JAMES LEBLANC – ARTIST SHOWCASE AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Singer/songwriter James Leblanc‘s life is the reality that movies are made of. Born and raised in Shreveport, LA, James Leblanc has led the life of an outlaw. He knew early on that he wanted to be a musician and that lifestyle brought much joy as well as momentous trials and tribulation. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and Martina McBride. LeBlanc even co-wrote Travis Tritt’s huge hit “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”. James is also a member of the “Fame” group out of Muscle Shoals. Today James LeBlanc releases his new single “Desperate Things” via Bigger Beast Records.
“Desperate Things” is a melancholy tome that beautifully captures the plight of people down on their luck. LeBlanc writes music from his heart as his life hasn’t always been easy. LeBlanc‘s lyrics cut deep into one’s soul. You can hear and feel the anguish in his voice. The somber tone is intoxicating with extremely emotive intonations. LeBlanc‘s arrangement is superb. The mournful guitar fits perfectly with the song’s solemn cadence. Every note delivers a weighty punch. LeBlanc is the consummate songsmith that continually delivers incredible tunes either for other artists or himself. “Desperate Things” is a pure masterpiece.
James LeBlanc was kind enough to sit with AMP for this in-depth interview. In addition, AMP has the world premier of Leblanc‘s “Desperate Things” video.
AMP: What inspired you to become a musician?
LEBLANC: I honestly don’t remember consciously deciding to become a musician. They say I was banging on a plastic guitar at around 2 years old singing “Country Roads” by John Denver. My dad played guitar around the house. He was an accomplished 3 finger picker with a beautiful baritone voice. My mama can sing well. Her dad, my grandfather, was a guitar player. Her mama was a lyricist and a painter. So it was in the blood so to speak, in the DNA.
AMP: Your music can fall into many musical genres such as folk and country. How would you describe your sound?
LEBLANC: I would best describe my sound as singer songwriter with country and folk tones. I like to write about real everyday struggles, triumphs, trials and tribulations. Joy and sorrow. Regret and anxiety. Love and loss.
AMP: Throughout your career there have been many pitfalls. Do you feel that that is reflected in your music?
LEBLANC: Yes I’ve had many ups and downs. I would say, for the last 12 years or so mostly ups. I’m an alcoholic and a drug addict in recovery. Which is a beautiful thing. A wise music business person once told me to write what I know. Made sense, so I’ve tried to stick to that as best as I can .
AMP: Has your creative process evolved throughout the years or has it remained a set ritual?
LEBLANC: I’m not sure if my creative process has necessarily evolved. And I can’t even really say it’s been refined. Some days I’m just on fire and it flows like water. Some days the guitar feels like a log in my hand, like I’ve never written a thing in my life. I think mining is probably an accurate metaphor for my process. I’m always mining, digging, hoping I strike gold. Occasionally I do. I would say for every hundred songs I write, I probably like about 20 of them.
AMP: You have written hits for the likes of Jason Aldean and Martina McBride. What determines if you surrender a song to another artist or keep it for yourself?
LEBLANC: I am a professional songwriter by trade. All of my songs are available to be recorded by other artists. I’ve never really held any songs back so to speak just for myself.
AMP: Your new single is “Desperate Things”. Can you give us a little insight into the track?
LEBLANC: So, “Desperate Things” was written on one of those days we struck gold as far as I’m concerned. It’s my kind of song. It came from a pure place inside. I wrote it with one of my main songwriting partners, Phillip White. We’re soul brothers. It’s written in a Johnny Cash style with an emphasis on the way he tried to give a voice to the voiceless. The way he really resonated with misfits and the socially awkward kind of outcast people.
I like to try to emulate that because I have felt like that a lot in my life. So that’s just kind of how it fell out. It was a quick write, no more than an hour. I’m a sucker for that rolling 3 finger picking thing in the key of D.
AMP: Who were some of your early musical heroes?
LEBLANC: George Jones, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Eagles, The Band, U2, Vern Gosdin, Emmy Lou Harris and Sinead O’Connor.
AMP: Is there an album that you wish you had written and why?
LEBLANC: George Jones’ I Am What I Am. It’s obvious by the picture of George on the cover. By the world weary sound of his voice, which seemed to get better with age right up until he died. What we were hearing was a pure piece of authenticity. Even though he probably didn’t write the material, the writers were so attuned to his life and voice and lifestyle that he may as well have written them.
That’s what we’re all hoping for and striving for as artists and writers. To write what we’re living and live what we’re writing. To tap into reality, the good, the bad and the ugly. And present that to the public so hopefully it will resonate with them as well. I think, it’s the sum total of what we’re all trying to do.
AMP: What is the best advise you would give to a young up-and-coming artist?
LEBLANC: To an up an coming songwriter, I would say study the songs and the productions you love. I mean really do a deep dive and try to figure out what it is that’s hitting you and why. When I am deeply moved by a lyric, a progression or a production I like to listen over and over obsessively. I listen to every single component. It’s more than listening really. It’s more like bein submerged in a song and a voice and a lyric.
Then do your best to try to get as good as you can on your instrument. Then try to develop certain character traits if you can. Discipline. Persistence. Tenacity. A never say die attitude. And dive into this thing and learn everything you can and start living like what you wanna be. I ate, slept and breathed this thing my whole life and I still do. And don’t let anything or anyone distract you from what you want to become.
AMP: What lies in the future for James LeBlanc?
LEBLANC: From this day forward, all I want for my life is to be able to make music till the day that I die and also to stay sober. To take it one day at a time and to try to become a little better each day regarding these things we’ve been talking about.
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