The “30 Artistes, 30 Songs, 30 Days” Interview – Courtney Jenaé

As part of  The Pixel Projects 30 Artistes, 30 Songs, 30 Days project in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign, we talk to the artistes who have participated in the project about why they are using their music to speak out and to say NO to violence against women. 

Our ninth featured artiste is Courtney Jenaé. Courtney began singing at age 15 in high school. After graduating college with a certificate in vocal music, Courtney moved to Los Angeles to pursue her singing career. Shortly thereafter, Courtney signed with an independent record label Wondr Music and released her E.P. “Uncovered” along with a music video for her latest single “Accelerate” which is available on iTunes. Her songs have been featured on TV shows like “Kourtney and Kim Take Miami”, “Bad Girls Club”, MTV’s “Real World” and more. You can find Courtney performing all throughout California. Courtney is an artist to watch out for. With her talent and passion for music, Courtney is poised to take the music world by storm. This is only the beginning. You can follow her updates on Facebook, or check out her music videos on YouTube.

Courtney contributed her song, “Breaking Free” to the “30 Artistes, 30 Songs, 30 Days” campaign in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate here.

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Courtney JenaeTell us about yourself and why you decided to take part in The Pixel Project
s 30 Artistes, 30 Songs, 30 Days project.

I have been singing since I discovered my talent in high school. Since then, I’ve moved to Los Angeles, USA and worked with different producers and songwriters and I’ve also been writing music for others and myself. I want to use my talents to make a difference. Having the opportunity to be a voice in this project to end violence against women is only one of the many ways I am able to contribute. And writing my song ‘Breaking Free’ was a turning point for me, and my growth as a powerful woman.

Why is ending violence against women important to you?

There are many girls and women who face different forms of violence everywhere. It is something that definitely needs to be talked about in order to begin the process of change. Girls and women everywhere shouldn’t feel ashamed of what they’ve been through or are going through now. I know that we can change the future by keeping our ears, minds and hearts open.

In your opinion how does music help in efforts to end violence against women?

Music is a universal language that can be shared between any culture. It is one of the easiest and strongest ways to inspire change. There have been many songs throughout history about world peace and ending discrimination, which have inspired cultures to change. Songs such as “Imagine” by John Lennon, and “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are just a couple of examples. Music is an art that every generation can identify with, and it’s just one more way we can help in the efforts of ending violence against women.

What actions can music artistes take to help end violence against women?

By getting involved in projects like this, it gives us musicians the opportunity to use our talents for the good of others. To have a voice in ending violence against women is priceless. It’s one more step in the right direction and I feel honoured to be a part of it.

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The “Music For Pixels 2014” charity digital album is available from 1 April 2014 – 1 April 2015 as a companion to the “30 Artistes, 30 Songs, 30 Days” campaign. The album features a selection of 12 positive and empowering songs from the campaign by artistes including  Adam Web, AHMIR, AJ Rafael, Bob Sima, Courtney Jenae, Debbie Reifer, Delaney Gibson, Ellis, Macy Kate, Mary Sholz, Pete Ahonen, and Troy Horne

The album is the perfect and affordable gift for music lovers and for celebrating special occasions such as birthdays and Mother’s Day. It is available for download worldwide via major online music retailers including iTunes and Amazon.com. 100% of the album proceeds will benefit The Pixel Project to help keep their anti-Violence Against Women campaigns, projects, and programmes running.

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LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT: The Music For Pixels 2014 Charity Digital Album

slide-m4p-20141 April 2014, WORLDWIDE: The Pixel Project, a global virtual 501(c)3 nonprofit working to end violence against women (VAW), is proud to present their first full-length Music For Pixels charity digital album featuring positive and uplifting songs for women and girls by 12 YouTube and independent artistes saying NO to VAW while raising funds for the cause. The album is launched on the first day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month as part of the The Pixel Project’s 2014 Music For Pixels campaign programme that mobilises artistes to say NO to VAW with their music.

The Music For Pixels charity digital album is the companion release to the “30 Artistes, 30 Songs 30 Days” project (30/30/30) that ran from 6 February to 8 March 2014 as the musical countdown in the run-up to the launch of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign. Of the 30 artistes who participated in 30/30/30, 12 artistes and their songs were selected for the Music For Pixels charity digital album. They include Adam Web, AHMIR, AJ Rafael, Bob Sima, Courtney Jenae, Debbie Reifer, Delaney Gibson, Ellis, Macy Kate, Mary Sholz, Pete Ahonen, and Troy Horne. Their musical styles range from R&B to Pop to acoustic Singer-Songwriter. Two of the songs, “Picture in My Pocket” by Pete Ahonen and “A Toast To All You Do” by Adam Web, are especially written for this album in tribute to women and girls who have survived gender-based violence.

Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project said: “Through the Music For Pixels 2014 charity album and our Music For Pixels campaigns, The Pixel Project aims to harness the power of positive music as a potent force for spreading the message about stopping VAW. Our hope is that the uplifting songs about hope, courage, and women’s empowerment will be a powerful counterpoint to the rampant misogyny and violence expressed through today’s popular music. We hope this album will inspire music fans to think about the women and girls out there facing violence in their lives and take that first step towards getting their communities taking action to stop the violence.

AHMIR, YouTube’s #1 R&B group and The Pixel Project’s YouTube Music Ambassador who headlines the album, said: ““The power of melody and harmony has the ability to compliment the sentiment behind just words. Words can definitely be powerful, but music only helps to amplify whatever message is being communicated.  We are honoured to have our music included in this album to help stop violence against women.”

This limited edition album is available from 1 April 2014 to 1 April 2015 from major digital music retailers worldwide including iTunes and Amazon. With prices ranging from US$6.99 to US$11.99 depending on region and retailer, it is an affordable way for the global online community to give to the cause. Thanks to the pro bono distribution services of Horus Music and the generosity of the participating artistes, 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting The Pixel Project to keep their anti-VAW campaigns, programmes and initatives alive.

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To download the album, go to:

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For further information, please contact The Pixel Project team at info@thepixelproject.net

About The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net)

The Pixel Project is a complete virtual, volunteer-led global 501(c)3 nonprofit organisation whose mission is to raise awareness, funds and volunteer power for the cause to end violence against women using social media, new technologies, and popular culture/ the Arts. Their flagship initiative is the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign which aims to turbo-charge global awareness about VAW using social media while raising US$1 million by getting a global audience to collectively unveil a million-pixel mystery collage of Celebrity Male Role Models at US$1 per pixel.

About the Music For Pixels Campaign (http://music4pixels.thepixelproject.net)

Music For Pixels, a campaign by The Pixel Project, is the first music-based social media campaign to exclusively collaborate with YouTube and independent artistes speaking up to prevent and stop VAW through music video PSAs while raising funds for the cause via digital music downloads.

About AHMIR (www.youtube.com/ahmirTV

Featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Us Weekly, FUSE, and Billboard, AHMIR is the #1 Most Popular R&B Group on YouTube with over 75 million video views and comments by celebrities such as Ryan Seacrest, Ashton Kutcher, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and more.  Yahoo! listed them as the “Top 5 YouTube Cover Artists:  The Best Acts You Should Be Listening To Today.” The group has used their success to support several charity organizations including The Pixel Project, Lucy’s Love Bus, and the American Cancer Society. Their cover video of P!nk’s “Perfect” was named one of the top Anti-Bullying PSA’s by The Huffington Post. AHMIR is signed to Robbins Entertainment and have recently released their debut single entitled “WAR” to Top 40 radio nationwide.