British powerhouse Courtney Hadwin steps boldly into a new era with her debut album Little Miss Jagged, a fearless fusion of soul, rock, and raw emotion that captures her evolution from viral prodigy to fully realised artist. In this interview, Hadwin opens up about finding her sound, writing from the heart, and the electrifying journey behind her new single, “Electric”.
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Hi Courtney Hadwin, and welcome to LOCK. For our readers, could you please let us know a little about yourself?
Heyyy, I’m Courtney, I’m 21 and from Yorkshire in England. My life has always been music; music is my drug. I love soul, blues, and rock and roll! The type of music that makes you feel a certain way in your stomach and in your head.
Your journey began with that unforgettable “America’s Got Talent” audition at 13. Looking back now, how do you think that viral moment shaped — or challenged — your path as an artist?
I have very mixed feelings about that time of my life. Obviously, I’m very privileged to have had such a big opportunity at such a young age, and I wouldn’t have found my people without it, but I do think in some ways it’s so hard to try and explain to people I’m not going to stay that 13-year-old innocent quiet girl that sang Janis. People change, people mature, and people learn new things about themselves as they grow up, and I think some people forget that I am just a normal 21-year-old lass trying to find who she is, just the same as anyone else. I’m going to make mistakes, learn new things, and change it’s all part of the fun of life!
This album marks a huge milestone for you — your debut full-length record. What did it feel like to finally release Little Miss Jagged after years of growing and redefining your sound?
It was actually flipping bonkers, I still can’t get my head around the fact that it’s finally out! The earliest song written on this album, I was only 16, and it’s crazy to think 6 years later it’s being listened to by people all around the world that resonate with it! I think it took me a while to figure out what my purpose was in music, what’s the point of being in music to do what everyone else is doing! If Bob down the street can do it, let Bob from down the street do it! I know a lot of people don’t get me, and I’ve always said I’m like Marmite, but I think music is all about uniqueness and individuality; no music is right or wrong, it’s just sound, lyrics, and feelings. If my music can make one person have a better day, I’m winning!
Your music crosses genres — soul, rock, funk, punk, even R&B. Was that blend intentional from the start, or did it evolve naturally as you found your voice?
I always said that for my first album, I just wanted to create music that I loved and write the songs that needed to be written. I feel like this album was kind of a “let it all out” album lyrically and sonically. I just wanted to create music! I was shelved so long and benched, not allowed to release music that I just needed to be me for one album and write and create music for little Courtney when she first realised this was what she wanted to do. I will always look back on Little Miss Jagged and think I pretty much wrote my diary of 6 years of pain and happiness and shared it with whoever was willing to listen.
The title Little Miss Jagged feels both playful and defiant. What does that name represent to you personally and artistically?
Jagged is such a strong word, and about 2-3 years ago, I didn’t even know what it meant, but I got told the meaning was something being spikey rough around the edges, and that is literally me! I’m not normal. What even is normal? I’m weird, I’m quirky, I’m out of the box, and I’m definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, I mean, look at my Facebook comments! But who wants to be the same? I’m Marmite and I like it that way; no one can say they can do what I can do because I’ve got that field covered. I’m Courtney, and I hate being compared to other people, and “little miss,” I just think it’s another way to say she’s a baddie, she’s a boss bitch. I’m very much jagged and I own it, that’s where Little Miss Jagged came from!
You’ve said the songs were written during both your “worst of times” and your “on top of the world” moments. Which track feels the most emotionally raw or revealing for you?’
“Die and stay pretty!” I shat bricks before releasing that song to the point I didn’t even want to release it! The song is so raw and so personal, and it was so scary opening up and writing about that time of my life! Knowing that the person it’s about could listen and think “this is about me” is really scary for me, but I sing it at every live performance I do on every tour. I sing it for the people who message me and come up to me after every show and tell me how much that song has changed things for them, and how much they can relate to it, and it makes me emotional every time that me being a little more vulnerable has changed so many views.
If your fans could walk away from your music with one message or feeling, what would it be?
Honestly, just overwhelmed! When we perform live, there is so much emotion in one room. We go from singing about some deep sh*t to me bouncing around and sweating like crazy in the space of seconds, and I love it! I love to keep the audience on their toes about what’s to happen next! I’ve always said from day one, yeah, I’m a singer, but what I’m best at is putting on a show. I’m an entertainer, I love to make people think, what on earth is going on right now?
You’ve built a community of millions across social media who’ve watched you grow up in real time. How do you balance sharing your art and maintaining your sense of privacy and authenticity?
I’ve been told this before that I’m quite a private person, but I honestly don’t even think that I’m private! My full life is pretty much on the internet. I date someone and they know everything about me from the first second, cause I’m just there and that is so scary for me, but I try to share as much as possible with people. I want people to see me as Courtney, not just Courtney Hadwin who sings.
How do you personally define success at this stage of your artistic journey?
I don’t think it’s even a matter of success. I don’t treat this as a job; this is my hobby that, for some weird miracle, I get the chance to do every day. I take every day, day by day, and just try to have as much fun as I can with it as possible. Everything is a bonus, every high is a high!