INTRODUCING...
LENORE

By Nicky Baldrian

Singer/songwriter LENORE has just issued her debut self titled solo album. The album is based around simplistic and delightfully inspiring melodies, that is nothing short of brilliant. Lenore could well be the next ladykiller to steal the crown if aor/pure pop rock from one JAIME KYLE. I got together with Lenore after her skiing holidays, and it's obvious that this lady is very passionate about her love for her music

Nicky:- How did you start as a singer/songwriter??

Lenore:- I grew up with music, especially rock and roll, but I didn't play or sing as a kid, so my whole involvement initially was just as a huge fan. I was in my 20's before I picked up a guitar so I really came at this as a writer first, musician later. Once I learned a few chords, the songs just started flying out of me.

Nicky:- Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Lenore:- Live concerts always send me running to my guitar, they are great motivators - to see a band you love put on a great show, there's nothing like it. Mostly, I get my lyrical ideas from every day life, I'm a people watcher.....and I read a lot, especially the daily papers.

Nicky:- How long did it take to put your album together and was it an easy process?

Lenore:- I hate recording to tell you the truth! It's too meticulous and repetitive and I get bored so very easily, But it was a tremendous learning experience. All in all, it took about 9 months but I have just started my next recording and I'm hoping it takes less time. I have a much better idea of what I'm doing and how I want things to sound.

Nicky:- Tell me about songs on "LENORE"?

Lenore:- I like to think I cover a wide range of style and emotion in these songs...there's a little something for everyone. Obviously my lyrics are key to me, most of my songs start with the lyrical idea and build from there. Or I start with a certain rhythm on the guitar and ideas fall out of that. Whenever I write (or rehearse for that matter) I'm mostly concerned with my listener(s). I.e. will they connect with the words, will they tap their feet to the rhythm, is it catchy, is it different, is it fun.....I never ever want to be boring!

Re: "I don't want you to die??"

Oh, this song breaks my heart whenever I sing it live! It's all about the agony of watching someone you love self-destruct and the hopelessness and helplessness of that whole scene. It was inspired by a friend who told me once of the many nights she'd spent lying in bed waiting for her husband to come home, waiting, wondering if he'd make it..... I was just fooling around with a blues thing and the first line of the song came out....it was just one of those "keepers" where you know the whole song is going to fall into your lap. And I love the simple approach songwriting although the simple songs can be the hardest ones to write because to everything is so exposed.


Nicky:- WoW!, You're already recording a new record, can you reveal any details on it's musical direction?

Lenore:Like the first record, there will be a mix of tempos, some flat out rockers, some ballads, but mostly uptempo songs, strong melodies, really unique lyrics. I'm also recording it differently this time - I'm not sure how it will affect the end result but I decided to build the tracks around my guitar instead of starting out with the traditional bass/drums tracks. I'm hoping it will result in something a little more unique, more percussive, more like my live show

Nicky:- Do you find it a relief when you have written a song based upon personnel matters? do you feel like a weight has been lifted from your soul? What's it actually like when you tackling a song based upon this subject?

Lenore:- Usually my songs are based on a whole combination of things that may have happened recently, maybe to me, maybe to others, sometimes it's triggered from something in the news. The relief comes from the feeling that I've written something I can share. Let's face it, we're all in this life together, sometimes it's great, sometimes it sucks, sometimes it's miraculous and sometimes it's evil. So if I can write something that speaks to someone, that says, hey you're not alone, well that's a great feeling! Even if the song was inspired by something totally personal, I don't feel that I've succeeded with it unless the song has universal appeal, has something everybody can relate to. The really ironic thing that I've noticed about my writing though, is that when I'm really messed up, that's when a fun, upbeat tune will come out and when I'm feeling great, that's when the melancholy
stuff erupts…

Nicky:- You mentioned that you have played live, do you do a lot of gig work and if you could share the stage with someone who would it be?

Lenore:- Playing live is the ultimate thing for me, that's what I love to do the most, connect with an audience, talk to people through my music. I don't play nearly often enough to suit me! Right now though, some of my most popular songs from the stage aren't on the first record so I want to get this CD finished and then I can really focus on performing.


Nicky:- Musically who are your influences?

Lenore:- I've never really played other people's music so that's a tough question for me. I was a writer first, and then when I picked up a guitar, the original songs just started to flow. So I've never heard a song and thought, oh, I want to sound like that, or tried to copy it. I grew up with rock and roll though and have been going to concerts for years so you can probably hear a little bit of everybody. Certainly Dylan. Springsteen, Mellencamp, CCR, Tom Petty – all the writer/rockers are there. Janis Joplin. Allman Brothers. Pink Floyd. Grateful Dead. I get compared all the time to Ricki Lee Jones but I have to confess that apart from a song or two, I don't know her music.

Nicky:- Finally, is there anything that you would like to say to anyone who hasn't heard your music yet?

Lenore:- Check it out!! My lyrics are what make my songs so different, they are unique, they are direct, I'm talking to YOU baby! But I don't sacrifice melody and rhythm so it's hard to listen to my music without moving your feet. Most of all, it's fun. As my website says "…sexy, sassy, sometimes serious singer/songwriter…" And the live show is really entertaining, I like to talk to my audience, tell stories, make you smile. I have lots of serious songs and I have a strong social conscience but you know, it's still just rock and roll, it's got to be fun.

E-mail: info@lenore.com Website: http://www.lenore.com

CD available at: http://www.cdbaby.com

LENORE TALKS TRACKS ABOUT HER EXCELLENT SELF TITLED DEBUT ALBUM.

Here Comes Trouble - bluesy, fun, "lust at first sight" song

I Keep Changing - classic rock rhythms, about looking in the mirror and saying "who the hell is that"

Rock & Roll (The Bobby Song) - someone asked me once why I "still" go to rock concerts, this is my lament for anyone who stops enjoying music. Contains "the" definitive description of rock and roll.

I Don't Want You to Die - blues song about the despair of watching someone you care about self-destruct

A Day At A Time - jazzy blues about letting go

Just One More - tribute to the "working poor"

Love in the Morning - joyous, upbeat, title says it all

I've Wanted You (for a very long time) - another lust song, fun bo diddley rhythm

This Song - flat out hard rockin' "I can do this without you" song

Doin' It - wrote this after the OJ Simpson trial; if I had a daughter this would be my advice to her

Born With the Blues - classic rockin' blues about not blaming anybody/anything for my life

Goin' to New Orleans - "to find myself a man", lots of fun

Brave Goodbye - fast, rockin' in-you-face goodbye song

BACK TO INTERVIEWSINDEX

BACK TO HOMEPAGE