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Featured Artist Interview: Chucky Hugh
- Rebecca McDevitt
- Mar 13
- 13 min read
Behind the Music: The Journey of Chucky Hugh
Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt
Editor-In-Chief by LJ Portnoy
The Story Behind the Sound
Some artists are born into music; others find their way to it through sheer passion and relentless pursuit. Chucky Hugh is a rare blend of both—a musician whose journey has been shaped by an innate love for melody and a determination to carve his path.
Raised in New Jersey and now calling North Carolina home, Chucky has spent years refining his craft.
From basement jam sessions to headlining tours. From stripped-down acoustic EPs to the full-bodied alternative rock sound, that defines his music today.
Chucky's story begins in a house filled with music, where his mother’s eclectic taste in records introduced him to a world of sound, spanning classical compositions to punk rock anthems. The influence stuck, and by the age of seven, Chucky had already begun playing guitar—first as a reluctant student under his father’s guidance, then as a rebellious kid eager to master electric riffs inspired by Green Day and Blink-182. Music wasn’t just an interest; it was a language he instinctively understood.
By his teenage years, Chucky was fronting bands, shaping a small but thriving music scene in North Jersey, and playing legendary venues like Webster Hall in New York City before he even graduated from high school. But the moment of truth came when, against the expectations of a traditional career path, he decided to leave college and pursue music full-time in 2014.
That leap of faith was the start of something bigger.
Discover Chucky Hugh’s top tracks on Spotify—listen now!
A Career of Highs and Hard Lessons
Chucky’s independent music career has been a whirlwind of defining moments, both triumphant and challenging. Hustling his way down the East Coast, he took every gig he could find, eventually landing opportunities to share the stage with musical heroes like William Ryan Key (Yellowcard), Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), and Palaye Royale. These milestones solidified his place in the indie rock circuit and reassured him that he was on the right path. However, like many artists, his momentum was abruptly halted in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Days before the release of a highly anticipated album and the kickoff of his first headlining tour, the world shut down, leaving him in limbo.
The setback was more than just a logistical nightmare—it was a defining moment that tested his resilience. The music scene he had cultivated felt diminished in the aftermath, and the struggle to reclaim that energy has been an ongoing challenge.
Yet, Chucky’s approach to music has always been about evolution. His early work leaned acoustic, influenced by melody-driven pop-punk, but as he experimented with production and live performance enhancements, his sound grew into something grittier, bolder, and unmistakably his own. Collaborating with drummer and friend Jose Pepe Mongollon helped shape a more dynamic, high-energy stage presence, allowing Chucky to explore a full-band sound without sacrificing the authenticity of his solo artistry.
Get a backstage pass to Chucky Hugh’s world—music, moments, and behind-the-scenes vibes you don’t want to miss! Follow him on Instagram now! 🎸🔥
Authenticity in a Changing Industry
The music industry has changed drastically since Chucky first picked up a guitar. Streaming culture, social media algorithms, and the commercialization of artistry present new challenges for independent musicians. For Chucky, the hardest part isn’t just making music—it’s staying true to himself in an era that rewards clickbait over craft. He chooses authenticity over virality, opting for meaningful connections with fans rather than chasing fleeting trends. Despite the pressures, he remains hopeful about the future.
His ultimate goal?
To inspire young artists to dive into their local music scenes, to create without inhibition, and to push the industry toward a space where artistry and passion reign over profit.
Dare to enter the darkness? 🖤 Watch Chucky Hugh’s haunting Sinner music video now and let the eerie vibes pull you in. 🎸
Looking Ahead
As he moves into 2025, Chucky is focusing on growth—not just as an artist, but as a person. Prioritizing his physical and mental well-being, he’s setting the foundation for a new chapter in his career, one that promises fresh music, exciting projects, and a deepened commitment to his artistry.
With a sound that continues to evolve and a perspective that remains grounded, Chucky Hugh is a name to watch in the indie rock scene. Now, let’s dive into our conversation with Chucky, where he shares insights on his journey, creative process, and what’s next on his horizon.
SoundCheck: What’s your origin story? How did you first get into music, and what made you realize this was what you wanted to do?
Chucky: My mother always had great music taste, and I’m grateful that she shared that with me. I remember that she had an entire catalog of records, cassette tapes, and eventually CD’s. All genres: Classical, Punk Rock, 70’s, 80’s, etc..
With all of that influence, I noticed at a pretty young age that I took an interest in melodies, patterns, songwriting, and harmony. My father was pressuring me to learn how to play classical guitar at the time, so eventually my rebellious compromise was to learn to play the electric guitar.
I was seven years old when I started playing guitar, and it just felt like a language that I understood immediately. Of course my teacher was pushing me to learn music theory, but I would go home and learn punk songs by ear. From there, I started getting really into bands like Green Day and Blink 182, and just immediately connected with their energy and performances.
