Léon Rova is a 20-year-old Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ. The first movement in his album’s progression is the song Forever and Ever. It is an alt-pop song with psychedelic textures, an intricate arrangement, and dreamy vocals that is inspired by chillwave. This song is ideal for you if you like the music of artists like Men I Trust, MGMT, Tame Impala, The 1975, and Blood Orange. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
LÉON ROVA: I’m from a small sailing island on the west coast of Sweden called Marstrand. A very lively place in the summer but completely empty in the winter. Music has always been a large part of my life as both my parents were music lovers. Having a mother from the Caribbean and a Norwegian father, their musical preferences shaped my taste a lot. My mom would play Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye while my father showed me Queen, Pink Floyd and of course ABBA. Traveling the world as a young child also opened my eyes too many diferent musical cultures. Living in the Caribbean for a year gave me an understanding and appreciation for Reggae music and how large of an impact a genre can have on our society. Whilst in Australia I fell in love with the surf rock/ indie music scene as I saw how lifestyle and hobbies shaped the music they listened to.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
LÉON ROVA: I took guitar lessons for about 2 years when I was around 9. I remember not being interested in going at all but my father insisted on me going as he said I would thank him for it later in life. He was 100% right. But it wasn’t until I turned 12-13 that I actually picked up my guitar at home and started playing a lot. Something just switched and I found it extremely fun playing the guitar. At this time I didn’t attend any lessons but was teaching myself. I’d say that I progressed much more during these years of playing on my own. I’m not saying that formal training was bad in any way shape or form but you just won’t progress unless you actually enjoy what you’re doing. As far as producing music I am completely selftaught. I actually started out in Logic but then switched to FL Studio. 2 years ago I switched back to logic, best decision ever.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘LÉON ROVA’?
LÉON ROVA: The first real musical influence and inspiration for me was definitely Michael Jackson. My mother purchased his Live in Bucharest CD and I was blown away. The dancing, the music, the performances. I became obsessed. I bought all of the CDs, movies, books, even the outfits. Nirvana was also one of those acts I remember seeing for the first and being swept of my feet. I remember watching MTV music videos on tv while in Australia and it switched from Wannabe by the Spice Girls to the Smells Like Teens Spirit music video. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen, the moody atmosphere of the video and explosive chorus really intrigued me. This opened a whole new door of rock music for me.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
LÉON ROVA: First and foremost my production. This is and I think will always be my favorite part of making music. Starting out with a small seed of an idea and then creating the canvas that I can sing over. I also believe it is my greatest strength. Lyrics have become more important to me as I’ve aged and that’s something I’m working on, becoming a better songwriter. I have such a hard time describing my sound to people as I feel as if my music is always changing and evolving but there is always a common denominator but even I can’t put my finger on it. But if I’d have to put words to it I’d definitely categorize my music as alternative pop for the moment. Pulling from alternative bands such as MGMT, Radiohead and Men I Trust. But I very much enjoy the production side of artist like Kanye West, Tyler The Creator and Fred Again. So I just try to incorporate everything I listen to into the music I make and hope it comes out good.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?
LÉON ROVA:
I believe that this is something that all creatives have to go through. I think John Mayer said that you find your own sound when you fail to sound like your heroes, which I completely agree with. Finding your own unique sound takes a long time, and I believe that I’m going in the right direction. I think I’ve always enjoyed writing a good pop tune most of all though. I enjoy when music is both catchy and challenging for the listener. I love hearing an unexpected chord pop up ones in a whole track or a weird drum fill in what would otherwise be a mainstream pop song.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and afront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
LÉON ROVA:
I believe that music should be about anything you want it to be. Music is a great way of sharing to the world the subjects matters that you believe are important or should be discussed more frequently in our society. I don’t really believe in forcing a subject matter in my songs, when I begging to make a song I almost instantly know what it’s going to be about based upon how the music makes me feel. If that is a love song, happy song or a song with a political or social message is up to how the music makes me feel. Rage against the Machine is a perfect example. Their music is politically inclined but that doesn’t mean that I agree with their political or social beliefs to 100%. Sometimes enjoying a song can be just that, enjoying a song for how it sounds and how it makes you feel.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or diferent in the future?
LÉON ROVA:
I’d really love to give a modest answer about how I’m happy about where I’m at right now but that just wouldn’t be the truth. I believe more people deserve to hear my music and no matter how far I go in the music industry I don’t believe that I’ll ever be content. I’m the type of person that when I release a song I immediately go on to work on the next one because I’m so excited about the first song. I always want to put out more.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
LÉON ROVA:
I almost always start with the guitar, acoustic or electric doesn’t matter. I write chords or a melody and then create the song from that. Most often I’ll lay down the main part of the song first and the move on to the verse or bridge. I’ll often have a hook or some type of vocal melody but not fully formed lyrics when I start writing the chords. And when I’ve completed the whole track I lay down the vocals and lyrics. I do enjoy collaborating but it’s nothing I do too often. On my song ”My Own Mistake” I arranged the chords with my best friend and frequent collaborator Tristan Heintz who is an amazing producer, he’s got that special ear, you know…I also let my girlfriend record vocals on the instrumental part of ”Be Ok”.
9. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
LÉON ROVA: Definitely not. If the song has a personal meaning for you even though it wasn’t my intent of writing a song about that, it doesn’t matter. Art is made to interpret in diferent ways and that’s what makes it so beautiful and there should not be any kind of right or wrong in music, it takes the magic out of it. I think understanding the artists message in a song could further expand your views but it shouldn’t dictate what the song means to you. I remember listening to Vincent by Don McLean for the first time believing it was about his old childhood friend when it was in fact was about Vincent Van Gogh, context is everything.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
LÉON ROVA: Definitely releasing my first piece of music and seeing peoples response to it. It proved to me that I could actually do this, if my friends liked my music who’s to say that millions of people around the world won’t? It’s just about getting it out to them.
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