 Courtesy: MTS TJ Leonard got his first guitar from his grandfather when he was eight and learned to play Swedish folk music and evergreens. Soon TJ was introduced to pop and blues through his cousin, and at eighteen became the lead singer and guitar player in a dance band. A lot of genres passed through TJ's life including Jazz, hard rock, gospel, soul/r&b, but it was not until country came along that he felt at home. Together with Tex Taylor he started the band CHESTNUT and was nominated in the Swedish Country Music Championships. Now, Leonard is forging his solo career and took the time to answer his Essential 8 where he talked songwriting, what he does on his days off, and more. Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you? One could say that my grandpa was my musical mentor, at least in the early years. He taught me how to play the guitar and how to play all those old songs he used to play in his time as a musician What’s the story behind your album’s title? "High on Livin’" is the title of one of the songs on the album. The song is about my life and what I like to do in life. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? I meet a lot of people in my work and I get to hear a lot of stories so I get inspired from those sometimes but most of the time I write about things in my life or those close to me. What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? To get a really good promoter! And I got one! What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? To get a good promoter LOL! What’s your favorite food on the road?
I don´t tour that much but I’d like a good burger now and then. Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative? For me it’s a negative thing. After one beer I forget the lyrics and the chords and mess things up so the beer has to wait till afterwards. Favorite thing to do on a day off? Besides music I love to hunt. Here in Sweden it’s not legal to bow hunt so next fall me and my brother and a couple of others are going to Kentucky to hunt. My newest hobby is tree climbing. It’s a great feeling climbing 30-40 feet up and do some limb walking or just sit down on a limb relaxing. Do you have a favorite gift from a fan? Not a physical gift but I have a FB-friend, Diandtria from South Carolina that I send all my songs to for her to evaluate. That’s worth a lot to me and is a great gift.
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