Deft Kollectiv The Magazine

New Orleans’ Heart

Posted on May 20, 2010. Filed under: Features, Music |

New Orleans’ Heart
Krista Richardson- Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS—Bubbly, energetic, humble and sweet, were the last characteristics I expected to find when interviewing the beautifully talented Kourtney Heart, New Orleans’ brightest rising star. Over the past few years, the sixteen-year-old singer/songwriter has become known for her sultry mature voice and her ability to captivate audiences young and old. As her popularity grows, many people are left wondering, who is Kourtney Heart?

In recent years, she has opened for artists such as Chrisette Michele, Kelly Price, and Trey Songz. With two of her singles receiving local airplay, “Spell It Out” and “My boy” featuring Magnolia Shorty, the young artist has managed to find balance between her blossoming career as a singer and maintaining a normal teenage life. Credentials such as these often lead people to perceive Heart as a ‘diva,’ but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Meeting Heart at her studio, where she feels most at home, she greeted me with a hug and huge smile, as though greeting an old friend. We sat and talked about her dreams, aspirations, and fears. Heart smiled while telling me about her dream of performing in Maine because it’s so green and ‘no one talks about Maine.’ I shared in her excitement as she told me about prom and showed me the dress her aunt designed for her. Then we talked about her decision to pursue a career in singing.

She told me how her real name is Kourtney Hart, but she changed the spelling of it to ‘Heart’ to serve as a more unique stage name. One of her greatest influences is her father. She told me how he used to sing while serving in the military, but he never took his talent seriously. Initially her father did not encourage Heart to pursue entertainment as a career, but her mother was, and is, the driving force in her career. Heart’s mother encouraged her to cultivate her gift of song and share her talent with the world and now her father also stands firmly behind her.

While Heart spoke about her love for music and the way entertaining makes her feel, I was reminded of the first time I saw her perform. It was in November 2009, at The Howlin Wolf, during BLACKout!, a benefit concert for Sickle Cell Disease. She glided on stage in a burgundy and navy blue, form-fitting dress by Jerk & Jon, opened her mouth and belted out a hit by Chaka Khan, holding the entire audience captive. After her first song, the energy in the room rose significantly as Heart dominated the stage with the ability of a performer twice her age.

As an artist, Heart has great ambitions to become a household name like her idols, Beyonce and Brandy, but unlike many emerging artists she also has a ‘plan B.’ Heart plans to continue her education despite the possibility of fame. When I asked her what she wanted to become if she couldn’t be a singer,her reply shocked me. Her ambition, she said with a giggle, is to be a veterinary surgeon – in outer space.

Heart’s answer was so delightfully sincere and fanciful, that I couldn’t help but be charmed. She continued to say that if she couldn’t do either of these things, she would like to own a pet shop.

In addition to a life revolving around music, Heart believes strongly in giving back to the community now, not later. She stresses the importance of reaching out to people in the community at every stage of her career, from beginning to end. At the age of 12, Heart began using her talent to serve as a voice for the community. Part of an anti-tobacco teen activist group, she began singing on the sides of various highways throughout Louisiana, urging people to quit smoking. Today, she remains involved with the Second Baptist Church in New Orleans, and continues to volunteer her time and her talent, always giving back to the community.

On Saturday, May 29. Heart is hosting “Queen of Hearts: Kourtney’s Little Princesses,” an event geared toward building confidence and self-esteem in young girls. This event will allow Heart to sit and talk to girl ages 7-14 about female empowerment, perceptions of beauty; girl talk. The event will also feature a live performance by Heart and a demonstration of the ‘K. Heart dip,’ Heart’s newest dance move.

Heart grew visibly excited when she mentioned the upcoming event, saying how it would be an opportunity for her to give back to her younger fans. She said, “I love younger fans. They have an energy about them. They always give 110% when I’m performing.”

Outside of singing and songwriting, Heart enjoys participating in normal teenage activities, such as listening to music, talking or texting on the phone, participating in school activities like prom and enjoying social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. She explained how she once joined the soccer team, but it didn’t last long because practices conflicted with shows and rehearsals. Heart also enjoys constant communication with her fans. She confessed, “I’m still human. I want all of them to continue to grow with me…I’m loveable. Don’t be shy, say ‘hello.” Heart’s fans can reach out to her on her blog at i-am-kourntneyheart.blogspot.com and at wwww.kourneyheart.com.

In addition to being approachable and down to earth, Heart is continually trying to better herself as an artist. She draws inspiration from artists such as Beyonce, Brandy, Leona Lewis and Paramore, while staying true to herself and continuing to develop as a vocalist. Heart says that she wants her music to serve as a reflection of her. For her most recent project, the album “EyeDeeKay” dropping sometime this summer, she hopes the messages provided are clear and the music appeals to all of her listeners, ages 3-93. “EyeDeeKay,” features her hit singles “My boy” and “Spell It Out,” as well as songs produced by the legendary DJ Raj Smoove. Writers for the project include Greg Banks, Kourtney Heart, S80, VScript along with a few others.

Heart’s dream of becoming a musical legend is huge, but she often worries about her private life and the relationship with her family, conflicting with her life as “Kourtney Heart” the artist. Regardless, she remains ambitious and ever growing, while consciously remaining humble. She explains, “God allowed me to have this opportunity. I haven’t let all [of] this get to my head. I pray to stay humble…I see a lot of people change, but I’m still the same bubbly girl.”

As fame boosts her higher than ever, Heart is grounded by family and surrounded by a dynamic team who ensure that her career continues on its predestined path. Turning poetry and life’s experiences into melody and song, Heart continues to reign as New Orleans’ Sweetheart, encouraging her listeners to get to know and love her through the music.

For more information on Kourtney Heart please visit her official site, KourtneyHeart.com

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