Sound of Madnezz: Interview with Leather Leaf's Melissa Madnezz
by Ruby Scholling
How did you become involved in this crazy world of music?
I think I was born to do what I am doing now. My first choir began when I was 6 years old when I was in kindergarten. It was a Lutheran Choir in Houston, Texas. From there I spent 12 years singing as I went through school. Throughout my life I spent time singing and sitting in with other bands in Houston. About 2 years ago I started sitting in with another local Austin band. I finally decided it was time to start my own original band, so I started writing and creating Leather Leaf. I love old rock and roll, but I love modern music as well so I wanted to create a little something that everyone could relate to. I wanted to combine old world and new world ideas.
by Ruby Scholling
How did you become involved in this crazy world of music?
I think I was born to do what I am doing now. My first choir began when I was 6 years old when I was in kindergarten. It was a Lutheran Choir in Houston, Texas. From there I spent 12 years singing as I went through school. Throughout my life I spent time singing and sitting in with other bands in Houston. About 2 years ago I started sitting in with another local Austin band. I finally decided it was time to start my own original band, so I started writing and creating Leather Leaf. I love old rock and roll, but I love modern music as well so I wanted to create a little something that everyone could relate to. I wanted to combine old world and new world ideas.
Who are your inspirations and what was the inspiration behind the album?
Women of rock inspire me in general. I have always loved Stevie Nicks, Heart, Alanis Morrisette, and other divas, but I love Evanescence and other new modern bands that are female driven as well. But I also love big bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Motley Crue so I didn't want to ignore that part of me as well. So I think all of these people have influenced my musical life. So that's one idea behind this album. I want to combine old rock and roll with new influences to give a fresh twist in rock n roll. I think there is something interesting about combining all of these influences. I think some of the songs have a good rock and roll feel, without leaving out some metal and alternative rock concepts.
Could you tell our readers about the band and what makes you different from other artists?
I think the world itself has always seen me as different. When I was growing up I was always this strange "singing chick", and kids always made fun of me. I would sing in talent shows, choir shows, or with some local guitar player. I dressed different so I was always seen as different. I don't think a lot of that has changed until now. I do a lot of the same things but people now respect me a bit more for my songwriting and for my stage performances. I think we are different because we still appreciate classic rock and roll and metal, but we just want to add our own ideas and twist to it. We want to appreciate the old music and newer sounds so everyone has something they like about Leather Leaf. We want to bridge the gap.
Tell us about the album.
The Album is title Aggravated because It was written during a very Aggravating time in my life. While I spent many years singing and in music, I became frustrated and left the music scene for a while in my life. However, it still kept calling me. I think that if something is meant for you over time it will just happen no matter what. I believe in destiny. So about 3 years ago the decision was made to return doing original music instead of doing a lot of covers. This also meant that I didn't have my own band when I first started writing the Album. But later I met Randy Erwin, the current drummer, and we started collaborating with other local Austin artist to get the Album done until we finally formed our current band. So we started the album with help from local musician friends. Every musician on the project was doing something in the local Austin Music scene. It was a very Aggravating time for me, so that's what I titled the Album.
Women of rock inspire me in general. I have always loved Stevie Nicks, Heart, Alanis Morrisette, and other divas, but I love Evanescence and other new modern bands that are female driven as well. But I also love big bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Motley Crue so I didn't want to ignore that part of me as well. So I think all of these people have influenced my musical life. So that's one idea behind this album. I want to combine old rock and roll with new influences to give a fresh twist in rock n roll. I think there is something interesting about combining all of these influences. I think some of the songs have a good rock and roll feel, without leaving out some metal and alternative rock concepts.
Could you tell our readers about the band and what makes you different from other artists?
I think the world itself has always seen me as different. When I was growing up I was always this strange "singing chick", and kids always made fun of me. I would sing in talent shows, choir shows, or with some local guitar player. I dressed different so I was always seen as different. I don't think a lot of that has changed until now. I do a lot of the same things but people now respect me a bit more for my songwriting and for my stage performances. I think we are different because we still appreciate classic rock and roll and metal, but we just want to add our own ideas and twist to it. We want to appreciate the old music and newer sounds so everyone has something they like about Leather Leaf. We want to bridge the gap.
Tell us about the album.
