“What keeps you motivated on tough days?” Courtney Paige Nelson shared, “Reminding myself that I’m human and that everybody makes mistakes. I’m really hard on myself internally. I am my own worst critic as a lot of us are, but I just try to remember that I can’t be perfect.”
I know that feeling all too well. Always critical of myself, striving for perfection and improvement, I sometimes push myself too hard, not allowing myself enough time to let things unfold naturally. Like Courtney, I’ve realized that it’s important to embrace the imperfections and the unique journey that comes with finding your true calling. Her journey into music has been anything but conventional. Despite not having a musical upbringing, she channeled her struggles with mental health and past trauma into her art, creating music that resonates deeply with her audience. Her lyrics often reflect her experiences of overcoming adversity, providing a voice for those who can’t always express their own struggles.
Her new single, ‘UR IN THE NOSEBLEEDS,’ is a high-energy song that tackles the theme of bullying and gossip among adults. Inspired by her experiences during a year-long music intensive program, the song is a reminder that it’s okay to be different and to stand strong in your authenticity, even when faced with negativity and mean behavior from others.
In our interview, we delve into Courtney’s music journey, the personal experiences behind her latest single, and how she finds strength in her art to overcome life’s challenges.
Photography: press courtesy
Congratulations on your new release, Courtney! How will you celebrate it?
I’m going to take myself out to a nice dinner and probably eat a slice of cheesecake honestly.
‘UR IN THE NOSEBLEEDS’, delves into overcoming gossip and bullying among adults. Could you share the personal experiences that inspired this song?
Yes, well I made it for anyone. I wanted to make a song that is empowering in general. I originally made this when I was in a year-long music intensive program during 2022/2023 that I absolutely loved. It was fantastic for the work ethic, the staff were amazing, and some of the students were great people I still keep in contact with. The issue was many people in the program had come from places where they had never experienced what a real session is and the gravity that being professional and kind can have. There was a lot of gossip, bullying, and just downright mean behavior. We had such a strong degree of inappropriateness, and girls becoming the modern day Regina George thinking they are in a real-life casting for Mean Girls. It was A LOT to digest and experience with the environment of a very small building and being around the same 50 adults for 12/14 hours a day EVERY day. I almost didn’t graduate by my own doing because I physically dreaded going there towards the end of it. The anxiety driving to campus every morning was not my cutest moment lol.
During your year-long music program, which you found both inspiring and challenging, how did those experiences help shape ‘UR IN THE NOSEBLEEDS’?
I wanted to get all my anger out in a song and say what I truly wanted to say out loud. This track is every emotion I had but wouldn’t express because I don’t like confrontation and also I wanted to have integrity. My last straw in the situation was when I found out someone (whose name I won’t say for obvious reasons): was pulling up articles about me and gossiping about my childhood trauma/homelessness in a session. In my opinion, that is probably the lowest thing you could do to is bring something you know nothing about, into the room without the person there just for the gossip and writing material.
“I would rather pour into my art then the confrontations people want to have. For me, talking things out will always be my go-to communication style.”
You’ve expressed that you prefer not to engage in confrontation or arguing, and instead, you channel your feelings into your songwriting to create hits. I admire that approach, especially since it often seems like people like to argue about everything. Is this a skill you’ve developed over time?
I would rather pour into my art then the confrontations people want to have. For me, talking things out will always be my go-to communication style. I don’t have the capacity to argue. I’m an empath at the end of the day, so I take things very heavily on my heart and as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that not everyone thinks like that or has the capacity to be empathetic. So I just try to be kind to everyone and meet people where they are.
In a recent interview, you’ve mentioned that collaborating with other artists and producers brings a beautifully collaborative element to your music. Could you share more about how these collaborations influence your music style and help you grow as an artist?
First of all, I love people. Every day and this might sound crazy to a lot of you but every day I try to have one interaction with a stranger that I can hold onto the memory, that will impact me in a positive way for the rest of my life. So I try to talk to everybody, when I’m out and about. There are so many beautiful interactions that you can have just by talking to others. That also plays into doing writing sessions, being able to sit in a room with a bunch of people who have experienced their own lives and traumas and create a beautiful piece of artwork out of it—is my favorite thing in the entire world! As an artist, collaborating in general is how you really learn your sound/style/where you intend on going as an artist. I’m also a songwriter for other people so I get to watch artists blossom and create something they’re proud of by me using the right tools to dig it out of them.
Having performed at big events like HARD Summer Music Festival, how do you prepare for live performances?
So because I don’t have a background with singing. I’ve spoken about this before lately, but I grew up in a very abusive strict household, and I wasn’t allowed to sing or express myself as a kid inside of the house. So learning how to sing in front of people was something that I had to overcome. I remember the first few times that I ever did a vocal lesson—I broke down crying because there was so much trauma attached to it. Or playing my first live shows—I had panic attacks backstage! now it’s a different story. I love it. I love interacting with people and being able to express myself on a stage. Some of the things that I do to prepare myself for a live performance is two weeks before the show. I will make sure that I’m doing vocal warm-ups every day, I up my water intake, steam my vocal cords every other day, and I will run through my set a few times with my little microphone in my tiny apartment. The day of a show I try to recluse and do positive affirmations. There’s still internal trauma attached to music for me from my childhood, so I have to do things a certain way the day of the show.
“Every day I try to have one interaction with a stranger that I can hold onto the memory, that will impact me in a positive way for the rest of my life.”
Switching from modeling to music must have been quite a journey. How has this change affected your views on success and your music career?
It was a total accident. I think I’ve talked about this before, but not entirely in depth. I dated a musician when I was modeling, and this was before I had ever even done music. I didn’t know that world I had never sang in front of anybody, all I knew is that I’d been writing poetry for years so I could call myself an amateur writer. I ended up singing karaoke on accident and that’s truly the beginning of my music journey. What really propelled me into promising myself that I was going to even try this life path was being broken up with and in that same week trying to end my own life which I was thankfully unsuccessful. I suffered a nervous breakdown from the break-up, him cheating on me, and all of that resurfacing childhood trauma that I had never dealt with. So I decided to check myself into a residential treatment center for a month and a half. I made that decision to try out music while I was in treatment. Partially to prove a point to my ex and partially because I wasn’t happy with modeling. I figured I might as well try this. I don’t have anything to lose. That’s when everything just happened rapidly. I can honestly say that Music changed my life and saved my life. It is the first time that I ever felt what purpose is, feeling valued, and being able to acknowledge talent within myself… it’s a feeling that I’ve only ever had with songwriting and music.
You have a large fan base. Could you share a memorable moment or interaction you’ve had with a fan recently?
I had someone message me recently about how my music has helped them feel more confident and comfortable with who they are. Which makes me want to cry because that is all I ever want is for people to be 100% comfortable being themselves.
What keeps you motivated on tough days?
Reminding myself that I’m human and that everybody makes mistakes. I’m really hard on myself internally. I am my own worst critic as a lot of us are, but I just try to remember that I can’t be perfect.
Friday nights or Sunday mornings?
It honestly depends. I would say Sunday because there’s nothing like going to get a good cup of coffee at a coffee shop on a Sunday morning. I also love Monday’s (I know it’s an unpopular opinion lol). It’s my favorite day of the week and Sunday is the day before that.
The most important thing in life is?
YOUR REPUTATION. If you can walk into a room of 100 people and 90 of them know your character, you’re doing great in life. You will have disagreements, not everybody is going to like you, some people will hate you, sometimes for things that you don’t even understand.. BUT as long as you can meet everybody where they’re at with kindness you’re going to be successful in every facet of life; friendship, relationship, business.
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