We recently had the chance to connect with Cortell and have shared our conversation below.
Cortell, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I feel like it’s a combination of both. At this time…I’m on a path but I find myself wandering on the path that I am on. Almost as if it’s I’m meandering. I believe that I’m on the right path however while I’m on it, it’s being ventured almost as if I’m uncertain. I continue to walk the path because I know it’s the right path for me, I just need to move with more intention. So, that’s why I feel as if it’s both.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone, my name is Kesean Cortell Lattier and I am an artist, entertainer, actor. When it comes to the music space of my art, I simply go by the name Cortell when it comes to the acting realm, I go by my name, Kesean Lattier. All my life I have enjoyed the arts. I believe that our father in heaven is a creator, and he created his creations to create. So I enjoy the thought in the ideas that are placed in my brain in order for me to then create the things in which I do. Something that I’m currently working on now is perfecting my craft in the acting space currently getting training and lessons to become a better actor. When it comes to the musical space, I am currently working on a joint collaborative project with a fellow artist that goes by the name Victaveon. A lot of exciting things to come and I am looking forward to sharing my talents and story with you.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
When I was growing up, I had a tendency to hold in a lot of pain. I felt like I was a very hurt and broken person, and I would use the emotion that I felt and cling to it as a means of expression, my emotional state would be the engine for my creative process. As I have grown and resolved some of those emotional traumas that I have felt and would cling to, I know that, that version of myself, the kid who would hold on to hurt, trauma, pain can be set free. Now the emotions that I use work with me instead of against me. So I believe that part of who I was has served his purpose and can now be released.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there has been plenty of times where I almost gave up. I reflect on those times even during breaks or periods in my life where I’m not as creative as I want to be or should be. But I have come to the conclusion that you can’t give up on something that is a part of you because then it would almost be like giving up on yourself. Something that I like to think about are those stories that we would hear growing up about people who persevere through the storm or the struggle. Digging for gold or mining for diamonds, knowing that they were very close to receiving exactly what it was they wanted, but they stopped right before they were able to achieve it. And I do not want to be that person so like Dory says I “just keep swimming.” All things happen at the proper time and if we give up then was it really worth it?
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I would say some of the biggest lies that the industry I’m in tells itself would be that there is a particular standard that must be met in order for you to be successful within it. Another lie that I would say the industry that I’m in tells itself would be that You cannot be successful in this field without reaching a certain standard. It’s kind of like a revolving door either you are good enough or you are not good enough to have the success in what you want from the industry, but you are just as successful as you want to be based on the goals that you have for yourself and what you measure as success.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
A light inside of me that I feel like I have been dimming is the light that I have in general. I’ve come to the understanding that I am a bright light that shines, and there are times when I dim the light that I have because there are times when I do not believe enough in myself, but that is OK because as long as the light is shining, whether it be at a low dim it is still shining in. I still have the opportunity to make it shine brighter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscortell?igsh=MW5wdnJ0NXJwZTY1&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D62yhy1dm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cortellmusic?si=LzPWECLQAJ4vMHEn
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/NfBKFqGcGtdXJKpkii
- Other: https://songwhip.com/cortell
Image Credits
Tom Sanders
Austin Cannington
JT Taylor
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