The Album is title Aggravated because It was written during a very Aggravating time in my life. While I spent many years singing and in music, I became frustrated and left the music scene for a while in my life. However, it still kept calling me. I think that if something is meant for you over time it will just happen no matter what. I believe in destiny. So about 3 years ago the decision was made to return doing original music instead of doing a lot of covers. This also meant that I didn't have my own band when I first started writing the Album. But later I met Randy Erwin, the current drummer, and we started collaborating with other local Austin artist to get the Album done until we finally formed our current band. So we started the album with help from local musician friends. Every musician on the project was doing something in the local Austin Music scene. It was a very Aggravating time for me, so that's what I titled the Album.
What keeps you going and motivated during the aggravating times?
Hope. There are always peaks and valleys in every business no matter who you are. There will always be challenges, but if this is something you really want to do then keep on at it. Life is too short so you just have to take advantage of every day and every deal you make. Every business starts off slow in some way. You just have to know what you are passionate about so then it never really feels like work.
How do you personally define “success” when it comes to your music in this day and age?
I think success is measured by the fact that you got the opportunity to do something with your life that you wanted to do. Not everyone will be the next Led Zepplin or MegaStar. Music is an art and it’s about the soul and self-expression. How you choose to express that is your call. And I think this self-expression leads to personal satisfaction, even if you don’t monetarily gain from your music decisions.
Hope. There are always peaks and valleys in every business no matter who you are. There will always be challenges, but if this is something you really want to do then keep on at it. Life is too short so you just have to take advantage of every day and every deal you make. Every business starts off slow in some way. You just have to know what you are passionate about so then it never really feels like work.
How do you personally define “success” when it comes to your music in this day and age?
I think success is measured by the fact that you got the opportunity to do something with your life that you wanted to do. Not everyone will be the next Led Zepplin or MegaStar. Music is an art and it’s about the soul and self-expression. How you choose to express that is your call. And I think this self-expression leads to personal satisfaction, even if you don’t monetarily gain from your music decisions.
What is the most favorite part of what you do?
I love to write and create. I love sitting down at the keyboard or just sitting down with a pencil and paper, and just laying out my thoughts or writing a story. I love the creative process as a whole. I love to see each song find its home. I have a lot of demos from the Aggravated CD. Sometimes I like to go back to day 1 of a song and then listen to that against the final product. It lets me know how far this song went and the journey it took. I find that very interesting.
What is your least favorite?
We are a self-sufficient band. This means I’ve done everything from learning legal issues, to building a website, social media, to everything else. I would much rather spend time writing and just being an artist. However, I know that this is what it takes to get the job done. So I try to stay positive and schedule things appropriately. If you love what you do then this comes with the package. The cool thing is that I can make my own schedule to get things done. So I always incorporate a little fun into my day.
What's in store for the future?
I am already writing for the next album and I’m very excited. Everyone in the group has already been with other bands and has done their own shows, but this is a fresh start for Leather Leaf as a new unit. So I plan to keep doing shows in Texas, and then we will just see where the road takes us from there. I like to keep my plans and my mind open for new opportunities. I want to continue writing because that is my passion. I have already started writing for the next CD, so I plan to be back in the studio later this year.
Advise to musicians just starting out?/Final words?
Do what you love and love what you do. Tomorrow is not guaranteed so live for today and find happiness in what you are doing. Be passionate about your art and how you choose to express yourself. Love yourself.
I love to write and create. I love sitting down at the keyboard or just sitting down with a pencil and paper, and just laying out my thoughts or writing a story. I love the creative process as a whole. I love to see each song find its home. I have a lot of demos from the Aggravated CD. Sometimes I like to go back to day 1 of a song and then listen to that against the final product. It lets me know how far this song went and the journey it took. I find that very interesting.
What is your least favorite?
We are a self-sufficient band. This means I’ve done everything from learning legal issues, to building a website, social media, to everything else. I would much rather spend time writing and just being an artist. However, I know that this is what it takes to get the job done. So I try to stay positive and schedule things appropriately. If you love what you do then this comes with the package. The cool thing is that I can make my own schedule to get things done. So I always incorporate a little fun into my day.
What's in store for the future?
I am already writing for the next album and I’m very excited. Everyone in the group has already been with other bands and has done their own shows, but this is a fresh start for Leather Leaf as a new unit. So I plan to keep doing shows in Texas, and then we will just see where the road takes us from there. I like to keep my plans and my mind open for new opportunities. I want to continue writing because that is my passion. I have already started writing for the next CD, so I plan to be back in the studio later this year.
Advise to musicians just starting out?/Final words?
Do what you love and love what you do. Tomorrow is not guaranteed so live for today and find happiness in what you are doing. Be passionate about your art and how you choose to express yourself. Love yourself.
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For more information on Leather Leaf visit them at: http://www.leatherleafrockband.com/