Meet Courtney Mickens

Courtney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started performing professionally in South Florida in 2013, but my journey with music began from infancy.

I was raised in a very musical family, especially on my mother’s side. Growing up as Bahamian descendants of a pastor and organist, almost everyone in my family sings, plays an instrument or two, dances, paints or draws… or started a business. My first encounter with singing began with my mother. She has a beautiful soprano voice and was always a knock out vocalist in church. My mother listens to a lot of different genres (jazz, bossa nova, funk, r&b, gospel, pop) which heavily influenced my musical ear. My grandmother then taught me piano at the age of five, and my love for music grew from there.

I trained at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Miami from age 11-17 where I studied jazz piano, music theory, vocal performance technique, classical and pop, as well as several dance, theatre and visual arts classes (I like to learn). From there, I volunteered and worked as an assistant instructor thru college.

I continued to pursue music in college (even after being discouraged not to major in music). I attended Florida State University, where I studied Management, but this is where I really got my start with being a lead singer (that wasn’t a desire, honestly). I joined the gospel choir my freshman year, and an all-female a cappella group called “The AcaBelles” my sophomore year. My time with ‘Belles was some of the most creatively free times in my LIFE. I started to audition for song leads (and getting them) and doing some of the vocal arrangements for the group. I actually won several awards for my arrangements and solos in during the International Collegiate A Cappella Association (ICCA) Competition.

After I graduated, I realized I loved singing lead more than I thought I would. After some time and encouragement from my friends, I began to pursue it more. So, I started going to open mics in the south Florida area (West Palm to Dade County). In 2013, was invited to an open mic put on by On The B Side, Ent at Piano Hollywood (preciously at Hard Rock Hollywood). I sang one song that night and got invited to do a feature set the next month. That was my very first feature, and I’ve be singing as a professional ever since.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My industry is all about who you know and how you look. There are always bumps and things that are just plain unfair (not having the right look, being too tall or too dark or too ethnic or too big, being underpaid or stiffed). I’ve learned to be a bit more patient and decisive with how I work with and what I want out of my career. Each road block and hiccup on the way has molded me into a better businesswoman and musician. Every opportunity isn’t for everyone. Learn from what you get AND don’t get to do.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mickens Entertainment Group and Affiliates – what should we know?
MEGA provides:
Vocal Lessons
Vocal Workshops
Vocal Arrangements
Vocals for hire (leads, background, live or studio)

I am most proud of the product/service satisfaction. My students have shown significant growth in their abilities, and I normally hear excellent reviews on my performances and showcases. MEGA is a young, but I have great plans for it and myself.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Plenty:

Isis Roberts – Vocal coach and mentor
Devan and Andrea – my two best friends
My band – Josh Esther, Mickey Platt, James “Sticx” Danson are always professional and supportive of my work as an independent artist as well as an artist for hire
My producer Joshua Esther– for embracing my crazy and allowing me to bring what I hear in my head to the ears of the public
Fans – for the support they show me
God – for everything, especially guidance and every opportunity

Contact Info:

• Website: Courtneymickens.com
• Phone: 9543992849
• Email: courtneymsings@gmail.com
• Instagram: @courtneymsings
• Facebook: Fb.com/CourtneyMSings
• Twitter: @CourtneyMSings

1 Comment

1. 

   courtneymsings

   September 28, 2019 at 12:27 pm

   Thanks VoyageMIA!

   Reply