Juliette Leon
Interview 3 August 2004
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Let’s work backwards! What’s happening now, you working on an album? And how’s it coming together.
We are 10 tracks into our album, just recorded a track
last night :) getting positive feedback with tracks unconditional,merry go
round, two hearts and thief in the Night getting Uk airplay
How difficult is life for an artist like yourself trying to
put something down – bit by bit I guess.
I find writing
incredibly easy, due to my affinity with Die hard production, studio time is
not an issue - which is brilliant
I can write two
songs in ten minutes if I am inspired. (merry go round was written at the
Balsall common traffic lights on the way back from work!!!!)
You’ve already dropped tracks with Myron and Jarrard
(Anthony) – tell me about those guys and how you got together.
I had posted a
comment on Jarrards Cd baby site, really loved his tracks. We got chatting
music stuff, and really just kept up to date with each others stuff. When
jarrard announced they were coming over I suggested a duet, but we did
alot of socialising too. Brilliant voice, really talented man.
Myrons promoter
Boyd had heard the duet with Jarrard, and told me Myron was coming
over. He suggested I hook up with myron, so I spoke to josh,
and when Myron came to the Birmingham area we hooked up and dropped a
track. Again, a phenomenal talent. Neither of us know the track and
he licked that track in one take after hearing the song a couple of times.
Tell me about how you work and the people around you, both
musically and administratively including Richie Silver and Die Hard.
Richie Silver helps get my profile out there. He spotted
me at the big voice competition in Birmingham. (www.birminghamnightlife.co.uk)
He ensures that
people get to hear the CD (he works with Galaxy Radio, so is great arranging
interviews etc) - he sorted out myrons interview when he came over. He acts
more as an agent at this stage, but as things get busier (lets hope!!!) his
role will change
Die hard
production are a brilliant team of producers, their website www.diehardproduction.co.uk
They have lots
of artists, in varying stages of their career. All types of styles too.
Sometimes they will build a track around my vocal, sometimes I build the vocal
around their tracks. Occasionally we build a track together.
I am lucky to
find a studio that can keep up with my pace, I work very quickly , and Die hard
know that my ideas need to be put down quickly, because my head will explode
otherwise
:)
look out for
Acts such as mowg, and class A and TNI from diehardproduction
And what’s still to do and when can we expect it to hit the
streets.
We want to ensure that while the cafe de Soul volume 5 is buzzing,
and the Myron duet is being reviewed that we are quick to drop a release.
Lots of request
for the two hearts track on Vinyl, so Cafe de soul should be dealing with that.
As for the
Album, we have no deal as yet (so prayers please)
You’ve got a connection with Café de Soul – how did that
happen and is that a likely source of a release. And how are they treating you? (um loaded question!)
Solar radio Dj's were instrumental in getting us the Cafe de soul
deal. Chris Jay at sourmash (www.sourmash.co.uk) met up with me at the
birmingham soul weekender, gave a cd to mike Stevens. Soon enough all
the solar dj's were supporting us (have to add that Paul
stennings and geoff bingham have been their from the early days when I
was with Urban Vibe.) Paul always the first to put his neck on the block
playing my latest!!!
Cafe de soul
are so busy, we have spoken maybe only a few times, but I think that its their
kind of label that gives us a chance to break through.
So I sing their
praises.
Jazz cafe also
expressed interest in releasing one of the tracks, but as yet no more news :)
come on jazz cafe get a move on
Tell me about the album, how you do the writing and how it
all comes together and what you draw from. Who are your influences?
I come from a musical family. my mum still does jazz
gigs in the midlands. . . So you may hear my jazz tones break through.
my dad is a
folk guitarist, and my brother up until recently worked in a very busy rock
band playing electric guitar - so music is in the blood.
With that said,
my major influence was the mowtown era, I loved all that stuff - 'proper music'
I loved marvin
gaye, diana ross. but actually 80's soul has a big influence, melissa morgan,
shirley murdock, etc
I draw from my
own experience. It helps me vent. Don't get me wrong, not everything I write I
have done (tee hee) but writing helps you heal.
Creativity
comes from a divine source - I actualy don't believe I write the stuff alone.
What other ‘recognition’ have you had – you’ve been up for
some awards I think.
Truth is I
don't know :) I don't really follow all that stuff. I would be honoured if
someone somewhere wants to enter us for, or give us an award - ,
but I haven't heard anything :)
(so let me know
if you hear anything, I would like to make my mother proud)
And you seem to do a fair bit of live stuff, showcases and stuff, what are your shows like?
