Lee
Meet London-born UK Open Mic performer Lee:
Hi Lee, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Solo
How old are you?
74
Where were you born?
London
Where did you grow up?
London
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
It was in a London bar that a schoolmate introduced me to my first guitar which kickstarted my songwriting career.
Where are you based now, and why?
London. London is best for busking for me.
What got you into making music in the first place?
Learning basic chords on a guitar got me interested in music. I was a terrible guitarist but I could do enough to write songs.
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing, Guitar
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
Bob Dylan set the standard for songwriting that I aspire to. I don’t actually have musical heroes and I seldom listen to music.
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
50
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
I write all my songs in the same way. I play around on my guitar and it either happens or it doesn’t
How long have you been playing open mic nights?
5
Why did you get into playing them in the first place?
to overcome stage fright
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
keep going
What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?
overcoming nerves and getting a good electric guitar sound in a PA system that I imagine favours acoustic guitars.
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
Most open mics are standard for me and I’ve never done a solo gig.
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
Yes
What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?
I’ve given up trying to make it in the music business which has no use for a 74 year-old man. My career is about opening people’s minds with my lyrics and developing my love affair with the electric guitar which I find so challenging with my limited skills.
What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?
My head is covered with snake tattoos
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
Encouraging people to take the lyrics of Lennon’s Imagine seriously through my own songs about his song.
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
www.youtube.com/thepaganpreacher
Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?
www.youtube.com/thepaganpreacher
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
www.youtube.com/thepaganpreacher
We’re done! Anything else ou want to share before we go?
No thanks!