Leon's journey
You probably listened to him during Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. Leon Else is a LA-based pop singer/songwriter and all of his new music shares the personal story of his journey with mental health. He released a video for his latest release "Beautiful World" that showcases his life on a daily basis. Let’s find out more about this inspiring artist!
When did you realize the best way to express yourself was music?
I had a really abusive upbringing and household. The one thing that really helped me get through was music. I'm so grateful to music and to have been able to find solace in it. I started writing songs at 12 and I continued right up until this day. There wasn’t really a defining moment for me; it was something that progressed and transitioned. It just always felt right, and to this day it still does.
What is your song "Beautiful World" about?
"Beautiful World" is about hope. Holding onto hope even though we can't always see it. To remember it is there and to remember better days will come again. Just because we don't see it all the time, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
It's also about my personal mental health journey. I needed hope when we wrote this song. It was a song to myself to remind me of this beautiful world we live in.
What does inspire you the most?
The thing that inspires me the most and the place where most of my songs come from is actually pain and sadness. My ups and downs of bipolar disorder and everything I have gone through in life. Some people will think I'm crazy when I say it, but I'm so grateful for all that has happened to me in my life because I don't believe I would be able to do what I do had I not gone through things.
How does the place you live in affect your music?
A lot! I used to write about this loneliness being in LA when I first moved here. That, along with not coming out as gay, I was very isolated. In this city of dreams, there is a fine line between dreams and nightmares and those lines were very much blurred for me. LA has shown me and allowed me to find myself. I was lost, and it sounds cheesy but I found myself here. For the first time in my life, I feel I have somewhere to call home. I feel very lucky.
Tell us the best experience ever happened to you thanks to music.
There are so many it's so hard to choose. Some that spring to mind are performing. I love performing so much. I never feel as free as I do when I'm entertaining. I've loved it ever since I was little. I think getting signed to a major label here in LA and then moving my whole life to LA was pretty epic. That was a key moment in my career as an artist.
What's your next project?
I'm getting back into the studio after being away for a long time. I want to try writing for other people. It's something I've never done, and I want to see where that journey takes me. I, of course, want to keep on releasing music which I will do, and I just hope I can get the chance to perform a lot more. I also really want to be able to get back into the studio with my long term collaborator JT. He lives in London so our time together is so precious to me.
Random question: if you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be?
PLASTIC. It's poison and destroying the planet. I'm trying my best to avoid it, though it's so hard. I've also gone meat-free.