Cort Carpenter

I had the pleasure of meeting Cort Carpenter and his band a couple of years ago in downtown Nashville when they were playing at Crossroads one night. I immediately could see Cort truly loves performing & getting to know his fans. It’s always a great experience when you get to see Cort performing live & it has been a pleasure seeing his career grow over the past couple of years. I recently had the opportunity to interview Cort & learn a little bit more about him, and it truly reveals the love he has for his fans.

What’s the most challenging part (to you) about being a musician?

I would say the constant hard work behind the scenes (As the artist) most musicians don’t get a taste of. This is my full time career, and I spend 6 hours a day minimum on the computer taking care of the business side of things. It is not easy…

Who inspires you musically? What’s the one album you can’t live without?

I love so many different types of genres of music. I am a country singer. I love to dance to EDM. I listen to oldies frequently. The list can go on. I do love CCR though. They are one of my favorites of all time. CCR- “Chronicle” is one of my favorite CD’s ever.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Well it wasn’t embarrassing as much as it was shocking, but I was playing the Stage one Friday night last year and one girl threw her full beer bottle at me from about three rows back. It bounced of my shoulder, but if she would have hit me in the face, it would have surely knocked out my teeth. I stopped the show and got her out of there.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment (so far) in music? What has been the coolest experience you’ve had in your career so far?

I have had a lot of cool moments so far… The most recent one though was a show I did with Love & Theft back in my hometown in April. It was an acoustic show and the place sold out. It was crazy to see so many of my fans packed into this amazing theatre. They were singing every single one of my songs which was pretty cool.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to give other artists that are out there trying to make it?

Out work the competition. So much talent out there, you have to grind and grind. Just never give up and keep pushing.

What venue do you like to perform at the most?

Hmmm. I love a lot of venues. Going to Chicago is always fun for me because of our fan base up there. Playing at Skooters Roadhouse in Shorewood, IL has always been a favorite of mine. Love the owner, love our fans. They always come out and pack the barn up. I also really love to play the Grizzle Rose in Denver & the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home, OR.

What projects are you currently working on?

I am currently promoting my latest single, “Let Me See Your Koozie”. Just finished my official music video for it, and the song itself has been doing really well so far without any big radio promotion. We have some plans for the song that could take us well into 2016. Also, I am going to begin working on my next full EP which we have already started writing and should begin recording in the months to come.

Do you have any big shows coming up?

We just finished up a show with Jana Kramer. At the end of this month, we will be at Country Thunder Festival in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin July 23^rd-26^th warming up the stage for Jamie Lynn Spears, Tyler Farr & Blake Shelton (just to name a few). We also will be playing the Oregon Jamboree July 31^st-August 2^nd and will have 3 performances at it. Two full band shows, and one special acoustic tent party with some radio folks.

What do you want your fans/future fans to know about you?

I always try to help people and animals in need. People asking for money, I always try to give them something because they need the few bucks more than I do. Of course, I try to use good judgment to see if it could really help them. I feel people sometimes are down on their luck, and a couple bucks could brighten their day or help them get a coke, a water or a candy bar.

With animals, I always try to help if I see animals in need. I’m a huge animal guy and I have always been sensitive to animals in need of help.

Those two things are things people may not know about me. People can have their own opinion or just look away from a bad situation; however, I choose to lend a hand.

I would want them to know that they would never find another artist who cares more about his/her fans than I do. I never forget a face, and am always watching and taking notes of the fans that are helping me move up. I genuinely care about every fan I have.

What’s your favorite way to connect with fans? Pictures, Social Media, Interaction at shows?

I think social media is the most convenient way to connect, if not in person. Social media allows us to connect instantly and I think that is huge. The new APP “Periscope” has been a thrill to use because now we can stream LIVE shows, interviews, or whatever we want, instantly. This allows us to have people from all over the world watching us when we stream it. It’s free for fans, and lots of fun!

***(Periscope) is an app that allows you to get an opportunity to view an experience through someone else’s eyes. It can be downloaded for free through the Apple Store or through the Google Play store.***

You can catch Cort & his band playing most Wednesdays at Second Fiddle in Nashville. You can also see him perform at Legends Corner on most Friday nights and at Second Fiddle on most Saturday nights. Shows start at 10:30pm.

Check out the video for Cort Carpenter’s latest single “Let Me See Your Koozie”.