From her early days in the Snoqualmie Valley attending Opstad Elementary, Chief Kanim Middle School, and Mount Si High School, North Bend local Courtney Cutchins developed a deep love for music that would shape her future.
This passion took her to Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where she studied jazz voice and played a key role in the local jazz scene through her involvement with JazzClubsNW and Boxley’s.
After contributing significantly to her hometown’s music community, she took a leap of faith and moved to New York City to pursue further studies at the Manhattan School of Music. Today, her journey reflects resilience, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to her artistic vision.
After nearly a decade of hard work, Courtney is on the verge of releasing her debut album, Grunge to Grace. This project fuses the sounds of Seattle’s grunge era with the jazz stylings she has honed over the years. But bringing this ambitious project to life has required more than just musical talent—it’s also taken a community effort, which is where her Kickstarter campaign comes in.
Courtney’s Kickstarter campaign, which runs until August 31st, has been crucial in helping her cover the final costs of production, promotion, and physical distribution. The campaign offers supporters a variety of rewards, from signed CDs, LPs, t-shirts, totes and other merchandise packages.
Cutchins explains that crowdfunding is a way to form a community of support. She says that making music can be a long, lonely road, and an independent artist’s costs can add up. Courtney is thrilled to announce that, as of a short time ago, her Kickstarter campaign is fully funded, meaning the project is officially a go, and all rewards are confirmed. “I’m incredibly grateful for the support and would be even more appreciative if we could surpass the goal, as the costs for the project have been substantially higher than what was initially requested,” she shares. Every additional contribution will help ensure that Grunge to Grace reaches its full potential.
Courtney’s love for jazz began early, sparked by an Ella Fitzgerald CD she discovered at age 11. “I was enthralled with jazz from the moment I first heard it.” This passion led her to study jazz voice at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where she immersed herself in the genre. “Cornish allowed me to study the music and styles that I loved without forcing me into a box, which has certainly informed the way I coach my own clients and students—and even the way I think about music as a whole.”
After graduating, Courtney became involved with Boxley’s, a jazz club in North Bend that quickly became a hub for local music lovers. “A jazz club in my hometown!? How cool is that?” she says. Her involvement with Boxley’s went beyond performing; she took on the role of marketing coordinator, helping to build the club’s presence and organizing events like the annual Jazz Walk and Blues Walk.
“It was especially rewarding to support music education and performance in the Snoqualmie Valley, where I literally grew up. Anytime a community can come together and not only celebrate the arts but jazz, that’s a pretty amazing thing!”
But as much as she loved her work at Boxley’s, Courtney’s ambitions always extended beyond her hometown. In 2015, she made the bold decision to move to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in jazz voice at the Manhattan School of Music. “NYC is sort of like Disneyworld for jazz music, so I was thrilled to have had the chance to live there for a time and be surrounded by that energy. I went there to attend the Manhattan School of Music and earned my master’s degree in jazz voice. I had the chance to study with some of the top musicians in the jazz field.”
The seeds for Courtney’s debut album, Grunge to Grace, were first planted in New York. But the journey to bring this project to life was anything but straightforward. “In 2015, I was navigating a challenging time, battling chronic illness, and trying to make it in one of the most intense cities in the world. I was studying jazz in one of the most difficult grad school programs in the world, dealing with some heavy, personal stresses and it turned out that I was living, unknowingly, with black mold behind the walls of my apartment. What should’ve been a really exciting and fun time in my life was incredibly challenging.”
Amid these challenges, Courtney turned to music for solace and inspiration. “One music-related exercise I found was to ‘rediscover songs from your childhood that bring you joy.’ I remembered hearing Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun’ on the radio and Chris Cornell’s phenomenal voice for the first time, which turned out to be just the right boost of inspiration I needed—and I thoroughly enjoyed digging into a variety of grunge rock songs from that time. It’s perhaps ironic that I turned to grunge rock to lighten up, but it certainly helped!”
This fusion of grunge and jazz became a central theme in Courtney’s music, leading to the creation of Grunge to Grace. The album, which features six original songs and three reimagined 90s grunge classics, reflects her personal and musical journey.
“It’s about living in your authentic truth. The title track came about after Chris Cornell’s passing, and it really captures the idea of finding beauty in difficult times. It’s okay to have both grief and joy. It’s okay to show up and bring your unique gifts to the world despite how broken the world can be. The whole concept for the album really took shape from this outlook.”
The recording process for her project was a dream come true for Courtney. She teamed up with some of the most talented jazz musicians in New York, including Taylor Swift’s musical director, David Cook, who produced the album. “It was amazing to hear my music come to life in the studio. Working with this band was incredible—they brought so much skill and artistry to the project.”
As the release date approaches, Courtney is eager to share her music with the world and fulfill the promises made to her Kickstarter backers. The campaign’s support has provided the necessary funding and built a sense of community around her project. “This album is a personal triumph for me. It’s been nearly a decade in the making, and I’m so excited to share it with the world.”
Looking ahead, Courtney has big plans. Leading up to the full release on October 18th, she’s releasing another single on August 23rd, followed by a final single on September 20th. She’s also planning a big show on Hilton Head Island on October 5th as a pre-release celebration. “This album reflects everything I’ve been through—my challenges, my triumphs, my growth as an artist and as a person. It’s about finding the light in the darkness, about embracing both the grunge and the grace.”
In addition to her music, Courtney continues to run her international coaching studio, Seadragon Songhouse, where she works with vocalists of all kinds to help them find their authentic voices. “At my core, I care deeply about my own personal growth and musicianship, but I also know how challenging this path can be. Not only did this work help to heal some of my own insecurities, but encouraging others to use their voices in an authentic, beautiful way has been a major message I’d like to share—so this album stays true to this theme.”
For those who have followed Courtney’s journey from the small-town stages of North Bend to the bright lights of New York City, Grunge to Grace is more than just an album—it’s a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and the love of music that has guided her every step of the way. And as she prepares to share this music with the world, one thing is clear: Courtney Cutchins is just getting started.
For more information on Courtney’s Kickstarter campaign and upcoming album release, and to listen to her latest singles, visit her social media pages and stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable debut.
