HTF: Kurt, how’s it going? Thanks for spending sometime with HTF. First off how are you?
KC: I’m very well thank you! It’s a very busy time for me, so I’m working hard on the new music but really can’t complain. Thanks for having me onboard for this interview!
HTF: So Kurt we know your aiming to be “on top of the world” but where did your story start? Where are you from? Where did this desire of singing come from? And how did you get here now?
KC: (Lol I like what you did there) It started around the age of 7 when my dad took me to my first vocal coaching session, I guess I would sing around the house and he picked up on that! I grew up around good music playing in my household; the best soul, jazz, funk, reggae, you name it, I knew the song! I went on to become a part of a local collective that went by the name ‘Positive Impact’. At the time we were doing our thing, touring around London to do shows. I was the youngest of the group, but even then the music and performing live gave me that pang in my belly and I knew this was my path. I started going in my own direction after Positive Impact and went on to take part in different talent shows like Unsigned UK, where I actually won the UK Unsigned Award at the Hackney Empire when I was 13 so that was probably the first time I was really being recognised for my music.
I remember seeing the group ‘Imajin’ (I don’t know if anyone remembers them but they were around in the 90’s) perform and all the girls were screaming and going nuts over these guys. I started thinking ‘hey… I want a piece of this! Lol’.
I can’t pretend that getting to this point has been easy, it’s been a lot (and I mean a lot! Lol) of hard work, ups and downs, late nights and early mornings (sometimes all nighters lol), but I love music , and being a fan of music has made all the hard work feel that little bit easier, keeps me going! I’m from Slough in Berkshire, a small but talented town just on the outskirts of London, but my heritage is Jamaican.
HTF: We like to give you a chance to express your talent to new readers at home. So could you name 3 of your own songs that’ll you like people to check out and tell us a little bit about each one?
(Massive shout out to all the new readers!) Three songs…ok, check out ‘Money Ain’t Everything’; this was a really important track for me, it was the first song I ever put out and the lyrics were heartfelt; something that I was experiencing at the time!
‘Money Ain’t Everything‘
‘Addiction‘
‘Grind‘
KC: This year is all about the music and the fans! I want to build up those relationships between the fans and my music, so hit me up on twitter and YouTube, don’t be a stranger, your opinions are very much needed and appreciated! You can expect new videos, live shows and appearances!
I’ve been working hard on developing myself over the last few years and this year is the year the people will see the results. I’m finally getting the opportunity to showcase it all and communicate with the fans.
HTF: Festival Season around the corner, are you playing anywhere this year?
KC: There are some talks of festivals but I don’t want to jinx anything so as soon as any confirmations come through you guys will be the first to know!
HTF: For all your female fans out there, what is you perfect type of lady?
KC: (hmmm…my perfect type of lady…) I’m not a fussy guy, I’d be happy with Ugly Betty! As long as she has a good head on her shoulders, educated and ambitious, she’s beautiful to me. (without trying to sound too much like a sweet boy lol).
HTF: What does Kurt Collins have on repeat on his iPod then?
KC: My Ipod is an interesting mix, but stuck on repeat would have to be Wretch 32, Future and Earth, Wind and Fire ‘Now that the love is gone’ (just to mix it up a bit! Lol).
KC: When I was growing up my ears were opened to so many different genres and styles of music, I got in to all of it, as long as there was music playing I was listening! I was in to Soul, Jazz, Funk, Reggae, Rock, all of it! I enjoyed Erika Badu, The Beatles, George Benson, a wide range!
HTF: What’s your favourite album of all time?
KC: I’d say Craig David, the ‘Born to Do It’ album. When I got to an age of listening to music of my own era, I looked to Craig David as an idol. People would always make the comparisons between us so I think that got me very inspired.
HTF: So was there anything this else you’d like to plug Kurt?
KC: Just please check out the new music! My first official single ‘For the Love’! The 7 track sampler, hit me up on twitter @iamkurtcollins and check out the website for all Kurt Collins related info www.iamkurtcollins.com
