The Scenester chats to Kieran Leonard about influences, the music industry and smoking Benson and Hedges on the moon ...

What inspired you to start making music?

Hearing songs when I was small that seemed to make things a great deal better. Songs that would strike sparks and the whole world was different after I heard them. I heard the blues. After a time I began to get an overwhelming need to get ideas and thoughts and put them into something...other. These non-specific ‘others’ somehow turned into songs, of which I have a few now. That, and because the Apollo Space Program had been decommissioned.

Who are your major influences?

Writers for the most part. Beckett, Orwell, Ted Hughes and a few very bright Americans too. In association with eavesdropping on other peoples' conversations, and my boots.

I see you host your slot ‘Gaslight’ at The Boogaloo in London – how did that come about and what do you mainly showcase there each week?

The Boogaloo is my local. it’s populated by a wild assortment of human prototypes, dedicated drinkers and utter arseholes. Subversion and surliness is carefully distilled, blended and then regularly varnished into the woodwork, if you can tap into that, well fine things can happen. People tend not to talk too falsely there, and when they do it’s usually because they are talking to themselves. I play sketchy sets often themed esoterically around whatever distracted sequence of thoughts I’ve had that week, there is precious little form. It is an environment where you can walk out on the wire, try something new, and if doesn’t work they will definitely applaud as your head catches fire. I like it.

You describe Gaslight as an “underground cavern”...is that (underground) where you think true talent can be found?

Talent is rarer then Uranium; hen’s teeth territory. You have to dig for both. I wouldn’t like to say where true talent can be found, it is usually definitely not where anybody tells you it is. A bit like the Higgs-Boson particle.

You have played alongside many a legendary performer. What has been your most memorable performance to date and why?

I am lucky enough to have a handful of fairly incandescent memories, playing a song with Mick Jones and Billy Bragg is certainly up there. And of course this summer with the Libertines. Playing with Baba Maal and Fion Regan also made me smile.

References to literary writers are apparent within your songs – what inspiration do you draw from such people?

How not to be an oxygen thief.

You were a founding member of Instigate Debate – a cause which I have personally been involved with in the past. I hear this has now dissolved however – how and why did this come about?

It dissolved itself of it’s own accord really, it wasn’t overly considered. When we set it up it had a definite set of goals and over 18 months we achieved these for the most part. The culmination being the events at Reading and Leeds Festivals this year. After the debate I played ‘Jerusalem’, and with that it ended. The world had turned again.

We love your new single ‘Jerusalem’ here at The Leeds Scenester. There seems to be an awful lot of depth within this song – is your conveyed message here one of a failing system within our country?

Thing is, there isn’t really a message, in so far as that certainly wasn’t one when I wrote it. Like most things it’s up to anybody listening to the song to bring their own version of reality to it. It’s amazing the number of things people have told me ‘Jerusalem’ relates to.... perhaps that’s the point; it’s alluding to a common truth, it ain’t just about Britain, the coalition and consumerism, it’s about a state of mind, and a point of view. It’s not really up to me to prescribe that. I am very happy that it has connected with so many people, and that it has started to articulate and relate to some of the current underlying national discontent.

What’s next for Kieran Leonard?

I am working on my debut album which will be out later this year. I am touring France in February, a few odd dates in Europe, and then Sheffield and Leeds in March. I will be playing in the US this summer. It’s also my ambition to smoke the first Benson and Hedges on the moon.

So where in Leeds can we catch you playing?

I will be playing the Brudenell Working Man’s Club in March with The Violet May. We are doing a sort of Northern Rolling Thunder Revue, a show in abandoned Church in Sheffield followed by the Leeds date. I am looking forward to them both a great deal as my missus is from Leeds and we have a lot of friends here.

What advice would you give to musicians out there wanting to break into the industry?

That there ain’t no such thing as the Music industry. It’s a hoax. There are the people who make music and the people who want to listen to music. Everything else is just polishing the brass on the titanic. Also, Don’t get unlicensed mini cabs, travel with a deserting soldier, dip journalists genitals in chocolate or drink petrol.

What is your take on the current UK music scene and how do you think this is going to be shaped into the future?

I don’t have a take as such, most of the music I listen to has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with a scene. Honestly, nobody at any echelon of the music business has any idea what is happening or where it’s going (they are paid to pretend they do, which is good work if you can get it), the landscape changes daily. This is of course due to the profound effect of the internet, and that is only going to continue. For me it remains about writing, performing and recording in the most effective way possible. Getting your music to people who are interested -that won’t ever really change. Once upon a time it was about major labels and million dollar bashes. Now, more then ever, with mass availability and so many platforms, it’s about being relevant....and dangerously good looking.

Has Britain got talent?

Somewhere, written in the wisdom in the back of it’s teeth.

Any last words?

Well now if you’ll excuse me I am going to go on an overnight drunk, and in ten days time head out and find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to join me is more than welcome.

Interview by Sapphire Wheeler