Love doing live stuff, the day job can get in the way a little
(i.e. driving back at 3am and getting up at 7!!)
Suga Suga in
Wardour street is a great little showcase, Roachford did a brilliant set.
I like doing
acoustic gigs, so different, really down to earth and natural. I
really enjoy myself because its something i always did growing up.
performing on
stage with a PA set /or band is a bit different . You have a few more people to worry
about! (and more wires to trip over)
I did a gig on
sunday with my mum at the de vere hotel in Coventry , she played piano and I
sang
that was cool
What are your ambitions. You holding down a job as well
right now? ……and are you gonna get there because it’s tuff out there!
I
work for an Exhibition Centre - I love my job, really do, not many
people can say that really
The people are
great fun, my boss is great ( no seriously im not creeping) and the work
is brilliant. Ideally I would love to keep both rolling, music is getting
busier so its difficult to juggle everything ! Im also studying Tae kwon
do and want to get as high up as I can
As long as I am
making music and people like what I do , I feel i am already there.
I know its a
real struggle to make music your day job!!,
I had majors sniff
around more than a couple of times, so it gets very frustrating if you are
looking for the ' big deal'. And when you get that big major deal, it
seems most of the battle becomes keeping it
I believe that
if the people like what I do then the labels will follow. I gave up sending off
demos to majors years ago. I only got a call from Island, or Warners because
they heard that maybe one of the tracks was creating a bit of a buzz . But
thats usually where it stops
What else do you do, tell me about yourself and what you like to do.
I like to break boards with my hand (in my taekwondo class), and
sing with my little girl (melissa - shes far more talented than I am)
I like to go to
church on sundays, and put as many smiles on as many peoples faces as possible
in a day
And Urban Vibe, that was pretty good, got some good plays
and responses, are they going to do more or is all the concentration and focus
on you. What happened? Alvin
that’s your husband? (pause for embarrassment if I’ve got that wrong!!!!!)
Thanks re:
Urban Vibe - Alvin is still working separately from me, (Alvin and Andy are
working with some talented new singers now- Sophia Kerns is a new singer
that has won competitions in the Coventry area )
No don't worry!
Alvin was my husband, unfortunately as with the music,we went our separate ways
What else have you done?
this could be incriminating :) (legal or illegal?)
I sang a duet
with Chaka Khan at her sisters engagement party.
That was mind
blowing.
so was the
amount of alchohol she put away (am I allowed to say that?)
Tammy coleman
wanted to manage me, but the deal didn't get agreed -
Can' t think of
much really. Done interviews, loads of medium sized gigs, nothing mind
blowingly amazing to be honest. Just do what I do
And who would you like to work with, Omar I hear.
I keep hinting so lets hope Omar picks up the phone one day
eh ;)
I like Omar
because he doesn't bend to suit the market. that takes courage in this
industry
I would love to work with any of the neo greats. Soul child,
erykah badu, jill scott, angie stone, Bilal.
Erykah badu is just the most stylish woman. Her voice, her look , everything.
Do you think are forum is working OK – it kinda blows hot
and cold (there’s a lot of people who were going to contribute but haven’t
unfortunately but I’ll probably run with it for a little while longer)
I think its excellent for networking. I think you should name and
shame the non contributers so they can get a public stoning.
Or perhaps they
are stoned anyway which is why they are not contributing
More generally where do you thing our music is headed in
the current environment, and are you happy with what you hear.
We need to
support UK artists.(which life and soul promotions do) I hear
excellent up and coming talent from the UK. I hope that the current environment
with the digital evolution will enable artists such as myself to be at an even
keel with big artists - some say it is is the death of the music business, but
I think that it could be the turning point.
The diversity
of music is coming back. For too long the majors dictated - The web
enables people in Japan to buy our independently released track, something that
we could never have done. And with support from people like yourselves we have a
platform from which to take off.
Who out there right now are you feeling?
of
course, jarrard and myron -
I like Jon
bibbs, hes coming over with jarrard this year. . .i feel another duet coming on
I like amp
fiddler, haven't bought his CD yet cos im skint, but he looks and sounds great
FUNKEEEEEEEEEE
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, I want a deal that means I can pay my bills
oh, and pray
every day, It works better than pills
Good luck and thanks for your time. Hopefully our paths will cross soon.
Thank you so
much for asking me for an intervew. I feel very spesh now.
Love to all you
soul heads out there
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