Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Leo Banton: Well, I was born and grew up near Versailles in France. I’m a guitar player and a songwriter in the firste place. I started playing the guitar as a teenager. At the time, I was mostly playing blues rock. When I was about 25, I joined a reggae band called Soyouz and soon after we created a backing band called D.R.S. (Digital Riddim Section) with my friend Manudigital. When I moved to the South of France near Bordeaux, I started making reggae instrumentals for myself and began to sing too so it came naturally as I was by myself and wanted to make complete songs.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Leo Banton: Actually, it was a friend’s idea as when we were listening to reggae and dancehall in the 90s, I used to sing like Buju Banton so as my first name was Leo, he came up with that brilliant name that’s still there even if I can’t really do the voice anymore !
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Leo Banton: I always do as I’m a young artist I think that first you have to make yourself a name and for that the best way is to give your music away a little so to me, it’s indispensible to share.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Leo Banton: Experience is the key to lots of things in music so I would recommand not to rush things. The most important being to take pleasure. Always keep that in mind !
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Leo Banton: I don’t make concerts anymore and have never made any as a singer so far as I don’t have a band and let’s say that I’m more of a studio singer so far. When I was a guitar player, I used to make some from time to time, the best is to pretend nothing happened and carry on with the show !
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Leo Banton: I have never really toured, even as a guitar player but would have liked to as it’s a very enriching experience !
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Leo Banton: I generally write in my studio and mostly after I have the instrumental at least partly finished although I can have ideas everywhere so I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to write something or happen to record myself on my mobile while driving !
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Leo Banton: Not yet but I intend to have one. I need to have someone making it for me ! I use YouTube, Soundcloud and Reverbnation and I recently opened an account on dreammy.org
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Leo Banton: Actually, there aren’t any as it’s quite recent and I’m not ashamed of anything. There’s some pop, rock, reggae and my songs of course.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Leo Banton: Good question ! I’d probably buy a new house and build a bigger studio and then I’d spend time with my children and would definitely make music and record more songs and probably a first LP.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Leo Banton: Not now, I had new monitoring speakers recently (some Focal) and Nothing else is planned right now.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Leo Banton: I definitely promote on the most used social medias such as Facebook, Twitter. I’d say that it takes time but what works best is to send personal messages.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Leo Banton: I’d probably make a band with Bob Marley ! I have a lot of respect for Jimi Hendrix and John Bonham of course but don’t know if I could keep up with them !
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Leo Banton: I’m working on a new song called Fight Babylon System now. It’s almost out ! Later, I’d like to make a LP so I’m keeping a few tracks I made for myself but it’s difficult when you’re an independent artist.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Leo Banton: When I don’t make music, I teach English to French students and it takes most of my time and energy !
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Leo Banton: It was a rock ‘n roll compilation and I was enthusiastic as we just had bought a CD player at home and it was the music I enjoyed listening to at the time.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Leo Banton: Let’s say that for now music is just a hobby and my job and my role as a father come first but as soon as I’m able to, I spend time in my studio.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Leo Banton: New songs to come and hopefully a LP ! If success comes I may eventually find a new to do performances too !
