Aiden Leslie Just Goes

Billboard charting Singer/Songwriter Aiden Leslie took some time to slow down recently and chat with Entertain Me about his latest single I Just Go.

As you can well imagine other things came up during the conversation as well, but you are going to have to keep calm and read on to find out what those might be...so let's do it Aiden!

AL: When was the last time we spoke? We have done an interview before.

MS: Yes, it was for "Worlds Away" (laughs) that's why I thought it would be fun to do it again!

AL: That is so crazy! That was like, five years ago! It feels like it was just yesterday, but it's been five years, that's crazy!

MS: It's longer than I thought it was.

AL: It's half a decade! (both laugh)

MS: Pride season just passed, did you perform a lot during it?

Photo: Rick Day

AL: Yeah, I got to get around (laughs) Getting out there is always good. I just put "I Just Go" out. I feel really proud of the whole release of that single. Everyone on my team did a really good job of getting it out there. Artistically I am very proud of the work we did. That's always an important thing to do and to feel, especially in today's music climate. If you are proud of it and happy with it that's what really matters.

MS: That's how I feel about it too.

AL: We live in this fifteen second world. Where you have to get your message out in a very quick time frame, via Instagram or anything like that. People don't have the attention spans that they once had, because of the world we live in everything is so quick. So you see people putting out an album and not everybody really catches it because it is too much for people to take in, you know what I mean?

MS: Yes, when I was a kid I was an avid reader, now it's a lot for me to read a book. My attention span has diminished with the times.

AL: Right. There are pluses and minuses to the world we live in. There are so many benefits to technology, but on the flip side, do we really stop and savor much anymore? Like Madonna she puts out twenty-five tracks on an album because she has to get so much material out there in a short amount of time. Normally people would only do, like, twelve to thirteen tracks.

MS: My favorite track off of "Rebel Heart" is "Ghosttown."

AL: Oh My God! This is the funny thing. Reports on the tour which just kicked off is that she's not even performing it right now. It's pretty insane it got the most attention and it's the best song on the album! It's so well written, it's more like her old stuff. It's something Miley or Beyonce' would sing. It's really contemporary, I love that song!

MS: Speaking of contemporary, "I Just Go" really is. The video has gotten some great comments on YouTube.

AL: Yes, yeah...when we really sat down to think about how we were going to do it, there were a lot of different concepts. I really wanted to do something very cinematic and emotional with the video. The waves and running through the waves was this whole thing for me.  It was like fighting both worlds trying to break out of one and go to the other. "I Just Go" is such a personal song. It's about doing the one thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That is the definition of insanity! (laughs) It's a universal theme of repeating and repeating something that is going to change, but it does not often change. It was written at a really dark time in my life when I was really hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing a lot of not good things, very unhealthy things. It caught up to me and I couldn't get out of it, it was like a hamster wheel. I was always trying to find my way in circumstances that weren't going to happen for me. It was about picking the wrong guys and picking the wrong situation. I think that is something we can all identify with.

MS: Definitely.

AL: We all go through that. The goal is to try and make the right choices. One of the lyrics in the song is "running down this path searching with my eyes closed searching for the truth." Running down a path, but you've got your eyes closed and refuse to see what is in front of you. You don't want to see it, it's always the struggle of trying to do the right thing. Like the the lyric says "I could care, but I just go." You keep doing the same thing over and over again until you finally learn, like Maya Angelou said: "Lessons are repeated, until they are learned." - when you know better you'll do better.

MS: By the way, I meant to say this earlier, I think the reason it doesn't seem like five years since we have spoke is because we have communicated through Facebook and Twitter.

AL: Yes! That's why! (both laugh) You see each other on Facebook and say "Hi" you don't even realize it. That's what I was talking about earlier it's a crazy world we live in. We're all connected, but then again we're not connected.

MS: It can be a little odd.

AL: Let's not make it so long since we actually speak next time!

"Just Go" with Aiden at:
https://twitter.com/aidenleslie
https://www.facebook.com/aidenlesliemusic
https://instagram.com/aidenleslie/?hl=en

Aiden Leslie's "Diamond Dreams"

Aiden Leslie is an "Entertain Me" Staple...I first met Aiden when I interviewed him for his hit single "Worlds Away" for Chorus and Verse.
http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20110308A, 

His first appearance here was for his follow up single "Trying To Leave Now" and then Mr. Leslie was game enough to subject himself to "getting stupid" for me with his "10 Stupid Questions" chat.

Well he is back and he is pursuing his "Diamond Dreams" take it away Aiden...!

MS: Define what “Diamond Dreams” are. 

AL: "Diamond Dreams" are anything that you have a deep passion for that you can manifest into reality for yourself. In many ways it's metaphorically speaking to get what you want out of your life and be it. 


MS: What were your “Diamond Dreams” growing up in Ohio? 

AL: I dreamed of something bigger for myself, someplace far away from Ohio. I dreamed of becoming a performer and singing on stage. Little did I realize that it would manifest into expressing myself through my own words and music. That has been the journey. 

MS: You are a big Erasure fan and it really shows on this single, I'm sure that was the plan.

