We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Len Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Len below.
Alright, Len thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
As I get older and continue my pursuit of my purpose/dream, I am reminded that risk-taking is a continual thing. Meaning you have to keep betting on yourself no matter where you are on the journey, or how much rejection you have experienced. I have had so many moments where I wanted to give up! Instead of giving up, I choose to bet on myself again and again, and this has allowed me to see progress and it infuses a new dose of passion every time. One risk I would like to highlight is my move to California. I came to Los Angeles with $500 and two suitcases when I was 20 years old. I had never been to LA before but I knew it was the city I needed to be in if I wanted to give my music career a real try. I remember feeling so optimistic and excited to be in a new environment. I had no idea that I would be exposed to such a diverse culture that would eventually influence my creativity and identity as an artist! I have to be honest and say LA is not for the faint of heart, and if not careful it can chew you up and spit you out. But I will always say it was worth the risk; I encourage anyone reading to take a chance on something new, even if the road ahead seems long, I encourage you to hold on!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am an artist through and through! I have been singing since I was about 4 years old, which started in church. I also went to an arts high school (Cleveland School Of The Arts) where I studied Classical and Jazz music and went on to do the same in college before moving to Los Angeles to give my music career a real go!
I have been in Los Angeles for 11 years now by way of Cleveland, OH and the journey has been nothing short of complex. I have gotten 1000 no’s and a few yes’s but it has kept me going to see if there is more! I have learned that only the people with the tenacity to keep going despite the odds; are the ones who make it to purpose. It’s a long road but the scenery and stops along the way even the roadblocks make the journey exciting and worth finishing.
I recently changed my artist name from Terrance Wilson to Len Wilson. Len is my middle name and it means “Bold Lion” in German. I wanted to give myself permission to be that bold lion in my music and in life! The name Len has allowed me to take on a persona that I find myself straying away from at times because of insecurity. I started out in LA singing in churches and writing songs for worship teams and eventually found myself wanting to express more of my feelings. So I started writing R&B/Soul songs that capture my feelings as a whole. I recently landed my first song TV placement on the ALLBLK network A LA CARTE season 2!
The pandemic (which still feels like it was yesterday) while horrific in so many ways freed me from the box I had placed myself in without even knowing it. I have found a new flame and passion for my creativity that I am sure will lead me right to where I want to be!
My style of music is nothing less than a huge melting pot of different genres. Mixing R&B/Soul, Jazz, Pop, and even hints of soul-stirring Gospel sounds. My goal as an artist is to paint a beautiful picture with lyrics that are sure to captivate any soul with vulnerability and honesty.
No one would ever know this unless I say it but I have helped write songs that amount to over 2 million streams and I am beyond proud of that! I remember a time when the only person who heard the songs I wrote was me haha. I am convinced that I was placed here to share hope through song and whether the world hears my music or not I will always create it and put it out.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Yes, I wish I had leaned into YouTube and built a fan base online sooner! The entire music industry has shifted online and for some reason, I refused to join the wave believing that old-school CDs and performing would carve the way for me. While recorded music and live performances are still great they do not expose you the same unless it’s all marketed online.
I have learned my lesson and now use Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube to build my brand. And I have seen tremendous progress since doing so, I have learned that talent alone is not enough to expose you to the masses. Great marketing, strategic campaigns, and content all play a very important role now.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I have been in LA for 11 years and have worked countless mundane jobs and moved from place to place trying to hang on to my dreams. There have been so many times I wanted to throw in the towel and quit pursuing. Every time I want to quit something happens that highlights progress in my journey. I recently decided to go back to Ohio for a year to spend time with my family and the moment I made the decision to transition back, I landed my first TV placement. I then decided to come back to LA to keep at it. Now I have a few shows lined up, and more songwriting opportunities than I have ever had. The moral of the story is you never know when opportunities will come your way, so it is imperative you stay persistent!
After getting so many no’s along the way one yes has fueled me to keep going, I am convinced that If I keep at it the stars will align the way they are supposed to!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenwilsonmusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrance.wilson.7798
Image Credits
Photographer : Emanuel Vinkler