Words Jamila Douhaibi
Photos NBC/Trae Patton
If you’ve ever seen America’s Got Talent (AGT), you know that it’s an intense show where a variety of artists come on to a highly lit stage and are faced with four judges who sit at a panel with giant “X’s” on the front. For anyone that would be a terrifying experience, but for a 13-year-old, it’s an enormous accomplishment.
Last year I met with Chase Varnes at his home in Central Saanich to discuss his music and hopes for the future. When he appeared on stage at AGT in an episode that aired last month, he repeated what he said to me in 2024, that “the dream is to play on a world stage and make people happy.”
And that dream is starting to come true as he wowed the judges and audience. One of the four judges – Simon Cowell – stopped Chase as he started singing his original, Face to Face, and asked him to play something else from his repertoire. Chase immediately started playing again and did a beautiful cover of Ed Sheeran’s Life Goes On, as if he wasn’t interrupted. When Chase finished his audition, he received a standing ovation of cheers and yesses from three of the four judges.
It’s still hard to believe that when I spoke with Chase last year he said “I could not hold a note,” when he was younger. Listening to the beautiful songs he performed at his home and for the audience at AGT, it seems like he was born with a guitar and microphone in hand.
Back home after his AGT appearance, Chase says that the experience was nothing like he expected and was a “one-in-a-million” opportunity. Seeing how a big-scale show in LA was produced was also an experience he couldn’t have expected, and he says that “it wasn’t like a normal performance” because he was waiting for the criticism from the judges. He compares it to playing in front of over 18,000 people at a Canucks game and says that the AGT performance with an audience of about 3,000 was completely different because of the extra pressure. But apart from his time on stage, Chase says that he made new friends and got to see so much talent in the other performers while part of the show.
Chase has since made another trip to the States when he traveled to Austin, Texas. His producer, Mike Meadows, is based in Austin and Chase had the opportunity to co-write with several Austin artists and record some new work in Willie Nelson’s old studio. But Saanich Peninsula locals can still hear Chase live at the Sidney market throughout the rest of the summer, and Sunfest Country Music Festival goers were able to see him on stage at the end of July.
Even after his exceptional year, Chase says that he’s “still a kid” and knows that he’s “only 13 for so long.” He still plays sports, recently taking up golfing, and continues to practise and improve on the drums, guitar and vocals.
What’s next? Chase’s first two ticketed shows will take place in Calgary in October. He’s also waiting for confirmation for his next appearance on America’s Got Talent.
Find out more about upcoming shows and listen to Chase’s music at www.chasevarnes.com.
