Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Chelsea Warner has been writing and playing music almost her entire life. Today she emerges as a frontrunner in the neo-soul/R&B genre’s next generation with her debut single “How Come You Don’t Pick Up Your Phone”.

The song blends contemporary neo-soul, R&B and pop hooks with defiant lyrics that evoke a sense of confidence and wisdom beyond her teenage years. “At the time, I was really obsessed with Erykah Badu and 90s hip-hop, and I think that influenced my writing and production. I loved the moog/synth bass on De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest tracks, and I thought it would be interesting to draw inspiration from these old school sounds for a track with fairly modern subject matter”, says Chelsea on the song’s inspiration.

Chelsea wrote the lyrics to “How Come You Don’t Pick Up Your Phone” while on a trip to Melbourne, and when she got home to Sydney, put chords to it, wrote the verses and produced the track. It was just under a year ago, when she was only 17 years old.

Citing artists such as Ariana Grande as inspirations, Chelsea says, “I feel like I grew up with her. Her vocal style and arranging as well as some elements of her song writing still influence me”. Chelsea also sees artists such as Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald as heavily influencing what she wants to do vocally and harmonically. It’s no surprise that this young talent’s music carries such a mature and refined sound.

Chelsea was offered a coveted Universal Music Publishing contract after been ‘discovered’ by Universal Publishing’s VP Creative/ A&R at her University – the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Chelsea is currently focusing on honing her technical skills with her voice and instruments at the Conservatorium, while also writing and producing any spare moment for either herself or other artists. This year, her goal is to play shows across Australia and to release her debut EP. Chelsea says, “I feel like I’ve found my stride lately and am so blessed by the people and opportunities around me, so I want to keep creating as much as possible.”