Chance Pena Wrote a Song for John Legend Without Ever Meeting Him

Singer-songwriter Chance Peña is riding high following the release of his debut album, Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming. The talented 24-year-old made a splash at the Austin City Limits festival, captivating audiences at Zilker Park on October 4. Before taking the stage on T-Mobile’s platform at ACL, Peña shared insights with Us Weekly about his experiences on The Voice, his upcoming projects, and his dream musical collaborations.

Peña, who has long admired The Lumineers, got his first taste of stardom when he auditioned for season 9 of The Voice in 2015. With a powerful rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire,” he impressed the celebrity judges—Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, and Pharrell Williams—landing a spot on Team Adam and advancing to the live playoffs. This experience laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in the music industry.

This year has already seen monumental album releases from artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, but Peña is focused on his own career trajectory. After dropping three EPs before releasing his debut album last month, he celebrated by touring with the blues rock band Kaleo, whom he describes as feeling like family on the road.

Looking ahead, Peña is already planning his next project. “We’re doing ACL and then we have two days off,” he explained. “Then we fly to London for our Europe tour. I want to write some more after that, so I’ll have something new ready for the next tour.”

Reflecting on his beginnings in Texas, Peña expressed excitement about performing at ACL. “It feels very thrilling,” he shared. “It’s probably the coolest festival I’ve seen so far. Growing up, I wasn’t from a festival family, but I’m enjoying the environment and connecting with other artists.”

His time on The Voice taught him invaluable lessons about perseverance and the importance of hard work in the music industry. “It’s not easy, but having a steady career in music requires dedication and surrounding yourself with good people,” he noted, emphasizing the potential pitfalls of trying to go it alone in a cutthroat industry.

Though Peña keeps in touch with fellow contestants from The Voice, one standout friendship is with Zach Seabaugh, who is currently touring on his own. Peña also had the opportunity to contribute to a song by John Legend titled “Conversations in the Dark.” He recounted the story of how that came to be, explaining that the song was initially meant for him after a writing session in New York at age 18, where it ultimately found its way into Legend’s repertoire.

Despite the exciting collaborations in his career, Peña has yet to meet Legend, joking, “When I do, I’ll have an icebreaker ready.”

As for his debut album, while he hasn’t received specific feedback from notable artists, Peña expressed gratitude for the connections he made while touring with Kaleo, praising their music and character.

Summing up his experiences, Peña described the tour life as an adventure filled with fun, camaraderie, and a sense of family. “We’re all just traveling together—me, my buddies, my brother, and my girlfriend Lydia, who’s also an artist. It’s been an incredible journey together through the highs and lows.”

When it comes to future projects, Peña shows no signs of slowing down. “No breaks for me,” he stated confidently. “I’m writing songs constantly and tracking ideas for whatever the next project will be,” as he already has a handful of new tracks in the pipeline. With his artistic ambitions and talent, it is clear that Chance Peña is poised to leave a lasting mark on the music scene.