Profile - Heather Luttrell

The all-consuming, all-knowing, all-the-damn-time monster known as reality TV reached into the Atlanta music scene and plucked out one of our own, used her and spat her back out. Thankfully, Heather Luttrell seems none the worse for wear after her stint on CBS’ “Rock Star: INXS.” She celebrates the release of her newest album, Grits N’ Pulp, Fri., Sept. 2, 9 p.m. at Eddie’s Attic and she has an exhibit of paintings at Donna Van Gogh’s in Little Five Points.

How did she feel about being eliminated in the surprise “two contestants go at once” episode? “I felt very lucky that Daphna and I had each other during the elimination process. I was ready to come home, but it still softened the blow a lot.”

On the show, she had a cold and had a hard time singing. Sucky timing or a stress reaction? “I had gotten a sinus infection which turned into a lung infection as well. I had gone swimming and fallen asleep near an A/C vent, so I think that’s how it started. Yes, the environment was very stressful, and it was very difficult to be that sick with a fever for days with cameras in your face.”

“After being on the show, I now have 8 million people with an opinion about me, which is definitely more than I had before.”

“My best moment was when I got to sing ‘It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll.’ I had so much fun singing that song. At that moment, I surprised myself with the notion that maybe I could pull off being the lead singer for the band. My worst was singing Sheryl Crow, and you knew the notes are all coming out wrong but there’s really nothing you can do about it. If you’re sick, you’re sick.”

Who should win? “I think Marty is being groomed for it, Ty wants it the most, and Suzie has made the most improvement, but as far as who should, that’s really only up to INXS and what they want.”

About Grits N’ Pulp: “I wanted to go into the studio for the first time, and make an old-fashioned raw blues album, and I think that’s what I accomplished. I didn’t want it to sound over-produced. I wanted to make a studio album, but have it still reflect what I do in live shows. This album actually has a bar code on it, which makes me feel like such a professional.”