Meet Chidike John Nwankwo | Multi-Instrumentalist & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chi-K and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chidike, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from Riverside, California, and my background in music started in the church. There was a toy guitar I had that my 5 year old self played with the praise team every Saturday morning. Even though most of my notes didn’t match the music, it was an experience that paved the way for what was coming in the future. In my house I was taught perseverance, self-discipline, and hard work. Those values taught me you can’t achieve something big without putting a big amount of effort and getting over obstacles that come in the way. To my parents, I really say a big thank you. Without them I would have given up so long ago. An example of one obstacle that happened in my career was Covid-19. Live music was gone. During that time I found out that hours to myself practicing inside my bedroom studio helped me propel my skills tenfold. Deciding to use my time productively during the pandemic helped keep my career from stumbling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As of now I focus on doing live arrangements. This is a musical type of art form that includes taking the studio version of a track and then remixing it to sound more energetic for a live performance. This may include guitar solos, changed chords, and new instruments that were never there before. What sets me apart from a lot of producers is that I can record most of the instruments myself. One of the perks of playing multiple instruments is that this saves time and money because I don’t have to contact people. Experience in playing music in different situations has given me a good understanding of instruments in different categories. Watching and contributing to the process of producing live arrangements for the R&B Music Experience and iHeart Jingle Ball Tour 2022 has been the highlight of my career so far. Getting to where I am today was the result of constructive criticism, countless hours of practice, trial and error, and taking risks. None of the career growth was easy because the music scene is very saturated. Along the way I’ve learned how to play music live professionally, the proper way to talk to artists, and the reality of the entertainment industry. I want the world to know that even at me being 16 years old, age doesn’t define where you can be in life. Anyone can start a journey anytime and with the right mindset and proper people, it is very possible to reach your goal. The year of 2022 was a stepping stone for me, but in 2023 I am praying my brand ChikayMusic Enterprises becomes a household name in the entertainment industry and shows the beauty of creatives in the Inland Empire.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Haha this a fun one, places to eat would consist of In N Out, Mama Wale’s Rice, and La Salsas Taqueria. To keep ourselves busy going to Castle Park, watching a movie at the Drive-In Theater, and hiking at Mount Rubidoux. I would recommend walking around downtown  is a cool way to see interesting artwork, and also support street vendors because anything they sell is always unique!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
People I thank a lot are my parents for the motivation and support, Matthew Brower(Sophomore year piano teacher), Jason Lomeda(Junior year band teacher), Tamera LaShawn(LA based Neo-Soul Artist), Khirye Tyler(Khalid’s Musical Director), and Gerri Wheeler(Head of music at LBTHS Worship Center). Spiritually I thank God for bringing the people that I networked with in my life to get to where I am.

Website: https://solo.to/chi-k

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i.am.chidike/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chi-k

Image Credits
Marcus Kennedy, Madelynn Jones, Nina Prommer