Chappell Roan is on a whole new level of fame.
In a conversation with comedian Bowen Yang for Interview magazine, the 26-year-old singer, who only rose to fame years after her debut, expressed her disinterest in the usual markers of success in the music industry, such as chart success and radio airplay.
Reflecting on the events of the past year, Roan — real name Kayleigh Amstutz — candidly shares her thoughts on how the dramatic changes a hit album and song brought about transformed her life.
Despite remaining true to her core identity throughout her 10 years in the entertainment industry, Roan confessed that she couldn’t help but notice a change in how others perceived her after her music started gaining attention on the charts.
“Honestly, in the last eight weeks, my whole life has changed,” the “My Kink Is Karma” singer explained to the “Saturday Night Live” star. “It’s been really emotional because I’m not just singing pop music, but it’s also political because I’m gay.”
“I personally don’t know anyone who’s going through this. The biggest thing is being recognized, and not feeling like I’m myself. And touring, it’s all over my mind,” she admitted.
Roan also shared her experience opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” and “Guts” tours. She expressed her surprise at the increased interest in her and her perspective in the music industry as her songs became popular on the charts.
The “Good Luck, Babe!” hitmaker confessed, “I never cared about charts or getting radio airplay, but it’s crazy that people in the industry take me more seriously than before. I’m like, ‘I’ve been doing this the whole time, motherfucker.'”
The singer also admitted that she has always focused on creating music that resonates with her audience rather than aiming for chart success, which she considers temporary.
“Like, my career doesn’t mean anything anymore when I have a number one album and song. If it does, I just want to say, ‘Fuck you for not seeing what’s really important.’ A chart is so fleeting,” Roan said, noting that she felt like a “graduate” when she saw her album and song top the charts.
“The valedictorian doesn’t really matter, and that’s how I feel right now. I’m like, ‘Great. Maybe I’m the valedictorian, but it’s weird that we’re graduating, and everyone’s moving away…'” she added.
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After headlining performances at Coachella and Governors Ball, Bonnaroo has brought Roan to a bigger stage. She recently performed at Lollapalooza, where she captivated what a festival spokesperson called “the biggest daytime performance we’ve ever seen,” according to CNN.
Roan credits her success to her determination to stay true to herself and her principles.
“My career has been successful because I did it my way, and I didn’t compromise on ethics and timing,” she shares. “I didn’t cave to pressure. It was like, ‘F***h! I’m not signing a brand if it’s not right. I don’t care how much you pay me.’ That’s why I can sleep at night.”
Later in the conversation, Roan revealed her fear of pursuing one career path — even though it was her original aspiration when she moved to Hollywood — and that was acting.
“I say this with peace, love and blessings. Actors are crazy,” she said before telling Yang, “I don’t know you, but I know you’re not the type of person I’m talking about.”
“Like, I’m so scared of filmmakers. I’ve been asked in the last few weeks, like, ‘Do you want the lead in XYZ?’ and I’m like, ‘No.’ I’m so grateful, but literally, no,” Roan continued.
Roan went on to describe Hollywood as “really scary” and shared a major advantage of being a musician over being an actor.
“I originally started making music because I wanted to get into acting, and then I moved to Los Angeles, and I was like, ‘Fuck,’” she explains. “This industry is really scary, and it’s out of my control. I can release music whenever I want. I don’t have to wait for a casting director to say, ‘It would be great if we cast you, and then we’ll figure out your schedule in three months.’”
While music is her current focus, Roan mentioned that she would be open to considering a guest role in a film or television series if the perfect opportunity came along.
“I think it has to be really specific and really silly,” she said. “Maybe I’ll do a cameo.”
READ MORE: Chappell Roan reveals how Miley Cyrus inspired her career: ‘She puts out music that’s so authentic’
Chappell Roan, Lollapalooza Card