Finding Her Voice, Sharing Her Power

CHANTELL PREPARES FOR A BREAKTHROUGH WITH HER DEBUT ALBUM 

By Mark Greenlaw

Photo credit Lee Everett / finelinelenox.com

One of the great joys of covering Berkshire County’s vibrant live music scene is experiencing those rare, unforgettable performances where everything aligns—the setting, the sound, the soul of the artist. My wife, Melissa, and I had several such nights watching Chantell, a powerhouse vocalist whose blend of emotional intensity and technical brilliance leaves audiences stunned. Whether she’s sitting in at jazz night with Andy Wrba and friends, performing with the genre-blending Diego Mongue Band, or holding a room captive during a solo set, Chantell—whose full name is Chantell McCulloch— delivers musical moments that feel transcendent. 

And yet, just a few years ago, she wasn’t performing at all. 

Raised in a deeply musical family in Chicago—her parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all sang or played instruments—Chantell moved to Pittsfield at age 12. She studied music at UMass Boston and Westfield State University and spent many weekends at the Berklee College of Music, where she was encouraged by musicians like Matt Cusson (who toured with Christina Aguilera) and Jeff Gitelman (who went on to work with artists such as H.E.R. and Mac Miller). During her final year of college, her life was upended by an assault that caused her to step away from music entirely. She left school and moved away from the Berkshires, living in eight different states, singing only at karaoke or open mics—never seeing herself as a musician again. 

That changed in 2017, when she returned to Pittsfield and saw that Wrba, her old friend, was hosting Monday Night Jazz at the former Mission restaurant in Pittsfield. She stopped by and found the room filled with familiar faces from high school. “It was such a warm experience,” she recalls. Wrba invited her to join him—and wouldn’t let up until she finally agreed. She sang a moving rendition of “O Holy Night” during a 2019 holiday show at Mission. 

It marked the beginning of her return. She started singing jazz standards with local artist Marisa Massery, fronting blues sets with Misty Blues, and sitting in with Wrba, Wanda Houston, Ed Moran, and many other regional musicians. A pivotal connection came when she joined the Diego Mongue Band—a group of young, gifted musicians with deep blues roots. Chantell calls herself “the band mom,” but performing with the group keeps her energized and challenged. “They’re open to anything,” she says. “They give me space to explore.” 

That freedom sparked new creativity. Chantell contributed original songs to the band’s performances at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2024 and 2025, where her voice caught the attention of Dixiefrog Records, a respected blues label based in Paris. After reconnecting at the 2025 event, they began discussing a recording contract—and her debut album was soon underway, and its release is expected to be this fall. 

The forthcoming album of original music is a deeply personal mix of styles—what she calls “soul over classical,” with threads of gospel, jazz, and R&B. Local talents like Mongue, Cam Bencivenga, Josh Hirst, Tarik Shaw, and Trevor Wheelock help bring her vision to life. Most of the songs are built from emotional moments and spiritual reflection. “Some of them feel like they come from the ancestors,” she says, “very rhythmic, African in nature.” Some tracks feature a full band, while others are just her voice accompanied by a piano or guitar. Songwriting is both healing and clarifying, Chantell says, and she believes the outcome helps listeners heal as well. 

Her influences span a wide range—from soul legends like Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, and Mahalia Jackson, to gospel icons LaShun Pace and Deborah Cox. Her musical language is even broader, though, shaped by the classical compositions of Gabriel Fauré and John Rutter, and Broadway greats like Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim. “I blend soul vocals with classical structure,” she says. “It doesn’t fit neatly into a genre—that’s intentional.” 

Over the past three years, we’ve seen Chantell’s voice grow more confident, her range more fearless. She credits a recent breakthrough: letting go of fear. “I used to worry about taking up space,” she says. “My singing was small because I was holding back.” But a 2023 recording session with Mongue changed everything. While tracking “Sleepless Night Blues,” she heard her voice differently in terms of tone and emotion, which sparked her desire to explore it further. She drew on her classical training, utilizing her upper register, rounded tones, and fuller sounds. The most significant change, she says, was internal. “I stopped focusing on myself. Now, when I sing, I concentrate on the lyrics, the message, and the emotion. I think about who in the audience might need to hear what I’m expressing.” 

A powerful example of that connection came at a recent all-original music show at the Dream Away Lodge in Becket. “I cried while singing,” she recalls. “And when I opened my eyes, the whole room was crying too.” That moment confirmed what she already suspected—that music was not just a talent, but a calling. 

Veteran blues singer Gina Coleman of Misty Blues agrees. “She’s one of the most talented vocalists I’ve ever met—and I’ve met a lot,” Coleman says. “Her voice is so incredibly powerful and dynamic, it moves me to tears.” 

Local venues feel the same way. Yuki Cohen, owner of Methuselah Bar & Lounge in Pittsfield, regularly invites Chantell back. “She brings magic to the stage every time,” Cohen says. “Her voice is rich, soulful, and effortless—it can hush a room or fill it with joy. But beyond the voice, Chantell creates an experience that makes people feel welcome and connected.” 

Chantell hopes her album will help her reach a broader audience—ideally one that includes international touring. Even with big dreams ahead, her focus remains clear: to stay grounded, be grateful, and keep healing through music. “My biggest goal is to learn to be content with what I have,” she says, “while still walking the path I’m meant to follow.”

Catch Chantell live on Sunday, September 14, performing with a jazz trio and Misty Blues at the Living in Recovery Block Party in Pittsfield. For updates on where else she will be performing, go to musicintheberkshires.com.