Between the ages of twelve and eighteen, I would start several bands in school. We genuinely had our own little North New Jersey music scene,-- (Shout out to Canvas Clash, Radiant, Bloomfield VFW, Two Step, Joy Ride)-- and a lot of the bands would go on to do some really impressive things for our ages. By age eighteen I had played at the famous Webster Hall in New York City twice, which is still one of the biggest highlights of my life. Those are some of the best memories I have.
At college age, my bandmates would go on to pursue degrees and school. I was a “straight A” student, but this music thing meant too much to me to give up, and in 2014 I dropped out of college to start a solo career. That’s where everything began for my music career.
SoundCheck: What were some defining moments in your career so far—any breakthroughs, setbacks, or “aha” moments that changed everything for you?
Chucky: I am so humbled, and grateful to have been able to perform, and open shows for many of my heroes. I was hustling my way down the East Coast, and just taking any gig I could get. Some notable shows were William Ryan Key of Yellowcard, Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance, and Palaye Royale. Each of those was just a defining moment where it felt like I was brushing shoulders with the people who inspired me to make a career out of this in the first place.
Things were gearing up to take off and I had my first headlining tour scheduled, starting in March 2020. Literally days before my album release show, which would have kicked off the tour, the Covid-19 Pandemic began, and all shows were indefinitely cancelled. This was, by far, the largest setback I have ever experienced in my career. In this industry, you can’t afford to lose momentum because you already barely make enough to survive.
Unfortunately, I felt that even after the pandemic, the music scene I had cultivated and come to love just did not return with the same impact. I’m still navigating that, and trying not to base my self worth on “how it used to be,” but I have very high hopes for the future.
SoundCheck: How has your sound evolved from when you first started to now? What elements of your music have stayed true from the beginning?
Chucky: My first few EP’s were all fully acoustic and more pop-melody based. I struggled a lot though, because more than anything I wanted to be in a BAND. I thought it was a bit pretentious to be “Chucky Hugh” with a band playing behind me, so I started dabbling in ways that I could enhance my show without necessarily starting a new project. At this time I got really into music production/audio engineering, which would be a full on business venture for me a few years later.
A good friend of mine, Jose Pepe Mongollon, used to jam with me and add drums to my acoustic tracks, so he became a huge part of the evolution of my music and show. It just felt like drums were able to elevate everything and allow me to explore a more alternative rock style that you can hear on my most recent releases. He would perform with me all the time and really set the bar for the level of energy that the act would have at live shows.
SoundCheck: What’s the hardest part about being an indie/rock artist that people don’t see?
Chucky: I’ve realized how important it is to kill the ego and just be genuine. I think that in the modern world, you have many resources to build your own image without needing too many hands in the pot telling you what would “sell” better. Post things when you want to, share your life authentically, and stop viewing yourself too much as a business. A healthy amount of marketing is great, but I feel that people are getting sick of the clickbait and just want to experience art and connection. These days I’ll opt to listen to a full record from cover to cover over a 10 second clip that went viral.
I guess, to answer the question, the hardest part for me is trying to remain authentic while social media constantly pushes and rewards inauthentic content. I tend to take many social media breaks these days and try to live completely in the moment. Life with my wife Olivia and my dog Luna is pretty amazing!
SoundCheck: If you could go back and give your younger self advice about making music, what would you say?
Chucky: I would tell myself to worry less about the future, and just calm down a bit. It all works out in the end! I moved out of my mom’s apartment when I was 17, and was totally on my own. As a young musician and entrepreneur, this was completely terrifying. I had no backup plan. Looking back, I spent most of my time in a very bad mental health state, stuck between trying to make enough to survive, while also desperately trying to make the music career work. Lots of hormones, angst and stress- haha!
I look back and wish that I knew that those days were the “glory days!” If I could go back, I would tell myself “It’s all going to work out! Try to live in the moment and enjoy this.” I can’t stress how grateful I am for the memories and the people who made it possible to do this.
SoundCheck: What emotions or themes do you aim to capture in your music?
Chucky: My music is all over the place, and I like to try and tell a larger story from song-to-song as you move down a track list. I’d say that a lot of my songs are love songs. I was always a hopeless romantic type. There’s also a solid amount of hardship, and coming-of-age in my music. Life has peaks and valleys, and I think songs are a lot like that too. You want to take the listener on a journey and communicate strong feelings that if said out loud might just sound crazy.
SoundCheck: Walk us through your songwriting process—do lyrics come first, or is it more about a melody or vibe you’re chasing?
Chucky: Ah, the age-old-question! Haha. Everyone is different, but I tend to find a vibe, or progression and build on it with melodies. At some point, you’ll hear me babbling nonsensical words within a melody and finding the right inflections or sounds that elevate it.
Once I have that, I start adding words that fit the rhyme scheme of whatever my gibberish sounds like. I know this is really weird, but I feel like songwriters will understand!
When I did music production full time, I often had people who were embarrassed to share demos they were working on, and I was like “Have no fear! I speak your language,” -because even a phone recording of a babbling melody with nonsensical lyrics makes sense to a songwriter. People should not be embarrassed to share that! It’s how all music is made.
