Movies hit different when they’re based on a true story. And—as indie artist Curtis Hayes makes known with his latest project “Black Heart“—apparently, music does, too.
A spoken word dedicated to Breonna Taylor. Snippets of sermons from his pastor. Lyrics that challenge the status quo. “Black Heart” is a six-track EP that may not be for daily listening. But it takes you on an emotional ride of what Black people face daily. And that makes it all the more meaningful.
“Our plight can be difficult, but it’s also beautiful,” Hayes told The Block. “It’s our heart. It’s our story. There are so many facets of Black folks, and the only reason we’re here is because someone else persevered. So, let’s acknowledge all of our blackness.”
Hayes, who creates under the name Curt Keyz, released “Black Heart” earlier this month. Initially, it was going to be called “Heart” and be derived from community recording sessions with friends.
But as tragic deaths of more Black people made headlines, Hayes felt burdened to switch things up. Each song empowers our community in its own way.
“As long as we listen and are inspired by it. That’s all I want. This may not be a record you listen to every day, but when you do, you’ll be reminded of who you are.”
I want to inspire us. I want to remind black people It’s ok to feel.
Curtis Hayes
The EP kicks off with “Running”—a fast-paced yet sobering song set to audio from a press conference about the death of Ahmaud Arbery. It’s both personal and personifying.
“I used to be scared of the dark,” Hayes recalled. “I used to run from things that weren’t there. [Then you have Ahmaud]. He got chased down and killed. … I realized that perpetually, Black people are always running. They may not be running from two white men with shotguns, but they are running from something or even to something—all to prove we’re worth something.”
On the track “Why,” featuring fellow Charlotte singer-songwriter Ahji, Hayes is upfront with the questions many of us are asking.
Why do they hate us? Why don't they love us? Is it the color of our skin? Is it the royalty within?
“Some people don’t hate us. But they also don’t love us as much as they think they do,” Hayes explained. “People who are lukewarm and in the middle … those are the most dangerous people.”
Build Your Own Table
Asked to describe his style, Hayes simply says, “I tell stories with music.”
There’s a feel good R&B vibe to his sound. Think Stevie Wonder mixed with Xavier Omär, with a southern flair.
Gospel undertones speak to Hayes’ roots as a church drummer when he was younger. He eventually moved on to piano and now finds himself immersed in singing, songwriting and producing.
Hearing the musicality in his work, it’s hard to believe Hayes is self-taught.
From the small town of Great Falls, S.C., he grew up in what he calls a “culture desert.”
“Just like food deserts don’t have fresh fruits and vegetables, I didn’t have fresh culture,” he explained. “It was recycled and recycled, until there was no space where I lived [for culture].”
That upbringing challenged him to be more hands-on, and create in a way that’s sustainable, while also helpful to others.
“I learned how to do more things because I wanted to build my own table. I want to continue to make places and spaces for people who look like me, who grew up with blank canvases like me and teach them how to build their own table. Whether that table is glorified on big stages or if it’s a dining room table, it’s theirs. And they can be happy about it.”
[Your craft] is only effective when you are true. Don’t hide from who you are.
curtis hayes
Vulnerability in the Creative Process
To Hayes, the journey to “Black Heart” speaks to the transformation every artist must go through to create from a purposeful place. Earlier this year, he found himself facing an identity crisis after connecting with his father and siblings for the first time. Reuniting with family helped him deeply, but it also led to more questions, both on a personal level and musically. Hayes realized his identity had been too wrapped up in his career.
“I attributed my worth to music; what I was to what I did,” he said. “I was in a bad space … losing myself to the pandemic and evaluating my worth as a human, as a child of God.”
Therapy helped him get back to a better place so he could focus fully on his next move. Rather than folding to the expectations of others, “I just decided to do.”
“That’s the liberation that this record came from.”
With each song and interlude, “Black Heart” transitions from grim to surreal to hopeful. Ultimately, the EP is Hayes’ way of saying “I am valuable” and reminding others of their worth as well.
“Creatives, you are not the content. You’re not the followers. You’re not the people saying your name. You’re human,” he said. “You have to remember your humanity [and] the beauty in telling it how it is.”
Support Curt Keyz by purchasing his music at iamcurtkeyz.com and following him on Instagram at @curtkeyz.
