Interview with Music Artist “Russell Leedy of Kings of Carlisle”

Q: Please introduce yourself to the readers and what made you want to become a musician?

I am Russell Leedy of Kings of Carlisle. And music has always been a way of expressing what I feel about things going on around me and the world and just the passion of it all.

Q: Who has been your most influential teacher or mentor?

Like a lot of people I started singing in the church as a teenager. The choir director was my biggest influence. Her family would invite me over every Sunday for lunch and then she would play the piano and let me sing all afternoon whatever I wanted. She taught me how to hear the music and express the feeling in every song.

Q: What are your favorite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?

My favorite genres would be soul, jazz and pop. I cannot say there are any I do not like. As a musician I really appreciate the art that any musician brings to the world to tell their story. The music may sound different and have different rhythms but if you listen they are all telling a story.

Q: What would you say is your greatest weakness as an artist?

I have said this many times. I feel I would like to have better vocal range.

Q: In terms of the overall composition, what is your favorite song and why?

Its hard to pick a favorite. But I would have to say a song that Daryl Hall wrote and not many people have heard called “I’m in a Philly Mood” which really captures a soul/rock combination that he is so adept at.

Q: What kind of music artist would you classify yourself as?

Again that’s hard to pinpoint because I write music in many different genres. But at my core kind of a jazz/soul is really the driving force behind my compositions.

Q: Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?

There’s an artist named BJ Thomas out of Texas and I would listen to his records over and over again. He is famous for “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and “ Hooked on a Feeling” What a lot of people may not know is that he did a couple of gospel records that were just incredible. The sound, the soul was just amazing and inspirational

Q: Would you agree that it is very important to learn, study and understand the old music and music history?

Abosolutely1 everything as a writer is related in some way to music that has been written before our time. Remember Frank Sinatra was revolutionary at his time. Elvis Presley was a great performer who got his influence from the black soul groups that were largely not heard at that time. So yes, understanding music that was written 30 to 50 years ago and understanding where it comes from is important to our writing today. Artist like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Beatles still influence music today.

Q: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?

Do you have any upcoming shows? I have played on many stages in Miami, Pennsylvania. Although the larger venues are very attractive because of the large audience. I really enjoy smaller venues with a more intimate setting. A scaled down version of songs to a small crowd is very exciting because you have a great communication with the listeners.

Q: What’s next for you?

We are going to continue to write, record and release songs. We currently have enough songs for the next five years. And I would certainly like to go on tour. Perhaps in 2023 the way things are looking at this point.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for your Music video?

I listened to the song over and over again and just visualized movie scenes that played out in my head and then bring those scenes to life in a real way and we shoot the video. I wrote song the about someone who was cat fished and fell in love with an imaginary person that did not exist. So It was important to capture the longing and the desire of wanting to be with that person. But because they never existed the person could never touch or communicate with them. So in the video I am singing to the girl but she does not acknowledge or see that the individual exists.

Q: Do you have any advice for young music makers like yourself?

1. Believe in yourself 2. Practice your craft so that you are the very best you can be. Never let anyone tell you that you cannot succeed. Many people will tell you it’s too hard and there is too much competition. If you are a writer write songs with a message that people can relate to. Just think what the world would be like today if the Beatles though it was too hard and they could not do it.

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