by martina rexrode
photo by audrey bergeron
Entering the music industry with a background as a concert-trained pianist and a lizard mascot adorning his cover art, Daniel Leggs is an artist you should know. His newest release runaway is his debut EP, filled with songs about striving for a life outside of what you already have. The instrumentals and lyrics in each song demand your attention and make his voice an exciting one to watch. Keep up with him on Instagram (@_leggs_) and learn more below!
Congratulations on your debut EP runaway! How does it feel to have this collection out in the world?
Daniel: “Thank you! I’m so excited for these songs to be out and for everyone to listen through. The community of listeners we’ve been able to build with this project feels super special and I’m really proud of how it all came together start to finish.”
Is there a song off of this EP that you felt the most eager to release? If so, has it had the reception you expected?
Daniel: “I was definitely most eager to release ‘crutches.’ My fanbase, which we call ‘the feet,’ loved it once I started teasing it online. Releasing that with so many people already excited to listen was a blast. It’s been amazing to see how much everyone is enjoying it!”
What is the most important thing you hope people gain from listening to these songs?
Daniel: “One of the things I love most about this project is it feels like its own little world. Whenever someone listens, I hope they feel a sense of imagination and excitement. Daydreaming is a big hobby of mine, and I’d love for people to join me in that by listening to my songs.”
Tell us the story of Leggs. How long has this character lived in the world of your music? What purpose will Leggs serve in your career as an artist going forward?
Daniel: “Leggs the Lizard is our mascot who’s in the cover art and all of the artwork. Max, my creative director, came up with the character and it’s just so perfect for the project. The idea behind it is that everything is a storybook, which makes things super fun and innocent. And I think it’s really funny when you’re listening to a super serious song like ‘stay in my dreams’ and the cover art is just a lizard sleeping in his little bed. Going forward, Leggs the Lizard will always be with us and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble he gets into next.”
Who are some of your biggest music influences on your sound or lyrical style?
Daniel: “On the older side, I’ve always loved Billy Joel, Elton John and Queen. Then some newer influences are Lana Del Rey, Fun., and 070 Shake. I think it’s so cool pulling inspiration from completely different genres and time periods into one song.”
How has your background as a concert-trained pianist influenced your sound and the music you put out?
Daniel: “The piano definitely is the source of most of my music. I usually start the writing process by freestyling piano solos over different chord progressions. So even when there’s other production involved in a song, chances are it started with just piano.”
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received as such a young artist in the music industry?
Daniel: “It’s not about how it does, it’s about doing it. Garrett Nash, my mentor, just told me that and it helped me so much. With the way streaming and social media are, it’s easy to put pressure on yourself to get certain attention. But at the end of the day it’s just about making good music for the fans, releasing it and then making more!”
What is the biggest, more extraordinary goal you hope to achieve music-wise or otherwise?
Daniel: “Someday I’d love to make a TV show with my music. Not sure what that would look like, but I’ve always thought it’d be so cool to write stories and have new music to complement them.”