Sostrin Client Spotlight - Chris Corner

Musician and singer Chris Corner first fell in love with music as a child in England when his mother would play hits from the 1950s.  But ‘50s classics weren’t the only musical influence he had.  He explains: “I also had an uncle – ‘weird uncle Mike,’ I call him now.  He forced unusual contemporary music on me from an early age and gave me my first keyboard.”

“Music became a way for me to escape the small-town world and connect with other humans,” Mr. Corner remembers, and “a way to truly show myself whilst doing something I love and hopefully make some money along the way.”

A self-described introvert, Mr. Corner grew up in a working-class family in a Northern English industrial town.  While his family didn’t have much money, he says, “My parents supported me with love and enthusiasm.”

Mr. Corner began playing classical guitar at 11 years old. He later became “obsessed with technology” in the musical field. He first found mainstream success in 1996 with the electronic band Sneaker Pimps, which he cofounded with Liam Howe. In 2017, Billboard Magazine included their song “6 Underground” on a list of the 100 best pop songs of 1997.

Following the success of Sneaker Pimps, Mr. Corner founded the solo project IAMX, recognized world-wide for its genre-bending music and avant-garde live performances.  IAMX was also featured frequently on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning show How to Get Away With Murder.

Of course, even for hugely successful musicians like Mr. Corner, life as an artist isn’t always easy. He explains: “You have to learn to adapt to huge swings in finances and lifestyle. You may have a year of great opportunity, work, and income, followed by a year of being broke. You learn to be clever and find multiple ways to be creative whilst also making what you need to be productive and successful.”

Mr. Corner’s experience as a musician prepared him for working during a global pandemic without playing live performances, a major source of income for musicians.  He says, “We had to double down in online activity and exploring other projects. Attempting to see it in a positive light, all that time in lockdown has forced me to finish projects that have been hanging around for years. In some sense it’s been a very cathartic period. Life slowed down but also there was time to breathe and be mindful. I’m really fortunate that my audience was so supportive, too.”

Instead of touring as he had planned, Mr. Corner spent the past year at his home in California, where he has lived since 2014.

“I love the wildness and feeling of movement in American culture,” he says. “The country is built on a beautiful ideal… It always makes me feel like there’s progress and a better future ahead.”

Sostrin Immigration Lawyers had the honor of working with Mr. Corner on an O-1 visa, as well as O-2 visas for his band members, and the permanent residence process for Mr. Corner and his family. We feel very lucky to represent someone who has made such an impact and eagerly await his future endeavors.