Josiah Leming – HuffPost 9.13.10

[Note: The following is taken from my interview with Josiah Leming and contains potentially inspiring information for new artists.]

Mike Ragogna: Does your writing come from life experience?

Josiah Leming: 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: 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.