The Full-Circle Journey of differentchris
Interview takes place on July 17, 2026 at Brass Tacks in Houston, TX.
Indie-rock artist, differentchris, who began making music at 13, always knew he wanted to turn his childhood dream into reality. He began his journey by creating tracks in his room and uploading them to SoundCloud. When asked how he got the name differentchris, he explained, “I don’t really know; I just liked it and thought it looked nice. ‘Chris’ is such a simple name, and I wanted to be different, so when I had to select a username, I just came up with it.”
“I was having so much fun with it that I would write every day. I was so obsessed with trying to figure out how to write a good song; I was obsessed with artists like Mac Miller and Earl Sweatshirt. Seeing how they write and rhyme was so important to me,” Chris says.
That obsession led him out of his bedroom and onto his first stage at 18. “It was terrifying. I messed up my set list on my first show, but it was a good experience. It made me feel comfortable understanding that if I have to succeed in this field, I have to know how to do this,” Chris says. “Trying to find that first step in the scene and who to talk to was tough.”
Staying consistent with social media contributed to his rise in followers. He notes that after releasing his 2022 album, Walls In Your Room, he built traction, with increased attention following his 2025 EP, i wish i could sing.
Chris went on his first tour in January. While on tour, he learned that many of his fans had been listening to his music since he first started. “I’ve met some fans on tour who have been listening to [my music] since 2018 and 2019 and tell me, ‘Wow, you’re finally here.’ I’ve grown my fanbase, and they’ve seen me grow as a person,” the singer says. “It’s cool because I had fans that were there that knew my old [music].”
differentchris photographed by Leydi Gonzalez differentchris photographed by Leydi Gonzalez
Performing at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, back in March helped the singer gain perspective on where his dreams were leading him. “It changed my life,” Chris says. He performed at an artist-only event where he met artists from all over the world. “I was sharing cigarettes with people from Germany and talking to people from Japan and England. Everyone is so similar; everyone wants that dream.”
“You don’t have to make a lot of money to succeed,” Chris says. After meeting musicians of varying levels of success, he realized they were all happy pursuing their passion. “I am so happy doing what I do; I’m so blessed to be doing music full-time.”
After playing at SXSW, Chris decided to dream further and apply to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Fest in Houston. When he arrived at the auditions, he realized some of the employees were fans of his. Before taking the stage, he went around the room doing interviews with Telemundo, Fox and The Houston Chronicle. “I got on stage and [my band and I] killed it. Everyone was clapping, even the security guards. It was so fulfilling.” After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback for his performance, he was offered an opportunity to return for an additional date of the fan fest.
Posting content on social media platforms played a crucial role for the singer in gaining new opportunities and experiences. “Because of social media, I was able to fly to California and help people write songs in Mac Miller’s studio. It was a full-circle moment of my life,” Chris reflects.
“I was in a house in Beverly Hills playing music in the guest room. I was drinking and went outside, and I started crying because I was like, ‘This is my life.’ There’s no way someone from Humble, Texas, in Houston should be in a $45 million home,” he says. “I’m still so tiny, but I met so many people there with huge names.”
His passion for his craft is the primary motivator behind the continued pursuit of his dreams. “Everyone deserves [to live their dream], but it’s more about doing it your way,” he explains. “I’m a true believer in wanting to succeed on my own terms, which makes me feel good.” Chris has turned down certain opportunities that didn’t align with his values and goals. He sticks to following his own path and staying true to himself.
Chris credits his fans for his success in his music career. “I have a super committed fan base, and that’s something I’m so grateful for. Everyone has been so supportive, and I’m so appreciative; without them I’d be nothing,” he shares. “Last week, a fan got a song of mine tattooed on them.”
When thinking about his future goals, he states his desire to support his loved ones. “I want to take care of my family, [as well as] get signed to a record label.” Chris dreams of one day selling out large music venues in Houston, like the Bayou Music Center. Along with building his music career, he aspires to diversify by opening a clothing shop and streaming video games.
His next album love you more than myself releases on July 31. You can catch differentchris on his upcoming tour visiting six cities in Texas. Follow along on his music journey on Instagram and TikTok @differentchris.
Story by Megan Eppolito
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