Lesley Roy was born in 1987 in Dublin, Ireland. Lesley first learned how to play the trumpet, followed by the saxophone, then fell in love with the guitar. With her mother's heavy musical influence at such a young age, it's no wonder that she has been playing the guitar since she was 10 and writing rock songs at the age of 14.
The twenty-one year old, who currently lives in Balbriggan, a suburb of Dublin, was discovered by Jive Records after recording a demo with Religion Music, a local independent label. Lesley is signed exclusively to Religion Music for a six-album worldwide record and publishing deal. This exciting new singer possesses formidable song writing ability with gritty, deeply personal lyrics that defy her young age. Her first single entitled "I'm Gone, I'm Going" was produced by the executive producer of the album, Max Martin.
On her debut album, which has taken 2 years to complete, Lesley has also worked with industry pros Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Kiss, Robbie Williams), Dave Hodges (Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion), Brian Howes (Hinder, Daughtry), Dr. Luke (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Sugababes), Nord/Hansen (The Rasmus) & Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, U2, Pussycat Dolls).
Chatting one-on-one with the lovely young lady I first wondered what had been her musical influences growing up and how many still factored into her music today? "Everyone that I listened to growing up is still what I listen to before shows and before I record. I was brought up with a lot of soulful music growing up, a lot of mo-town a lot of Stevie Wonder, Christopher Cross, and then I got into Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl crow, and the Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen when i started writing, when I got my guitar again a little bit older. And then I got into heavier rockier bands in my teens. but definitely Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen are always in my car."
For the Average Joe who may not have heard of you and was thinking of buying your debut CD, how would you yourself describe your sound?"My sound is a modern take on a very simple classic rock sound. It has big riffs, huge drums, but it has some pop hooks in it as well with a female raspy vocal."
Your album title 'Unbeautiful' is an interesting choice, but perhaps it originates from a more personal standpoint for you? Indeed is there a theme to it, perhaps?"'Unbeautiful' it's just, I felt it was one of the hardest feelings and emotions to tackle going through the album and to write the song and to feel so low and so self deprecating that I felt that a lot of people would relate to that emotion. And also in the world right now, you know, there are a lot of things that are really messed up and I didn’t really want to go with such a negative title but I feel that a lot of people can relate to it. So Unbeautiful, for me, is one of the toughest experiences that I went through, that whole song, that whole experience which is why I wanted to call the album 'unbeautiful'."
Also, please reveal to us just how a young girl from Dublin gets the chance these days to break thru in the United States?"Well it has been a long long struggle. I've been banging on the door for a long time. Aside from hard hard work and when I got signed to the independent label in Dublin when I was 16 continued work there writing and recording, then got signed to Jive. A majority of it is hard work and perseverance but I was also lucky at the same time that my demo fell into a few people's hands that really were interested and fell in love with my lyrics and my idea of where I wanted to go. Hard work and I would say fortunate as well."
How easy (or hard) is it to constantly create a new, vibrant, wanted-by-the-public sound that both builds on and surpasses the musical wonderment's/accomplishments that preceded it within the industry?"You know, some days it's tough you go to the studio and you try and see yourself, and you know do a better song than the last and it just doesn’t work and you have to kind of call it quits for that day and just shake it off. And then another day you can go in and knock it all out really fast, its just something you can't push, you can't have the frame of mind and say "today I’m gonna write something just as good as the single that's playing on the radio right now." You can only hope that everything aligns that day you go in; your music, your lyrics, how your voice sounds. So it's kind of 50/50, you can go in and get it right or you can go in and have to take the day off."
At what age were you when you had your very first Guinness ... and did you enjoy it?! And have you ever been to the Guinness factory in Dublin?"I've only tasted Guinness once, I don’t drink Guinness. I think I was probably around 16 when I tasted it and I've never been to the Guinness factory."
What '80s (and possibly cheesy!) pop/rock song would you love to cover today if asked ... and why?!"Ooo, what 80's pop song? Maybe Livin' On A Prayer just because I go crazy when I go to see Bon Jovi pay that. It's such a great pop song that, you know, everybody knows all over the world. That would be so much fun to do."
Lastly, Exclusive Magazine love Penguins ... do you?!"I do love Penguins. Yes, okay. I love that movie, what was it called? Happy Feet! Excellent movie, I do love penguins."
Lesley Roy
