Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase
Our 5th of the Top 8 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist finalists is Southern Ontario’s own Kaitlin Kozell. Like so many other country artists family is a major influence in Kaitlin’s music. As she herself puts it:
“There is no feeling quite like sitting on the front porch with Grandma and belting out our favorite country tunes together; Singing on the top of our lungs, Grandma harmonizing like no one’s business, neither of us having a care in the world that we were ruining the silence that otherwise filled my Grandparents peaceful cul-de-sac. It was organic and beautiful, I couldn’t be more grateful for those moments.”
Kaitlin Kozell
Kaitlin has also very recently stepped into the acting world where she had continuity as an ‘extra,’ or ‘background performer’ on one of Global’s hit TV dramas, Rookie Blue. She is also currently a background performer on CTV’s Saving Hope. For all you Leafs fans out there you may recognize Kaitlin as a regular anthem singer at the Air Canada Centre. But right now she and 7 others share one dream, to be named the 2014 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist. The winner opens for Hunter Hayes on the Boots and Hearts Main Stage on August 3 and also gets a single release from Big Machine Label Group as well as a week of industry training in Nashville. But before she can win she has to play and you get to help decide her performance slot. If you want to support Kaitlin, vote at www.bootsandhearts.com/showcase, the more votes she gets the better chance she has of a prime performance slot on August 2.
The Top 8 finalists are rising stars, which generally means that for most of them they are relatively unknown outside of their local area. We sent each of the finalists a list of questions so that we can get to know them a bit better and to help you make an informed decision in your showcase vote. Here is our QA with Kaitlin Kozell.
SC: Being selected as a finalist for Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist is a big deal. One of the 8 of you will perform in front of Hunter Hayes this summer. Describe the moment you found out you made it? How did they contact you? Where were you? and has it sunken in yet?
KK: The moment I found out I made it…….I had just gotten out of the shower, still had the towel wrapped around me. Out of habit, I decided to check my email before I did anything else. Lol, I had been in the shower for maybe 25 minutes, what are the chances I would have gotten any emails in that time? But sure enough, I received an email from Jackie O’Brien with the subject header “Congratulations”. As I read the body of the email I held my towel tight and started jumping up and down like crazy. I was screaming and huffing and puffing, I was 100% unable to control my excitement. I don’t think it’s sunken in yet! Maybe once the performance at Boots & Hearts is done and we can look back on it, it will have sunken in, but maybe not!! :-)
SC: Every artist I’ve spoken to has a story about how / when they decided to purse music as a career. Describe the moment that you knew that music was the path for you and what inspired you to take that path.
KK: I always knew I loved music and singing, but I can vividly remember a specific moment when I said “that’s what I’m going to do with my life, that’s what I want to do!” I was about 5 or 6 years old, I was at my grandparent’s house watching CMT. Leann Rimes’ video for ‘One Way Ticket (Because I can)’ came on; I was in a trance watching it, I was completely mesmerized. Leann Rimes was my absolute favourite, the first cassette and CD I ever owned were her first two records. I sang her album ‘Blue’ from beginning to end every night after school for years! When I saw her video, that was it, I pointed to the TV and said out loud, ‘That’s what I want to do, that’s what I’m gonna do!’ – I’ve never looked back.
SC: In music today there are a lot of artists working on projects with other artists, for example Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line or Tim Hicks and Black Jack Billy. If you could write with or perform with any artist on the scene today (from any genre) who would it be?
KK: Keith Urban!! No question! I’ve been a huge fan of his writing, and entertaining forever – he continues to inspire me and move me with his music, it would be dream come true to collaborate with him. Dream big!!
Kaitlin Kozell
SC: As an aspiring Country Music star performing in front of large crowds is pretty much par for the course, what’s the largest crowd you’ve ever performed in front of?, do you still get butterflies? If so what do you do to calm your nerves ahead of the show?
