Do you ever find yourself singing in the shower, imagining you’re on stage with the bright Hollywood lights shining on you, only to be thrown back into realization because your running shampoo is stinging your eyes?
Well for Cortni Janelle, the conditioner-microphone days are over. She is pursuing her dreams and taking the stage with world-renowned musician Alicia Keys. For more than two years Cortni has been touring as a back-up singer for the mega star. When she isn’t performing in the opening concert of the World Cup in South Africa (yes, she was lucky enough to do this), Cortni is back on the Champaign-Urbana campus pursuing a degree in Communication, with a recently added focus of Japanese. This student by day, singer by night sure seems to have it all.
HC: When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in singing?
I started singing professionally right before going into high school. It was for an after-school program that offers jobs for kids in the fine arts called Gallery 37 and I was in a musical written by Oscar Brown Jr., a jazz musician from Chicago. This was when I first realized I didn’t want to simply perform for fun, but something to pursue as a career.
HC: How did you land the gig with Alicia Keys? That’s such an amazing accomplishment!
Alicia was looking to make some changes to her band and I had heard about the opening from a friend who also sings backup for her. I went through the entire audition process in New York. I started officially touring with her in December 2009 and haven’t looked back since.
HC: What was it like meeting Alicia Keys for the first time?
In high school I had been around celebrities a lot because I volunteered for different award shows in L.A. so I’ve been used to seeing celebrities and knowing it’s for work. But the first time I saw Alicia up close was during my audition. Being able to sing and get all my jitters out before actually speaking to her and shaking her hand was a relief. Right after that I ran into her again during my first rehearsal as her back-up singer for Saturday Night Live. She came up to me while I was sitting with the band and shakes my hand and says “Hi, I’m Alicia” and I was thinking to myself, “Of course I know you’re Alicia!” She’s just a warm-hearted, kind, very professional human being and is great to work with. I also met Gnarles Barkley because he was hosting that week. That was such an amazing experience.
HC: Who then is the one person you’ve been most excited to meet so far while touring?
It’s definitely when we were rehearsing at Madison Square Garden and I saw Beyonce! I went up to her and told her how much I loved her work. I had no idea what was coming out of my mouth and before I knew it I was hugging her! After that I couldn’t believe I had just stolen a hug from Beyonce…but it was so worthwhile.
HC: How has this life style taken a toll on your education, social life, family, etc?
It’s been a struggle to balance everything, but the social aspect has been really interesting. Once campus got wind of what I was doing and word spread I noticed more people coming up to me and saying they saw me on T.V., but for me I don’t really feel famous. I’m a back-up singer so I’m used to being behind the celebrity and not necessarily in the limelight all the time, but when I come home things are different. My friends will usually introduce me as “Hi this is my friend Cortni. She’s a back-up singer for Alicia Keys!” I try my best to not just put it out there right away but my friends still think it’s so cool and are so happy for me that they usually bring it up.
As for my family, they are really supportive of me, especially since my parents are musicians. They keep me level-headed. The education aspect is one that’s been difficult for me to balance. While it’s awesome to travel and see so many places, it’s a struggle because touring is a demanding schedule, but an education is something that’s really important to me. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it’s going to disrupt my initial schooling schedule, but it will get done. Maybe not in a timely matter, but I will eventually set time away to finish my degree because it’s also of great importance that I finish school out. What’s hard is hanging out with Rihanna in Ireland one day, and the next month being back on campus. I think anyone would much rather be in the first situation!
HC: Hmmm, writing papers or chatting with Rihanna… tough one! But who’s been your biggest influence throughout all this?
I’ve had a lot of different influences, including Brandy, Janelle Monáe, Destiny’s Child and more specifically Beyonce, but also I’ve really looked at my family for influence. I come from a very musically inclined family, which has helped me pursue my dream since my mom is a jazz singer and my dad is a Blue’s musician.
HC: What has been your favorite part about your singing career so far?
I’ve loved being able to travel and see the world, and for free! Most college students don’t really get the opportunity to travel unless they’re studying abroad or their parents can afford it. I would never be able to see the rest of the world had it not been for this job. I’ve traveled to over 20 countries, including all over Europe, and South Africa in just over a year. We had one performance in the Swiss Alps, 9,000 feet in the air on a ski slope. We even had to have oxygen tanks on stage in case people passed out from the altitude! These kinds of things are once in a lifetime opportunities that I’ll always be able to carry with me.
HC: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m actually a lot more shy than people think, which may seem weird because it’s my job to sing and perform in front of crowds of 20,000 or more people. But when my friends or friends of friends ask me to sing in front of them I get shy. I can definitely tap into my bursting personality when I have to and feel like I own the stage, but that’s not really me all the time. That’s just part of my job.
HC: What’s your favorite type of music to listen to?
I love pop, R&B, Country, or even bands like Evanescence; really everything! I have so many inspirations, especially Jazz and Blues since I grew up listening to my parents. I love listening to Billie Holiday, Koko Taylor, those musicians that most people’s dads listen to but I can’t get enough of them. I pull from a lot of different genres and everything I hear influences me. No matter what type of music it is, as long as it’s moving and inspiring I’ll listen to it and it’ll stimulate me to write.
HC: Do you have any plans for the future yet?
I definitely want to finish my degree, but am considering relocating to a different school, either in New York or L.A. just because it’s more conducive to my lifestyle. In the long-run I want to eventually have a solo career, but right now I’m preparing my portfolio of song-writing. I have been writing songs for years now, not only for myself but I’d love one day to be a song-writer for others artists.
Keep a lookout for Cortni J. on the move and follow her through her social media outlets!
http://www.reverbnation.com/cortnij
http://www.youtube.com/cortnijinc
http://twitter.com/cortnijinc
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140420104