Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leon Zai. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leon, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

This is such a loaded question. Currently, I have 3 songs out as an artist and maybe 30 as a songwriter. However I’ve been singing since I could talk and started writing songs as a teenager so I’ve been doing this for a minute. I think there’s a plethora of reasons I haven’t put out more music, one being that I really needed to take the time to figure out who I was, and also who I wanted to be as an artist, and in that sense Part of me is glad that the music I was making in my early 20s never saw the light of day, but the other half of me does wonder what that would have been like, even if I wouldn’t have liked the music looking back, would it have given people the opportunity to grow with me.

I think the other part of not releasing music sooner was a search for perfection, which I still struggle with. So much of the time I’ll write something, or work on something – for long periods of time and I’ll still be in my head wondering if this is good enough. I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve slowly been able to let go of that need to be perfect. What’s helped is realizing that the message of the music and the art objectively is more important than the need for it to be perfect.

I’m also a believer that everything happens the way it’s supposed to, so there’s that. I think though now that I’m getting into the groove of putting out music and promoting it, I think the cadence at which I release music will definitely increase.

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 a singer/songwriter, and got into music really just through being around music growing up. My mom was a singing teacher, my brother is a musician so music came really naturally to me. I also grew up in church singing so that definitely helped.

My purpose with music is to make music that makes people feel seen, understood, and less alone. For me, music has been such a source of healing and a way to feel connected to others that it only makes sense that I make music that I hope does the same. I think what sets me apart from others is just my unique self expression. I do believe everyone’s super power is to truly be themselves, no-one can write, sing, create exactly what you can.

I most proud of the music that i’ve put out as an artist so far. It’s pure, from the heart and I hope that is heard and felt in the music. There’s not one specific thing I want people to take away from my music, my hope is people will takeaway whatever they need to in that moment.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

1. First and foremost getting to the point where a song feels finished is very rewarding. There’s so much that goes into it, from the writing, producing, recording, mixing etc. that just getting a song to it’s final form is really rewarding.

2. Getting to see people’s reaction to the music is also very rewarding. When people send me a message and let them know they played my song at their wedding, or that they listen to my song when they’re sad is honestly humbling, and also makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Genuine support, and that doesn’t always mean money.

It might mean showing up for your friend’s / local artists events, it might mean offering to help with something creatively. It might be as something as simple as words of affirmation and telling someone how much you love their art.

But ultimately financial support really does matter. Spending a $1 to purchase a song vs. just streaming it really makes a difference. And I think overall just shifting our perspective on the value of art/music is important, art in the digital era has sort of lost its value in a lot of ways and been commodified in a way that I isn’t the most beneficial to the artists.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamleonzai/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamleonzai
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/leonzai

Image Credits

Photo credit: Dino Zaigirdar