Need to Know: Michael “Chase” DiMartino – Out.com
The singer-songwriter talks about his double life as a sign language interpreter, translating meetings by day and pop stars like Lady Gaga and Britney by night.
By Joseph Hassan
Michael “Chase” DiMartino is a new breed of Clark Kent. By day, the 26-year-old serves as a sign-language interpreter — translating meetings for a deaf business woman in New York City. By night, the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn native is using his hands — and his moves — for another lofty purpose: To bring the likes of Britney Spears and Lady Gaga to the deaf and hearing-impaired communities through the art of sign language. After he posted interpretive videos of “Womanizer,” Britney Spears herself had them posted to her website, bringing DiMartino’s videos over the 700,000-viewer threshold. He’s been asked to interpret Lady Gaga’s upcoming sold-out show at Madison Square Garden (check out his sign-language video for “Bad Romance” here). A singer-songwriter and performer in his own rite (he performed at Carnegie Hall at the age of 16), Chase is unveiling his own original material and, in doing so, hoping to bridge the hearing and deaf communities in a way that has never been done before.
CBS Early Show – Backstage Live
Independent artist Chase expresses his passion of music and sign language through choreographed sign language dance. Chase spoke with Shira Lazar on how he is changing the landscape between the deaf and hard of hearing communities through his art.
(Transcript below)
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