By Becca Farnell
Hattiesburg, MS: As the cars pass on the busy highway, those at Marlin's Bar and Grill are unphased. Instead all eyes are fixated on the woman belting a soulful tone across the Sunday night crowd.
Chelsee Dews, a 26 year old native of Quitman, Mississippi, is the person behind the captivating voice. A manager at United Apparel Liquidators of Hattiesburg, Chelsee thinks of music as her hobby. Having held a choral scholarship in college at Mississippi State University, Dews says, "I met some really interesting individuals through the choir program."
Since college, Dews has married and moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. "This whole thing came about through friends," says Dews on how she landed a gig at Marlin's. A band, composed of friends of Dews, was scheduled to play and in desperate search of an opening act. "They (the band) heard me sing at a wedding and said 'Hey she can sing. Let's get her to open." After a positive response from the crowd, Chelsee is pleased to say she has been asked to play at future events for the band.
"Music is my release. I love to be on stage because I have to be the real me. There's no one else. Just you. Bam," says Dews.
When asked why she continues to pursue music as a hobby, Dews replied that it is a huge confidence booster. She says that being on stage forces her to be transparent and that's what she loves about it. She also says she identifies easily with the music and lyrics, lending the music to be therapeutic at times.
Dews hopes to continue to play at venues across Hattiesburg in the future.
Hattiesburg, MS: As the cars pass on the busy highway, those at Marlin's Bar and Grill are unphased. Instead all eyes are fixated on the woman belting a soulful tone across the Sunday night crowd.
Chelsee Dews, a 26 year old native of Quitman, Mississippi, is the person behind the captivating voice. A manager at United Apparel Liquidators of Hattiesburg, Chelsee thinks of music as her hobby. Having held a choral scholarship in college at Mississippi State University, Dews says, "I met some really interesting individuals through the choir program."
Since college, Dews has married and moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. "This whole thing came about through friends," says Dews on how she landed a gig at Marlin's. A band, composed of friends of Dews, was scheduled to play and in desperate search of an opening act. "They (the band) heard me sing at a wedding and said 'Hey she can sing. Let's get her to open." After a positive response from the crowd, Chelsee is pleased to say she has been asked to play at future events for the band.
"Music is my release. I love to be on stage because I have to be the real me. There's no one else. Just you. Bam," says Dews.
When asked why she continues to pursue music as a hobby, Dews replied that it is a huge confidence booster. She says that being on stage forces her to be transparent and that's what she loves about it. She also says she identifies easily with the music and lyrics, lending the music to be therapeutic at times.
Dews hopes to continue to play at venues across Hattiesburg in the future.