Courtney Hadwin has never been an artist to follow the expected route. From the moment she stunned audiences as a 13-year-old on America’s Got Talent with a bluesy, Janis Joplin-inspired performance, she has faced both admiration and criticism. Some praised her originality, while others questioned whether her gritty, retro style had a place in today’s pop-driven industry. Now, with the release of her latest video for Steady Rock Steady from her debut album Little Miss Jagged, Hadwin is responding in the way she knows best—through her music.
The video makes her stance clear. Across the visuals, bold words appear: “I don’t chase people. If you wanna go, I will open the door for you!” It’s a message of independence and defiance, directed not only at personal relationships but also at those who have doubted her choices as an artist. For Hadwin, music has always been about authenticity, and this new release shows her determination to carve out a space that reflects her true self rather than industry expectations.
Musically, Steady Rock Steady is a blend of soulful grit and rhythmic drive. The song balances raw emotion with a steady beat that gives Hadwin room to showcase the raspy power of her voice. The lyrics—pleading for consistency in love while bracing against disappointment—capture a mix of vulnerability and resilience. It is this duality that defines much of Hadwin’s artistry: the willingness to reveal her insecurities while projecting strength through performance.
Her journey since America’s Got Talent has been anything but straightforward. Many young performers who gain sudden fame are quickly shaped into conventional pop stars, often losing the individuality that first set them apart. Hadwin resisted that path. Instead, she has spent years honing her craft, writing songs that reflect her personal experiences and experimenting with a wide range of styles. Little Miss Jagged, her debut album, is proof of this refusal to conform. The record shifts seamlessly between pop-punk energy, funk-inspired grooves, soulful R&B, and emotional ballads, with Hadwin’s voice tying it all together.
On Steady Rock Steady, she sings lines that reveal both pain and persistence: “Why can’t you love me like you said you would? … My bags are packed, my legs are not. I’m going to fight someone who loves me like you would and could.” The imagery suggests a struggle between holding on and letting go, a universal theme that resonates with listeners navigating their own relationships. In this way, Hadwin connects personal storytelling with broader emotion, one of the reasons her fan base has remained so loyal.
Beyond the studio, Hadwin is equally recognized for her live performances. Her Live At Metropolis Studios sessions highlight the energy and spontaneity that she brings to the stage, a quality that often reminds audiences of classic rock performers. To coincide with the album’s release, she is preparing for a series of UK shows, giving fans a chance to hear her music in its most natural form—loud, expressive, and unfiltered.
With Little Miss Jagged, Courtney Hadwin makes it clear that she is not interested in fitting into molds. Instead, she continues to grow as an artist on her own terms, embracing both the praise and the criticism. Steady Rock Steady is more than a single—it is a declaration that her music and her story belong to her alone.