During her return to the UK and ahead of her performance as part of the Nashville Meets London Presents series, we interview Sonia Leigh about her musical background and her most recent releases…
Musical Background
Going back, what kind of music were you exposed to from a young age?
I first remember being exposed to Tom T Hall at around 4 years old, and artists and bands like CCR, Alabama, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, The Oakridge Boys, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr, Willie Nelson and loads of gospel music because of my grand parents and my upbringing in the Pentecostal church.
Was it always country music you were particularly drawn to, and why?
I think initially country and southern rock was what I was exposed to mostly. So when I began writing songs I started with that style. I would sit in my room and write song after song after song starting at the age of 12. The more i was exposed to different genres of music, the more I began to explore writing different styles .
When did you move to Nashville and what do you think the move gave to you and your music?
I moved to Nashville seven years ago. The move gave me a new perspective on songwriting and a sense of a professional music community. Everything is right there at your fingertips. Some of the world’s greatest songwriters, labels, publishers, managers, agents are all there, not to mention the best damn players you can find just hanging round at a random bar on a random night. I love that there is so much love for music in general. It’s opened up the world of co writing for me as well. I was not very experienced in co writing with people except my circle of friends from the Zac Brown Band community before I moved to Nashville I mostly wrote alone.
Songwriting
Has it always been songwriting and performing?
Always. I never had a plan B. I wanted to go to college, however the road just didn’t turn that way for me.
What’s your songwriting process like?
I like to wait for it to come to me. I will go through spells when I have no inspiration that is when I know it’s time to step back and let life happen, so I have something to say. I believe in quality Vs quantity, but I do believe its important to motivate yourself to exercise that muscle and dig deeper when you don’t know you have something because sometimes I find what I didn’t know was there. When it comes to the actual writing process, it can come with a melody or a hook in my head and I’ll pick up the guitar and try to play it. Or a poem, something someone says, or recently I’ve dabbled in engineering and making tracks. I’m really loving that new process. Learning how to use Logic Pro has opened up a new way of writing for me. For me, letting myself be free to flow into whatever style the song desires keeps me inside the passion.
You’re such a prolific songwriter – writing for the likes of Zac Brown Band – was it a weird transition going into performing, and was there a moment when you thought I need to pursue my own solo career?
Thank you very much 🙂
I was an artist before I met Zac Brown. I was on his label and would write with him while we were touring the USA together – that’s how most of the songs we wrote together happened. However, I have always pursued my own career. I was making waves in the Atlanta music scene when Zac and I met. He then formed Southern Ground Records and I was the first artist to sign to his label. It was an amazing experience. I’m grateful for the time I spent on Southern Ground Records. It was a wild exciting whirlwind and a dream come true.
Do you still enjoy writing for other artists?
I do and I am completely honored when an artist wants to perform or record one of my songs. I really love writing WITH the artist because I think it’s important for them to have a hand in the creative process to express what they want to say. It’s so powerful to connect with lyrics you wrote yourself. I am always excited to be a part of that process with another artist or writer.
Heard you talking about the songwriting curse, can you explain a bit about that?
Haa! I say this only because we as songwriters tend to read deeper into things than other people do. I can take a simple conversation and go down a rabbit hole with it. I think it’s a blessing and a curse sometimes because I tend to feel too much. It can be painful sometimes to feel so deeply, But that’s where the good stuff lives. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a gift I am extremely thankful for.
Relationship with the UK
Just what does the UK mean to you in terms of audience and your musical influences?
The UK has become my second home. I feel I am here more than in America lol. It means a lot to me that the fans are so tuned in and interested in the music I play and less concerned about what genre I fit into. I think a London crowd will see right though something that isn’t genuine. They don’t care if it’s country, rock, or pop. They appreciate good music for what it is – maybe it’s also because it’s a new world with new vibes. I feel there is forward thinking and acceptance. I’ve met some of the most generous, giving people here . It’s genuine love. At least that is what I have seen in my circle of friends here. I dunno why but I feel a sense of belonging Here.
What keeps you coming back?
All the love and support I have experienced . I just have so much fun here!
Was it always important to you to grow your UK fan-base and is the audience here very different to that in the States?
It has always been my dream to build my place in England and Europe as an artist. I have wonderful fans here. I am so astonished sometimes when they all show up it’s moving. Back home in the US my fans started the “FamOleigh” and they are seriously die hard. I couldn’t ask for more – they have been through my journey from the start and are so supportive of my growth here in England. I think they may be a little more rowdy and wild than my fans here though lol!
