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Hi Leon, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
It’s an honour to chat with you all! I am doing well, very tired as releasing a single every month is a lot more taxing than I expected, but also I’m very grateful and excited to have so much to share with you all.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Parts”?
This riddim is CULTURE with a play button. The best way I can explain the meaning behind Parts is to say that this song captures the storyline of when humans actually get it right! The ability to co -exist without judgement. The ability to be a woman in public without fear and caution, the privilege to have your intentions accurately understood… This song is freedom to me and I hope that leaves my supporters with a little bit of that after every play.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
When I was a child, my parents and their friends didn’t really have access to affordable child care so they got resourceful and would all bring their children along with them when they would host House parties commonly known as “shoobines” and/or “dances”. Imagine the downstairs of a house…lights off and tightly packed with Black British bodies, dancing and vibing to the hottest record of the time. The youngest children would end up being put to sleep in the main bedroom alongside the bags and coats and the older kids and preteens would be in the living room playing cards, taking turns on Mario Kart/Street Fighter/Tekken and occasionally we would curiously wander down the stairs to spy on our aunts/uncles as the partner dancing became more intimate (all my parents’ close friends were referred to this way). That entire time just reminds of feeling completely safe and valid so I guess that’s the inspiration for this song.
Any plans to release any sort of video for the track?
YES! I won’t say too much but my YouTube launches this summer and there will definitely be freedom captured on film for you to enjoy 🙂
How was the recording and writing process?
Excellent!!! I teamed up with Sunset Drver who produced this record with me, I have always wanted to combine reggae and dancehall but it’s the kind of sound that can be IYKYK and she absolutely knew what I was talking about! 5 hours later and we were finished! The waist was going, we were smiling ear to ear and stepping back out into Ladbroke Grove, I just knew what we did that afternoon was going to be the source of joy in both our futures.
How does your Caribbean background influence your music?
A thing I have come to understand is that we all exist uniquely and unconsciously. My mum and dad are really proud Caribbean people so that is the culture that nurtured everything about me and consequently it informs every decision I make even without trying. When you look at the attitudes and ideologies of Caribbean people, it is steeped in unapologetic pride in yourself. The good and the bad – all contribute to the richness of you so to be Caribbean is to be honestly yourself. That’s at least how I see it 🙂
Do you tend to take a different approach when collaborating with someone else rather than working on your own?
Surprisingly no, I like to go with the energy of the day so every session starts with a check in and then an honest sharing and we create from there. That’s the same way that I try work by myself. I ask myself “What’s my vibe today?”, accept it, embrace it, then go from there.
Does the new single mean we can expect a new material – how’s that coming along?
Hahahahaha yes! You can expect to find your new favourite song every month this year from me hahahaha I’m literally writing this from the studio and the vocal arrangement I’m putting down right now is chef’s kiss! You might find something delightful on April 29th but you didn’t hear that from me.
Any tentative release date or title in mind?
Friends… Again you didn’t hear that from me.
What else is happening next in Leon Jacques’ world?
I’m working on visuals right now and some more live performances. It’s been a minute but I think it’s time I got back in the dance studio as well.