SoundCheck: How would you describe your sound? Are there any elements that you feel you have been inspired by from other artists, if so, which ones?
Chucky: I definitely always tried to add a little bit of an “edge” or aggressive energy to everything, even when it was acoustic- whether that was vocal delivery, or lyrical, etc. One of my inspirations has always been The Ramones, who kept their music simple in favor of melodic vocals.
SoundCheck: If someone listens to your music for the first time, what’s the one song you’d want them to hear first, and why?
Chucky: I would want them to hear “Undead,” from my EP “There’s Nothing in This World Under Control.” That is a hidden gem in my opinion and I did have plans to shoot a music video before the pandemic. I think the lyrics of that song are especially prevalent in today’s world.
SoundCheck: How do you balance staying true to your vision while also experimenting and pushing your sound forward?
Chucky: I think that every idea is worth fleshing out, and if you get to a point where it just doesn’t inspire you anymore, it's okay to take a break and come back to it. You have to make a lot of bad music before you can make good music, so just getting all of your ideas out and treating them with equal preference really gives every concept a chance to shine. I’ve had many ideas that I thought were “bad” turn out to be great after developing them.
SoundCheck: As an independent artist, what are some of the biggest challenges you face when it comes to getting your music out there?
Chucky: The hardest part now is that it seems the culture shifted to mostly mainstream artists getting hype. Stadium tickets went from $80 to $1000, and people still buy them. Meanwhile local shows are $10 and incredibly hard to pull an audience haha. There was a time when it was cool to know a band or an artist before they blew up, and it certainly feels that people aren’t as open to giving smaller acts a chance these days. It can be discouraging, but I do think we’re seeing a shift back in the right direction. I am definitely seeing people craving that more intimate independent vibe in a show recently.
SoundCheck: Do you feel like today’s music industry makes it easier or harder for indie/rock artists to break through?
Chucky: I would say harder. Even some of the acts I’ve heard of pulling millions of streams per month are barely making enough to survive, and so they are just perpetually on tour to try and sell merch.
I guess that comes with the territory, but it’s definitely rough right now to be in this business.
I think that’s also why it's really important that young people get involved and influence the industry in a positive way!
SoundCheck: What’s been your biggest learning curve so far in making a name for yourself?
Chucky: The biggest learning curve for sure was learning about music production and audio engineering. While a lot did come naturally, learning all of the equipment, and technical parts was like a full time job. Luckily, it was all worth it because once you are able to record your ideas and flesh them out, the computer becomes an instrument itself to make your vision a reality. Mixing and finding the right tones has become one of my favorite things because it's so rewarding when you finally achieve the vision.
SoundCheck: Have you ever faced creative burnout, and if so, how do you overcome it?
Chucky: Yes! It happens all the time, and for me, I don’t mind taking long breaks and finding new ways to get inspired. I love to go to museums, travel, try new hobbies, etc. Finding things that move and inspire me allows the creative juices to flow again.
SoundCheck: What’s your ultimate dream as an artist? What’s the version of success you’re chasing?
Chucky: My dream right now is to inspire younger artists to learn music, be involved in their local music scenes, and to have their voices heard! There is so much happening in the world and we need more art.
SoundCheck: If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Chucky: I would absolutely love to collaborate with John Feldmann, who is a music producer that has worked on practically all of my favorite records from every band I love. He adds so much flavor and gets the sound just right, and I think it would be a huge learning experience.
SoundCheck: What’s a moment in your career that made you step back and think, “This is why I do this”?
Chucky: It is really a humbling and beautiful thing when people can relate to my lyrics and music and tell me that the music has helped them through some aspect of their lives. That is what this is all about for me.
SoundCheck: Are there any upcoming projects or releases fans should be excited about?
Chucky: There are some things in the works that I don’t want to spoil too much yet, but I think it will be worth following the journey!
SoundCheck: What’s next for you in 2025? Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Chucky: In 2025 I have really prioritized working on myself. I’ve been going to the gym, nurturing my brain, and just trying overall to do better. I think that in a year from now, the habits I’m forming now will allow me to create some really amazing music in the future.
SoundCheck: If your music were the soundtrack to a movie, what kind of movie would it be?
Chucky: It would probably somehow be a romantic horror movie, which sounds like it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but I would watch it!
SoundCheck: What’s a song by another artist that you wish you had written?
Chucky: Funnily enough, I was just talking to a friend of mine about how the soundtrack of “The Greatest Showman” has some of the best pop songwriting I’ve ever heard, and I wish I wrote every song on that soundtrack, haha! I love it so much, and I think secretly I want to have my own circus of weird people like myself who go around, play music, and show all of their weird talents!
SoundCheck: What’s the weirdest or wildest thing that’s ever happened at one of your shows?
Chucky: There’s always craziness and chaos, but I will never forget one time when I looked down at the crowd and my own grandmother had somehow made her way all the way to the front barrier. She was screaming and cheering me on, and I was laughing so hard that I could barely perform!
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