Meet Papa Chubb | Artist, Musician, Burlesque Performer/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Papa Chubb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Papa, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I am happiest when I am creating something. Whether it be a drawing, a painting, a song, an act, or a show, this is when I feel most aligned with my true purpose in life. Much of life consists of obligations to be met that we do not control, but when I am creating something, I am in control of that creation – I relish every detail of the process and strive to make it as perfect as possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been an artist. The urge to express myself has always come naturally and has been satisfying, a pursuit I place above most things in my life. In my youth I began drawing and writing, poetry, stories, songs. This attracted like-minded individuals who helped shape me or to better see the direction I wanted to go in. It’s a bit like being attuned to an inner voice, one that is imaginative and bold and true, not tainted by worldy things, and bringing to light the revelations that come from listening to that deeper part of myself. I had encouragement from others around me but also struggled at first with the fear that I wasn’t good enough, would never be as good as my heroes (all of whom are artists in some way – musicians, painters, film directors, people who took a chance and decided to embody and personify/pursue their artistic endeavors at all costs). But as with anything else, the more you do it, the better at it you get, the more familiar it becomes, and before you know it you are far down a path and you are growing in exciting ways, attracting opportunities and learning lessons.
In my twenties I began making electronic music with a friend of mine which opened up new pathways for expressing ideas and concepts, for combining visual art and words and music, as well as an opportunity to explore and attempt to mimic what inspired me about the local dance community.
In the past ten years I began performing burlesque, having some good friends who were already producing and performing. Soon after I realized I had discovered a new way to combine many of the things I am passionate about: dancing, music, art, writing – to create characters and moments.
All of these pursuits are challenging in that I can only focus on them in my downtime outside of my 9-to-5 profession, but I am grateful for my day job in that it provides the stability I need in order to explore these creative realms – keeps me grounded so I can fly high.
Nothing is easy but eventually you realize that you have to do what it takes to make your dreams come true. The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment become the reward, the fuel that keeps you going. Also, the encouragement that you receive from others. In all areas – whether it be writing, drawing, performing – 30% will love it, 30% will hate it, and 30% won’t care, so I focus on the 30% that love it and try to grow that, and try to learn from the 30% that don’t like it without being too hard on myself! I do not create for the satisfaction of others. I am always trying to bring something forth in its purest form, and if I do that successfully it has the ability to appeal to anyone. Universal truths. I hope to encourage others to do the same. We all have our own inner voice and strength. Tapping into that and bringing it into this world can be a powerful and enriching experience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am very much a homebody and love to cook for myself but there are a few tried-and-true restaurants in our city. I would recommend India Palace or Memphis Pizza Cafe which has a unique vibe. I love to walk around my neighborhood in Cooper-Young, which is very eclectic with homes from the 1920’s and lots of trees and colorful vegetation and little shops and restaurants sprinkled throughout. We could visit Goner Records and Burkes Book Store, both of which are things I love to collect and that provide endless inspiration. I love karaoke which can be found at several spots in the city but my favorite is at Black Lodge, which is a locally-owned and operated video rental store with a Twin Peaks theme that has grown into a bar/entertainment venue. I host karaoke and perform burlesque there.
One of my main passions is dancing so I would take someone to one of the events that my deejay friends have, where the dance floor is filled with people of all ages and all types, all of them lost in the music and having a great time together. That is truly magical – the collective joy that is experienced there on a Saturday night nourishes me and gets me though the workweek. My favorite spot for this is Canvas which is like a small house where the dance floor is tightly-packed and the energy is electric.
I would also find a spot where my burlesque performers are performing as their creativity is top-notch.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Here in Memphis we have a thriving artistic community – there is so much creativity. Maybe it has something to do with the mighty Mississippi River. I am particularly grateful for the deejays and producers in our local electronic music scene who provide a forum for people from all walks of life to come together on the dance floor and create a spiritual experience. It is during these moments that I work through my problems mentally and shed my skin on the dance floor.. In this environment I am inspired to express myself, in how I dress or how I dance, to truly let go and to be myself. Others see that and because they are having such a great time as well they are inspired to do the same, to let themselves go and be free. I am also grateful for our performer community – there are so many talented and genuine performance artists who provide opportunities for themselves and others to entertain and express themselves and to grow and perfect their craft.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.tucker.3954?mibextid=JRoKGi

Instagram: @chubbpapa

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/xZnMgGcjBpLpNm9L8

Image Credits
Cameron Mitchell Photography
Vickie Joy Photography
Channa Ruby Michalski
Amurica Photos
Lee Chase IV