Leon Else – Dance

By starrymag | November 23, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Yikes! Hard question… I would describe my sound as progressive pop. I think….

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) David Bowie, Prince, Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley and Bob Marley.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Dance.”

 

A) The song is about my depression,the low moments in my life, and how you can use movements and dance to fight those moments of darkness. To get up and put some music on and dance around is something that is such a powerful and natural way to make yourself feel better. It’s what I’ve done many times. It’s what I use to do as a career; dance to escape my life. I learned to dance professionally to help me escape my hometown and I found comfort and solitude in dance. It made me feel better. It makes me feel like I was someone and that I can do anything. I felt like I could express and dance my problems away. When I danced I forgot everything – all my troubles, my fears and worries, my sadness and for the moments I was truly free. That is what dance was for me. I didn’t dance for you or for any of the audience that watched me. I could care less if they were watching me or not. I danced for me and only me. It was self-medicating to me.  I wanted to write a song that allowed me to have the moment forever, to immortalize this moment for me. I wanted to create something that spoke about my feelings and what I believe is that I have an illness and dance would be a kind of momentarily cure. Though not a cure for good, but a short relief. It was therapy in a way.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans will connect to?

 

A) To be honest, I don’t think that way. I write from my point of view and from my feelings. I’m just being honest, so if anything I just hope people can connect with my honesty and find subjects within my honesty that they can also connect to. Maybe with “Dance” people can connect with the fact we all have our down days and that it’s really common. That we aren’t alone in feeling that and maybe that could be comforting!?

 

Q) How does the video for the song play into the message of it?

 

A) I think you see me struggling with something, at the start of the video. It is like I’m battling with myself and then the video grows and I move more and more, and my movements get bigger, until I am just free. Moving around this space, feeling good, forgetting the shit and the troubles. So, I think the video really plays well with the meaning of the song because you’re seeing me in a very vulnerable moment, battling, fighting to feel better and to pull myself out of a hole.

 

Q) How do you write your songs? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It’s different all the time. Sometimes I’ll write thoughts down with how I’m feeling or what’s on my mind and then I’ll work that into music. I sometimes start with a poem or a beat, or just me at the piano. It totally depends on how I am feeling. I just go with what I feel. “Dance” came from a melody I wrote at home, with no instrument, but I could clap the rhythm it needed. I knew it was going to be about dancing, but the full lyric came after the melody and then we put the music to it.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) A very, very HEAVY hand within the production. I co-produced more or less everything I do. I know what I like and even better, I know what I don’t. I have to be extremely involved in everything I do. It’s just the way I am. It can be tiring sometimes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It needs to be me through and through.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Leon Else performance?

 

A) Eventually a spectacle and something beautifully dark, mystic, sexy, fun and energetic. I want create a real show – something that will take you away and for that hour or two. The audience comes on a journey with me, to forgot all our troubles and problems, and for that moment in time just be there and present. I want for people to feel happiness, feel light and feel like you can escape from whatever is going on within your life. I really do want to bring people together because we really aren’t that different from each other. I hope with the stories of what I go through within my life and within my songs will help others and to show and tell them that they aren’t alone. This world is so hard, so hard for so many and in so many different ways and music really does bring people together.

 

Q) Will there be an EP or album coming out soon?

 

A) Album coming out next year.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Hmm…I don’t have a specific person I’m dying to collaborate with. It’s all about the moment in which the opportunity presents itself and with that I’m totally open to all possibilities and that’s exciting for me. I’m just doing me and my thing right now, but you never know something amazing could come through. [smile]

 

Q) What can fans do to help promote your music?

 

A) Buy it, stream it, watch it and tell all their friends and family about it. Come and see me live. Follow me on my social media! Tell everyone and anyone who will listen about it basically. [laughs]

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I think it’s great that you can directly connect with the people that really make it all possible. The fans are what all musicians are trying to reach. We want you to have our music and social media helps them feel connected to you and you to them. That’s what it’s all about really. It also helps get your message out there, and maybe to help people too.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!  For believing in me. For being loyal and never doubting me. For your continued support. For all your messages and your time you take to show me support and spread the word. Without fans and supporters I couldn’t do this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will never forget!! [smile] I love you.

 

Watch the Video For Dance