find no luck in the public eye, with only some individuals merely building niche success to continue sustaining their careers. It is easy to assume that Chappell’s success may be an accidental cracking of a code, but the continued success and lasting hype mixed with a controversial relationship with the public prove otherwise. Chappell Roan pays homage to figures that are extremely impactful within the queer community–thus drawing in those heavily invested within queer cultural spaces. It is not rare for many new-gen entertainers to claim they owe their careers to the LGBTQ+ community, ranging from influencers like Brittany Broski, rappers like NLE Choppa, and mainstream artists like Charli XCX. Besides having tapped into the passion of this community, Chappell’s talents are undeniable and she has gained attention particularly for her impressive vocal flips. With her musical gifts, passionate fans, and a mesmerizing rock-pop sound, Roan has pushed her way into the mainstream: the first of her kind.

Despite Chappell’s pessimistic perspective on the upcoming award show season, it will be interesting and worthwhile to follow the young artist in the near future. A complex young woman has found herself under an international spotlight after years of perseverance. Many other artists, perhaps equally deserving of Chappell’s recognition, will remain unheard of due to the shotty odds behind the entertainment industry. It is thus imperative that Chappell is celebrated for breaking a barrier that previous figures had worn down for her. The future is uncertain in many corners of the world, making the stellar success of any marginalized artist priceless. The platform Chappell Roan has built seems rather sturdy as she continues to ride on a wave of hits. We will hopefully hear more from this young woman very soon, who teased a sapphic country song pending release titled “The Giver” on her more recent SNL appearance.

WRITTEN BY

Giulia

As the world seems to hurl past me, I find myself compelled to catch up. A way to stay present for me is by appreciating art, from fashion to cinema to music. This means making art accessible and thus engaging readers, as sharing my love for culture is one of my greatest passions in life.

PHOTOS BY

Pauline

I’ve loved photography since I was a kid and (live) music has always been such an important part of my life, getting to combine both of those things is a dream come true. I also love urban and street photography, especially while traveling. Any of my friends can tell tales about having to wait for me while i take pictures wherever we go haha. So: if you’re ever looking for me, chances are you’ll find me and my camera at a concert or out somewhere traveling (or at a concert while traveling).