Remember being a little kid and having dreams of being an astronaut, actor, or the next President? At a young age, we believe anything is possible and dreams are always in reach. As time moves on, people start to lose their drive to pursue their dreams, and sometimes settle on careers that don’t make them very happy. Passion and drive are immensely important to pursue any career in today’s day and age, and for 19-year-old Noelle Christina Chiodo, her dreams will become a reality. As an aspiring singer-songwriter, Noelle wants to inspire other young artists to pursue their passions like she is. Despite being told the probability of her becoming a famous singer is impossible, Noelle refuses to let negative opinions tear her down or stop her from achieving her goals. In her first sit-down interview, she describes what music means to her, how she finds strength in a negative world, trying to build a career in Las Vegas, and how she plans to help other dreamers along the way.

Q: What inspired you to become an artist?

A: When I was eight or nine years old, my mom put me in a children’s singing group at Las Vegas Community Center called Kid Shine and I had gotten a solo for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. We performed in the Palo Verde High School auditorium, and the feeling of being on stage with a spotlight on me while singing was amazing. It was an escape, like an adrenaline high. I never wanted to let go that feeling. The emotions that music can bring to you really inspired me.

Q: Why is music meaningful?

A: Without music, there would be a lot of negativity. The connection between the artist and listener is powerful, since they can relate to one another. Music really impacts people, and their lives can change after listening to one song.

Q: What is your main goal of making music?

A: My main goal with making music is connecting with people. I’m a singer first, but I fell in love with songwriting and the idea of putting my thoughts on the paper from my experiences. When I’m performing my original music, I want people to relate.

Q: What themes and messages do you like to write about in your music?

A: You can never go wrong with boys (laughs)! For the past few years, there have been some haters trying to bring me down. I write about them and the big dreams I have for myself. I like to shut them up with my music. Also, sometimes I’ll go to the park and people-watch and I try to create a story for them. I find inspiration for a song from the little things. If I notice someone with sad eyes or raise their eyebrows at their child, I wonder why they do that, and I build a story for them.

Q: What emotions are feelings when you create a song?

A: So many (laughs). It depends on the song. Depending on the song, my emotions change. Usually the emotion I’m feeling at the time goes with the song’s emotion.

Q: Describe your writing process for a song.

A: That mixes up in all sorts of ways too. I’m classically trained on the piano, so sometimes I’ll create a nice melody first, and then add lyrics after. Most of the time, it’s lyrics first and I’ll sit down with my guitar or my piano. Then, I’ll turn on the recorder on my phone and I’ll start strumming until I like something and that where the words come in. I usually have a notebook on me, and if I see something that inspires me, I’ll write it down in the notebook. Then, I’ll look back on one of the ideas and start creating lyrics. I try to write a song everyday. It just happens naturally, honestly.

Q: Who in your life today or in the media has influenced you in some way? How?

A: Blues and soul artists such as Joss Stone, Christina Aguilera, and Stevie Wonder inspire me because of the soul. I never want to be a singer where the lyrics don’t relate to me. I always want to have a connection with my music. If you don’t have a connection, it shows that there’s no passion behind what you’re singing.

Q: How do you feel when you’re up on a stage?

A: It’s an adrenaline high. I’ve never done drugs, (laughs) but I assume when they’re high it’s the same thing (laughs). It’s a high, and it’s an escape. When people applaud me, it feels so good. Applause feels like an acceptance, and I feel appreciated.

Q: What are you afraid of?

A: Sometimes I’m afraid of showing my music at first. Las Vegas is a cover-based town, and it can be scary to sing my original songs. Other than that, I try to be fearless because that’s the only way I’ll make it. People can tell me they don’t like me, but there’s also someone that does.

Q: Professionally, what’s your goal?

A: I want to win a Grammy. I want to sell out a show at Madison Square Garden. Hell, I want to sell out five shows at Madison Square Garden (laughs). I want to inspire people, and I want to inspire a young girl to purse music. One day, I want to open a record label of my own, so I can discover young artists. But first, I want to win a Grammy (laughs).

Q: In ten years, where do you see yourself?

A: I go back and fourth on where I want to live, because I hope to go on world tours and explore the different cultures. I love California and LA, because that’s where pop music is, but I also went to Nashville last summer and I loved the vibes there. I also love New York City, so I’m not sure where I’ll end up. I know I want to own multiple properties, because I don’t want to settle in at one place since I love adventure. I’ll always have a home in Las Vegas though, since I love Las Vegas.

Q: If you would want to be known for one thing, what would it be?

A: (Long pause). I think soul. I don’t ever want my music to turn into an auto-tuned, EDM type of music. I always want soul behind it. In some of The Weeknd’s music or in Ariana Grande’s, you can hear the passion. I always want people to know me for how soulful and passionate I am in my music.

Q: How are you getting your name out there?

A: I built my own website and I’m trying to perform in as many place in Las Vegas as I can. I’m recording my own music in my room, and I’ve uploaded it to SoundCloud. I’m going to start posting my covers on YouTube, since social media controls so much. I’ve started looking at perhaps touring in Reno, Arizona, California, and Utah to spread outside of Vegas. I love Las Vegas, but I want to be more than a Las Vegas headliner. I’m just doing as much as I can right now.

Q: If there were a young aspiring artist reading this, what would you want them to know?

A: It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks of you. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks about the music you want to write or sing about. What matters is that you are passionate about it, and that you want to do it, and you need to do everything you can in order to do it. You have to work harder than you ever have before, because that’s the only way it’s going to happen. People are going to tell you it’s impossible. Many people are going to tell you that you can’t do it, but you can make it happen as long as you work hard and since I’m a Christian, I think with the help of God anything can happen.