AL:  Yes, a huge fan of Erasure! Always have been really inspired by their music. I'm often compared to Andy Bell (a huge compliment that I do not take lightly), so I can understand what you may be hearing. 

MS: Any advice for those out there who want to follow their “Diamond Dreams” ? 

AL: We have one go-around--why not go for what you NEED out of your life. Persistence is 95% part of the equation. Remember this when people tell you will not succeed...because they will. You will also have your supporters--nurture those relationships, as they will carry you, when others will not. 

MS: I've noticed you have been performing live a lot, how much do you love doing a live show?

AL: Performing LIVE is why I do this...connecting the music and my message to the people. Hopefully it will move them and help them see something different in lives...that is what music is all about. 

MS: So, what are Aiden's current “Diamond Dreams”? 

AL: I'm living them. 


Live Your Dreams! Log Onto: www.aidenleslie.com

10 Stupid Questions: Aiden Leslie

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  It's time for another "Entertain Me" favorite, singer/songwriter Aiden Leslie to let loose and answer this writer's "stupid questions" - OK Aiden, here we are now, "Entertain" us.
  
  MS: Anything you are “Trying To Leave Now”?
  
  AL: Not at the moment. That was last year...
  
  MS: Do you aspire to perform with an Elvis hologram?
  
  AL: I didn’t know what a hologram was until recently…they kind of scare me☺
  
  MS: What's it like being a Devo, spill?
  
  AL:  There is nothing to spill…LOL. I feel like a nerd most of the time.
  
  MS: Isn’t Erasure that thing on the end of a pencil?
  
  AL: YES☺ AND also, a great band that inspired me in a huge way!
  
  MS: Glee or Smash?
  
  AL: This is probably the wrong answer…but neither.
  
  MS: What’s a Farrah Burns and should we all have one?
  
  AL: Hard to define, but (she’s) got it goin’ on!
  
  MS: So, where would you like to visit that’s “Worlds Away”?
  
  AL: Anywhere where I haven’t been before…and that list is long!
  
  MS: Falsetto or Auto Tone?
  
  AL: No question. Falsetto!
  
  MS: Bitter or Sweet?
  
  AL: It’s always bittersweet.
  
  MS: If your life was a pop song, what pop song would it be?
  
  AL:“My Way.” Frank Sinatra.
  
  Do it Aiden's way at www.aidenleslie.com

Farrah Burns "Mrs. Nice Watch"

Hip Hop Artist Farrah Burns first came to my attention upon writing a piece on pop singer Aiden Leslie and his hit song “Worlds Away” which featured Ms. Burns and her styling’s….

Rolling on with Farrah, she is now hitting it, with her latest “Mrs. Nice Watch” from her upcoming album the “ In Pursuit of Hip Hop” anthology laying it down on March 9, 2012.

Hey Farrah, let’s get to it!

MS: Glad you hit me up immediately when I contacted you.

FB: I’m all about the power of the now and wherever it takes me.

MS: Yeah, me too.

FB: I’m the kind of person that’s like, wait for it?…Now! (laughs)

MS: Well the first time I ever heard of you was on Aiden Leslie’s “Worlds Away”. That’s where I became interested.

FB: Sweeeet! That means a lot to me, it really does. Aiden’s and my first performance together was at Splash (New York) - I shut that place down! (laughs) I was all on top of the bar, dancing….I didn’t know where Aiden was, he didn’t know where I was. (laughs)


MS: (laughs) The next thing I heard from you was “Shotgun Wedding.”

FB: Oh, wow!

MS: It reminded me of Neneh Cherry.

FB: I’ll have to look her up.

MS: You don’t know her?! You guys have a similar awesome vibe, she’s Don Cherry’s daughter.

FB: I know who Don Cherry is.

MS: Well it’s a total compliment.

FB: Definitely checking it out.

MS: “Shotgun Wedding” was really reminiscent of her, I thought for sure she was one of your influences…so who are some?

FB: For me I would say Sade, Mos Def, Nina Simone, Anita Baker & Tupac.

MS: Cool!

FB: I didn’t grow up listening to hip hop, my first concert was Julio Inglesias.

MS: Oh, my, that’s a little too tame for me. (laughs)

FB: Yeah, well I had to go! (laughs)

MS: So, what’s up with you currently?

FB: Currently I just completed “In Pursuit of Hip Hop” it’s an anthology. Basically it’s a journey touching on Hip Hop and all the different elements, everything from mainstream to underground, hitting on all those different facets.

MS: How about “Mrs. Nice Watch”?



FB: It’s out right now! (laughs) and in the new year I will be shooting  the video for “Wax On, Wax Off”.

MS: Like clap on, clap off?

FB: Uh-huh, whatever works for you. (laughs)

MS: Name the biggest problem you ever want to have “In Pursuit of Hip Hop”

FB: The biggest? I don’t know what bank I want to bank with (laughs) Gee, I don’t know where to put all this money.

MS: We should all have that problem!

FB: Let me know what interest rates you have. (laughs)

Farrah Burns is “Mrs. Nice Watch" (ing) you at:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/farrah.burns