Heartcore is Kurt Rosenwinkel's fifth album as a band leader.

[3] The album was fully produced by Rosenwinkel and Q-Tip of popular hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest.

The album is a departure musically from Rosenwinkel's previous work, as he contributes keyboard, drums, and voice, at times creating soundscapes completely on his own in his personal studio.

[4] While much of the album features varied instrumentation and personnel, a few tracks rely on a live performance aspect, reminding the listener of the connection to the jazz tradition.

Rosenwinkel cites the influence of Arnold Schoenberg in the harmonic textural construction on Heartcore.