Surry musician has dozens of albums to his name. He’s 15.

Cody Chattin, a high school sophomore, says music was ‘instant falling in love that I didn’t anticipate’

Feb. 3, 2026

By Jessica Hardy

Cody Chattin of the local band Talking Kote. Courtesy photo.

For 15-year-old Cody Chattin, music has “always been a presence in my life and for as long as I can remember.”

But it was during Covid that his talents really seemed to take root. During the pandemic, free time seemed a bit more plentiful, he said. Music was always on in the car wherever he went, and he listened to music while he did his homework. That’s when his musical abilities began to flourish, he said.

“I got inspired to play it as well.” Chattin said. “It was a kind of instant falling in love that I didn’t anticipate happening. But it just did.”

Chattin, a sophomore at George Stevens Academy, recently returned from the Maine All State Jazz Competition, a three-day festival and workshop at the new Crewe Center for the Arts at the University of Southern Maine, playing alongside the best and brightest of musically talented peers. 

His love of music started with a ukulele, with forays into bass, piano, drums and saxophone. But his favorite instrument is the guitar, which he plays with his band, Talking Kote (pronounced “coat”), where he is also a singer and songwriter.

Inspiration for his music started by listening to his parents' love for 90’s alternative music. The first song he learned to play–”The Promised Land,” by Bruce Springsteen, never gets old, he said.

When he formed Talking Kote just two years ago, his goal was to experiment with playing music of almost any kind. What started as a side project has evolved into a robust collection of songs and full albums now available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.

Chattin jamming out. Courtesy photo.

“I was coming off an obsession with the 90s alternative stuff.” Chattin said. “I could make any style of music or anything like that that I wanted and not worry about if it fit this specific perimeter. And then eventually I just realized, I was having a lot more fun with that.”

Talking Kote's earlier music ranged from serious (like “The Open Road”) to silly (like “A Song for My Kazoo”), with a range of emotions. 

“That’s what I was feeling at the time.” Chattin said. “I like to show that in my music.”

Chattin has recorded dozens of albums and additional singles. His songs cover a broad range of genres including rock, folk, jazz, metal, alternative, blues, hip hop, and more. He has a growing following of fans both on and off the GSA campus.

Chattin’s songwriting takes inspiration from his favorite artists, as well as happenings in his daily life. He often just jams out with whatever sounds good works for him. 

“I’ve also always enjoyed reading. So it was kind of like getting those same stories but with really cool music at the same time.” 

He still reflects on his first-ever recorded song, “Open Road,” and how it cemented his growth as a musician.

“I feel like that it must have really meant something if at that time period, when I really didn’t know what my own voice was or what music I wanted to make. If I could make something that I’m still willing to this day and I’ve recorded under the Talking Kote name as well, even after all these years, it’s definitely meaningful.”

He said he plans on continuing to write and record, without worrying about any common theme or polished product.

“I have made a lot of music and I will continue to. It can definitely be kind of hard to get into because there is so much of it. There’s a lot of really weird, not great stuff, and a lot that I’m pretty happy with. There’s something for everyone.” Chattin said.

Check out a sampling of Chattin’s recordings online.