Notable contributors to the record include drummer Russ Lawton (who has worked with Phish), background singer Sharlotte Gibson (who has collaborated with Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder), and mastering engineer Barry Grint (who has worked with The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and The Beatles). “White Noise” was produced by Lyell Evans Roeder, and it was recorded in his studio in Los Angeles with additional recording in Vermont and Washington D.C.
“‘White Noise’ is the first single that we have coming out from an EP, which will be released around September,” he said. “The song came about one night when I could not sleep at all. I struggle from insomnia, and I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I got my loop station out, and it just happened. The song started off with trumpet loops and guitar loops, and we added more instruments, and it came out.”
Conroy continued, “Halfway through the song, the vocals come in, and the loops, and then, the saxophone solo, and we wanted to emulate the feeling of voices inside my head swirling around. That’s what we were trying to go for there.”
He added, “‘White Noise’ is me trying my best to interpret and show the people all of the crazy things that goes on inside my head every night when I try to sleep. It’s a ‘welcome to my world’ and ‘welcome to my mind’ at night. It is a little bit crazy and a there’s a lot going on in a lot of different places.”
The musician shared that he hasn’t been feeling well for a while, due to kidney problems, so his main focus was to get better health-wise. As a result, he is putting his energy in trying to work as a musician again. “I want to release the record, and play some shows. The record is the primary focus at the moment,” he said.
Conroy noted that his ultimate collaboration choice would have been the late but great Jeff Buckley. “Jeff [Buckley] is always the first name that always came to mind,” he said.
Digital transformation of the music industry
On the impact of technology on the music business, Conroy said, “I am very old school with my approach. I have had a lot of help with my producer, who has helped me look at that side a little bit more. Personally, I have struggled to understand that a little bit, since my mindset is to make music, and put it out there. The music industry is always evolving with the streaming services, and that is something that I have to adapt to. Technology has its positives and its negatives. There is far more competition and far less income, but at the same time, there is far more great music that is easily discoverable. It is sweet and sour at the same time.”
Regarding his use of technology in his music routine, he said, “The loop station aids my solo acts. I play in a band and solo because technology enables me to play a variety of instruments during the same song.”
To learn more about Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Leo James Conroy, check out his official website, and Facebook page.
