Mike LeBlanc is currently working on his second album and I had the chance to ask him a few questions so we can get to know him a bit better and see what he’s been up to. Over the summer he has performed at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Country Music Week in Edmonton and his first album was nominated for “Country Album of the Year” at MusicNB.
Sound Check: Your first album is very traditional country, will you be staying with that for your second album?
Mike: My first album is very country yes and I like it that way, so yeah the second album will be as country. I’m thinking of maybe putting a little bit of a stronger edge to it this time to attract maybe a wider variety of fans, but definitely will stay country.
Sound Check: After the success of Your first album “Alive And Well” and playing festivals throughout NB and QC, is there a festival your looking forward to play next summer?
Mike: Festivals next summer, actually I’m looking forward to playing all of them. We’re hoping to get into some even bigger festivals like Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Craven Country Jamboree and Big Valley Jamboree. All those big festivals. But every show is something I look forward to every time, big or small. Also, I still get nervous even before a small show. So every show is very important. The bigger shows are nice to do, but the smaller ones are just as nice because they’re more intimate. So yeah I look forward doing every one of them
Sound Check: What was it like to open for Ricky Skaggs last summer?
Mike: Opening for Ricky Skaggs was a big honor. It was truly an honor to open for such a legend. I remember listening to this guy as a kid. and I had the privilege to open up for him and it was nerve racking. It was fun, it was a blast and the fans had fun. I actually got him to sign my guitar. He’s a true gentleman.
Mike and Ricky Skaggs
Sound Check: Your first album you wrote all the songs by yourself, any co-writes for the second?
Mike: At this stage I’m not sure if I’m going to have any co-writes on my second album. The first album “Alive And Well”, that was my pride and joy to be able to say that I wrote every song by myself. Except for one that was musically arranged by Stephane Deraspe, my producer. But other than that, all the lyrics that I wrote was by myself. I’m hoping I’ll be able to do the same thing for my second album. If not, if it means that I need a co-write to have that one song that might make it, break out kind of thing I’ll accept that as well. But I’m going to try to write as much as I can by myself if possible. If not, that’s not a big deal for me.
Sound Check: Who are your musical influences?
Mike: My musical influences are pretty wide, but I would say the main ones would be like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson and many other smaller artists that are unknown. Even the younger generation, they basically blow me away. I don’t know how they’re able to have such talent at such a young age. I look for influences pretty much everywhere I go, and that’s what comes out of my music and they actually inspire me.
Sound Check: How do you feel about the changes in country music these days?
Mike: That’s kind of a scary question, how do I feel about country music these days. Well in all honesty, I wish that traditional country, the Alan Jackson type and Mark Chesnutt. All that good traditional 90’s early 2000’s music, I wish that was promoted like it used to be. But the music industry is also a business and I understand that the pop cross-over country is what sells the most right now because of the technology and all that stuff. Honestly, I’m not against it. If I’m listening to Rascal Flatts or Taylor Swift, all these artists they all make great music. They are very talented. I have nothing against it. I just personally wish there was more room for the traditional country kind of music that I’m doing. Which was the big thing back in the 90’s. But you know, it’s all good. I think it’s just part of the evolution. If you look at country music back in the 70’s compared to the 90’s, there’s a huge difference in style. So it’s just evolution that keeps going, that’s basically all that is.
Sound Check: You wrote a song called “I’m The One” that isn’t on the first album, can you explain more about it?
Mike: I’m the one was written by myself. A huge inspiration, because I also believe a song is 10% creation and 90% inspiration. And without the inspiration it’s just a bunch of words and notes jammed together. That’s just my personal belief. But yeah, “I’m The One” was written by myself inspired by the Amanda Todd story. The reason it did not go on my album is because I felt that it did not fit with the theme “Alive And Well”. A lot of people have asked me that question about why it isn’t on my album. It can be bought on iTunes, which all the proceeds go the Amanda Todd Legacy Foundation which is run by Amanda’s mom Carol and it’s done very well for the cause. I think it helped create some awareness.
2014 CCMA showcase
You can follow mike on twitter @_MikeLeBlanc and Facebook Mike LeBlanc Fanpage .
You can also keep up to date with his shows on his website www.mikeleblancmusic.com.
