Interview with Leslie

We had the opportunity to do an interview with Lesli from Sweden. He loves the acoustic guitar and tells a little bit about what inspires him most to make music and what dreams he has for the future.

Foto: Copyright: Anna LQ
© Anna LQ

Photo: Anna LQ

The interview is © myFanbase 2008. Please do not copy it to other websites or message boards.

1. How would you describe your music in one sentence?

Sensible accoustic music with a powerful edge.

2. Was there something like a light bulb momemt where were young, maybe a concert, a certain song or a record that made you dream about a career as a musician?

I was a metalhead in my young years. I loved bands like Megadeth, Pantera and Metallica. Seeing Megadeth and Pantera playing the same bill in 1993 was a great monent. Later I was greatly influenced by people like Jeff Buckley, Duncan Sheik & Nick Drake.

3. Are there any artists that might have influenced you some time?

In the early years of my life, I was a die hard kiss-fan. Ace Frehley and also Pete Townsend from The Who, were both the reason why I picked up the guitar. Later, one of the most important inluences for me was Jeff Buckley. I saw him live in 1995, and that is probably one of the most important reasons why I write and perform music today.

4. How do you develop your songs? What part comes first, music or lyrics?

Music first, then lyrics. For me, the music is a subconscious expression, while the lyrics are a conscious creation inspired by the music.

5. What song is most important to you? Why and how did it develop?

Precious Pearl from my first album. The music and melody developed over a long period of time. While the lyrics where written in an afternoon maybe. I wrote it at a time when I had no real relationships in my life, I was a loner I guess. The song is a fictional dialogue between a man and a woman.

6. In what aspects did your music change compared to when you started to make music?

In the beginning I wrote and performed mostly heavy metal music, in various bands. In 2002 I kind of abandoned the electric guitar and started playing acoustic guitar. Obviously, that changed my music quite a bit.

7. What has been the best experience so far, as an artist?

Whenever I get to go abroad to some other country and play, it is always a memorable experience. Other than that, I have to say that recording and producing my latest album was one of the best musical experiences I’ve had.

8. What can you tell us about your current projects?

Releasing my new album ”Sleepwalkers Lament” before the end of 2008, is my number one project right now. I’m also working on booking some liveshows. Hopefully if all goes well with the album, there’ll be a european tour or something.

9. And what are you aspiring to in the future, what do you want to achieve?

Like most musicians and artists I know, I have a most boring regular dayjob to finance my artistry. To make a good living just playing my music would certainly be a real achievement. I’m not looking to be superfamous or anything, I’d just like to play music fulltime for a living. That is my goal.

10. With whom would you like to go on tour?

Joanna Newsom. That would be exciting…

11. What record would we find in your CD-player right now?

Af Scherp – Requiem for a smile

12. What do you think, as artists, about platforms like MySpace?

Very useful for promoting yourself on a low bugdet. A great tool. I’ve had some great experiences through those internet communities.

13. myFanbase is a website that is devoted to American television shows. Do you have a favorite show?

I’ve always been a little addicted to television. Right now I’m looking forward to "Fringe". Probably the best show in the last couple of years has been "Battlestar Galactica". I like Sci-Fi…I’m a nerd!

Catherine Bühnsack - myFanbase