Mad Hatter
I adored the album, what was the kind of vision you had going into the project?
Thank you so much! It means so much to me that you like it. I tried my hand for the first time at co producing which I didn’t really intend on doing. I was just learning how to use Logic Pro in my room. I wanted to make something different. I didn’t want to play by the rules. I wanted to experiment and to put what ever style I wrote onto one record without caring where it was going to fit. I wanted to show my progression and foreshadow my next move as an artist. I was so lucky to have success with my kickstarter campaign and I’d like to send a big thank you to my fans who supported me. Because of them, I was able to make the record. Now, I can’t wait to get more music out. It’s coming.
Did you always know you were going to record at Abbey Road?
No, I’ve always wanted to but it was a last minute decision at the end of my tour in 2017. January 3rd, 2018 I booked a 10 hour session with Christ Bolster at the Helm engineering. I invited all my musician friends and artist friends to come and be apart of it. I took it back to Nashvile and called on Mitch Dane to mix it. I had a great time working with him on Mad Hatter so I wanted to have him apart of the Abbey Road Sessions.
It seemed like it was a project so filled with love, bringing in your friends to do back-up etc, is that a fair assessment and how important is it to you to have people like that around and as part of your projects?
Yes very much so. To me music, is about fellowship. It’s about sharing energy. It’s so fun to make it with people you vibe with. I thought it would be cool for us all to get to experience that together.
That live energy is so rife throughout the album, was that important to you?
Yes, we did 3 takes per song and moved on to the next one. I wanted it to be honest . Mistakes and all. Luckily the musicians involved all are so stellar that there were not too many mistakes and we made a great record I’m proud of.
Do you have any favourite tracks on the record ‘Mad Hatter’?
I really love Walking in the Moonlight, Acid Rain, Dead Mans Sunrise, and Mind On The Prize but Mad Hatter is the most vulnerable one for me. It’s hard to pick a favorite though. I would say it must be like trying to tell someone which one of your children is your favorite. They all mean something different to me.
It’s a toss up for me my favourite between Mad Hatter and Walking in the Moonlight; what were the inspirations behind those two tracks?
Mad Hatter – I almost didn’t put it on the record. I was scared that it was too personal. It’s a song about realizing you don’t really mean that much to someone anymore. It’s about seeing them forget you and move on. It was my birthday and to be honest I was so drunk I couldn’t see straight. I was alone in my room and it started to spill out. I kept the original vocals, guitar, track and everything on the record. There was something sacred in that moment I just didn’t have the heart to try and redo. I wanted to keep the moment I’d captured.
Walking in the Moonlight – I started that song on accident. I spat out the first lyrics playing around with that track. I was just learning how to use Logic Pro And I was like “wait a minute, I’ve got something here”. It’s one of my favorites too. I had just fell in love again and that song feels so innocent and pure.
It’s the light at the end of the tunnel on Mad Hatter. I don’t want it to go unsaid that I took different tracks on that record to different producers. Some to Mitch Dane, some to Michael Blue and took Walking In The Moonlight to Micah Wilshire who helped me finish the song and tweak the track. They all helped take them to the next level.
2019
What can we expect from the rest of your 2019, any exciting plans coming up?
I’m working on my side project and writing mostly. I will probably release some more music soon… I have so much that is ready to go, that I may just start firing off singles one at a time! 🙂
Final 10
Would you rather give up songwriting or performing?
Performing . I must write.
What’s the one record you couldn’t live without if you were stuck on a desert island?
Jackson Browne – For Every Man or Bruce Springsteen – Darkness On The Edge Of Town or Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
What’s the record you’re listening to on repeat at the moment?
Ruston Kelly’s ‘Dying Star’ it’s incredible.
One thing we should all do in Nashville?
Go to a Whisky Jam at Winner bar or at the basement East.
Who would be your dream collaboration/duet partner?
I’d love to work with Sia. I think I could learn a lot from her.
What would you name your first headline arena tour?
11:11 tour
What are you binge-watching at the moment?
I just finished Sex Education but I can’t stop watching Schitts Creek.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Not really, I like to talk to the band before we go on stage and say something funny and something that inspires them and gets us all on the same page to rock. I sometimes do jumping Jax 🙂
Your next gig’s at Pizza Express Live, so – most important question – go-to pizza topping? Jalapeño
Complete the sentence…
Music is… Life
Country music is… evolving
Sonia Leigh is… Relentless
