A Conversation with Josiah Leming – HuffPost 9.13.10

Mike Ragogna: You have a new debut album, Come On Kid. But first, apparently, because of the circumstances by which you left American Idol, they invented this wild card thing, right?

Josiah Leming: Yeah, I think so. It’s just kind of like a fail safe, you know?

MR: I can’t imagine being on American Idol, and having all the pressure that comes with it. How did you get discovered for the show?

JL: Well, I went to Atlanta and auditioned. So, you sit in a stadium with thousands of other people and wait until you get your chance to sing, and you give it all you’ve got. There were three or four other processes, but it was all just about going and doing it.

MR: You were just seventeen when you left Tennessee to audition?

JL: I was seventeen when I left home, and then I spent those ten months traveling around, just drifting. Then, at the end of those ten months, I decided to go and give it a shot.

MR: Now, you’re originally from Tennessee, right?

JL: Yes sir, East Tennessee. It’s important to notate the “East” because Tennessee has three specific parts. It’s more like the “Kentucky” Tennessee.

MR: Now, people assume that because an artist is from Tennessee–and where, of course, Nashville is–he or she must be country, but that’s not true with you, is it?

JL: I’ve cleansed myself of that action.

MR: I see. Well, this album, to me, is a really nice pop record. I was really surprised by its high quality because most albums by young artists show the work in progress though this one is pretty solid top to bottom.

JL: I think the whole key to that was that I’m kind of a religious writer, in the respect that I love to write. Also, we really took our time developing it and making the sound. We had EPs come out where we were trying to nail down the sound we were getting, and we were close, but kind of wandering around it. When we got the final tracks on this album, it all came together, and I’m really proud of it. I think we finally nailed down the sound, and I can honestly say I’m proud of every song on the album.

MR: Now, you’ve had some hardships in your life, especially with the passing of your mother.

JL: Yeah, it was about a year ago. I’ve got to say, that has been the whole turning point for everything that is happening now. That happened and I knew I was either going to implode or really get it together. I had trouble writing until finally I wrote “Come On Kid” and the last song on the album, which are two kind of different feelings, but a lot more pure than what my writing was before. I finally kind of figured it out and got on it, and since then there’s been no looking back. Once I wrote “Come On Kid,” I knew that was going to be the title of the album, and I knew that everything was going to fall into place. It’s really almost a self-help song, you know?

MR: Does your writing come from life experience?

JL: That’s the only thing I can write about. I’m a strong believer that if I don’t have something to say, there’s no reason for me to write a song. In order to be completely honest in your songwriting, and I think you have to be, you have to have experienced something. Songs are my way of getting past hard things, and they’re my way of jumping hurdles. Songs are kind of like my coming of age and growing up, and writing is like my vow for all that stuff.

MR: I’ve got to ask you about “Arctic Outcry Wind.” What was the concept of that one?

JL: I was at a mall when I started that song, and sometimes, I just get these really uncomfortable kinds of feelings that come from a million places. Songs like that are like my coming of age things, where I really don’t know how to deal with what I’m going through mentally and internally, you know? So, it’s one of those moments that I didn’t really know how to describe, so, I just gave it my best shot.

MR: Okay, now try to explain “Silly Fly.”

JL: (laughs) “Silly Fly” is probably my favorite one to play and perform. It was supposed to be a throwaway song, and I played it for Warren Huart, who also produced “Song Without A Reason,” and it was just like a complete refreshment song. I think I tell a different story every time I play that song. There are about a million ways to get around describing it.

MR: Is “Come On Kid” your single?

JL: I think it is, yes sir.

MR: Then, the next couple of songs, “Maybe” and “To Run” both sound like equally powerful, I guess in the old days you’d say “follow up singles.”

JL: Yeah, “Maybe” was a song that I really had to tell myself, “This is going to be a hopeful song.” I wrote about twenty pages of words for it. Some were happy, some were sad, some left it hopeful, some left it bad, and I worked on that song for a really long time. I felt that this album needed a happy song or a hopeful song. So, that one and “To Run” are about the same girl, and I feel like they transition nicely.

MR: So, you’ve had some interesting relationships?

JL: Yeah, I’ve had a few, man (laughs).

MR: Nice. And you’ve recently started a new relationship, one with Reprise records.

JL: Yeah, Reprise.

MR: How did you get signed?

JL: Well, after I left the show, the fan response was amazing. So, we were originally going to make the album by ourselves, without a label, and we sent out a feeler for producers. A guy named Perry Watts-Russell happened to stumble across a video I’d done. What struck me was that he was passionate about the songs and about me as a writer. Obviously, there was some advantage from coming off the show, but I think they really honed-in on developing me, and not trying to wring me out for a few quick bucks.

MR: Yeah, it’s refreshing to hear stories like that because you always hear about the nightmares.

JL: You know, it seems that they’re making that switch, and that’s the only way to do it. It’s hard both ways, but that is the way that’s really going to pay off eventually–really developing the artist. I like it better this way, and I feel like I’m building things that aren’t going to go away overnight and that aren’t all based on one song being on the charts because when that song is off the charts, you’re left with nothing, kind of running in place. We’re on the road nonstop, and we’re out nurturing my fan base. I’m writing because that’s important…to keep writing. We’re learning how to do things smart, and for me, music is where it’s at. So, my ultimate goal is to set up something that I can do for the rest of my life, and I don’t think that comes from just throwing me in the studio with a bunch of writers and hit producers and trying to make that one hit song that’s going to make a quick buck.

MR: That’s pretty wise. What do you feel is your biggest personal or creative leap between your appearance on American Idol and now?

JL: You know, every ounce and every step of these last few years has been retardedly frustrating because it’s been a real battle of mental and emotional preparedness and really getting that maturity. So, honestly, the biggest things that happened were the family matters. It was just like three shots of reality, and there was really no way to prepare myself for that. And that’s what it came down to, you know. I’d been in L.A. for a year and a half, and I was signed with a label that still believed, but there was absolutely nothing going on. So, for me, I’d almost lost touch with myself, and it came down to a point where I had to say, “This is what I love, this is what I want to do, and I just have to get it. No one’s going to hand it to me on a silver platter.” I think it took all that wandering around and then that hard dose of reality to just completely put me in my place. Once I realized my place, it was just like I shot forward.

MR: Right. And when did you live in your car?

JL: Well, that was before the Idol thing. For me, that was kind of like a dream come true; nobody telling me what to do or who to be, and if I wanted to go to the gas station and buy a bunch of Doritos, Red Bull, and Cigarettes, I could. So, for me, that was just being a kid.

MR: What’s coming up on your agenda?

JL: Well, right now I’m in L.A., where we’re doing some of this pre-stuff. The album comes out (soon), which is just huge. Then, I set off on October 1st, and we’re doing a two-month Fall tour with Tyler Hilton. We’re actually playing high schools during the daytime, and at night, we’re doing all ages venues. So, I’m just getting out and working it. Like I said, I really believe in this album, and anything we can do for it, we’re going out and kind of nailing it.

MR: And we believe in it here at solar-powered KRUU-FM. What do you think of that?

JL: It sounds awesome. I imagine people running around in silver astronaut uniforms, like you’re in a really hot climate, for some reason. I get a really good mental picture from that name.

MR: (laughs) That’s great. Josiah, thank you for coming by again.

JL: Thank you for having me man.

Transcribed by Ryan Gaffney