KK: The largest crowd I’ve ever performed in front of is 20,000 at the Air Canada Centre for Hockey Night in Canada – granted, it wasn’t my show, but I was performing! I am one of the Anthem singers for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Regardless if I’m singing the anthems at the ACC, or playing a small intimate show, I always get nervous and have butterflies running ramped in my stomach. I just really try to focus on my breathing to keep myself calm. It’s always a nervous excitement though, which I think is good :-)
SC: In any career there comes a moment, sometimes moments, where you know you’re doing something right. As an entertainer you make a decision to follow that path, can you describe a moment in your career, so far, that made you feel that you are on the right path?
KK: Honestly, this moment – being accepted as one of the top 8 finalists for the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase! It’s a huge confidence boost, made me feel like I’m doing something right, and that I’m on the right path!
SC: What’s your all-time favorite movie?
KK: The Notebook. Such a touching story, I weep every single time. I’m a huge fan of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as well, they make Ontarians proud!!
SC: Your ideal brain food?
KK: Chocolate – helps to recharge!
SC: Favourite Restaurant (anywhere in the world)?
KK: Thyme Ristorante. It’s a small, quaint, incredible Italian restaurant in Port Credit.
SC: Favourite TV show (all-time)?
KK: FRIENDS!!!!!!!
SC: If you could see any artist in concert, who would you see (living or dead)?
KK: Patsy Cline <3
SC: iPhone, Android or Blackberry?
KK: iPhone :-)
Kaitlin Kozell
SC: Can you talk about a fan encounter that completely took you by surprise?
KK: I once performed at an anti-bullying campaign at an elementary school. A lot of the students wanted to get autographs and photos, it was so adorable. One of the grade 5 boys insisted that I sign his $5 bill, even though he knew he’d never be able to use it. He said he was going to frame it. It was really, really sweet!!
SC: What are your family member’s musical interests and abilities?
KK: My parents and brothers are all big country music fans! One of my brothers loves playing the guitar and singing, he jams a lot with his buddies. My other brother, while he enjoys country music, he is the classic rock fan of the family! My grandmother was from Newfoundland. She came from a very musical family, so music has always been a huge part of our lives, which I am very grateful for!
SC: Name a fictional character most like you?
KK: Winnie the Pooh. {…after watching her promo video for Boots and Hearts we’d say more so Tigger!}
SC: In “Kaitlin Kozell, Story of My Life” – The Movie, who would play you?
KK: Sandra Bullock or Kate Hudson, because I love them - they’re 2 of my favourites.
SC: Star Trek or Star Wars?
KK: Star Wars
SC: Stress management: hit man, spa vacation or Prozac?
KK: Spa Vacation
SC: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
bee yourself
KK: “Be happy & Be yourself!”
SC: The music business is one of the most charitable businesses in the world, is there a specific charity that’s close to your heart that you support or would like to see more support for?
Global Angel
Alzheimer Society Canada
KK: There is a specific charity that is close to my heart – I’ve recently joined forces with ‘Global Angel Charitable Organization’ as their artist spokesperson. This charity, based out of Peterborough ON, assists in the facilitation of medical transport, globally. I wrote a song about 10 years ago called ‘Angels to be Found’; this song is now going to be the charity’s theme song and the recording will be up on iTunes this spring with all proceeds from the sale going to Global Angel. I’m really honoured and proud to be working with a charity that does such incredible work, they’re truly inspiring. Another charity that is close to my heart, that I would love to get more involved with and see more support for is the Alzheimer’s Society. My grandmother, who was one of my best friends and greatest musical influences and inspirations in my life, passed away from Alzheimer’s 5 years ago. I would love to be able to support this charity in a large way. It’s always about giving back.
SC: In the final few days of voting tell us why country music fans should vote for Kaitlin Kozell?
KK: Country music fans should vote for Kaitlin Kozell because this is me, this is who I am. What you see is what you get; I live and breathe country music. I want to be the best entertainer I can be – by voting for me, you’re giving me the opportunity to live out my dream, and I would be forever grateful. Thank You for the love and support!!
We’d like to thank Kaitlin for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish her the best of luck in the remaining days of the Showcase vote and look forward to meeting her and watching her perform at Boots and Hearts on August 2. If you would like more information on Kaitlin visit her website www.kaitlinkozell.com. Here’s Kaitlin performing Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” at Canadian Music Week in Toronto a few weeks ago.