Literally every sound on the record, from drums to bass to hooty hoot was created vocally by
1 man (Leonard) on 1 microphone (Shure KSM44). Says Leonard, "With today's technology, all it takes is time and imagination. A "pop" becomes a deep kick drum, a fingersnap becomes a gunshot, and a girly-voiced boy like me can pretend to be Barry White."
An accomplished composer and arranger, Leonard's work includes everything from Top 10 hits and TV drama themes in Japan to commercial music for Folger's, Taco Bell, and The Today Show to full orchestrations for The Boston Pops.
1MAN 1MIKE is perhaps a natural progression of his work with Rockapella, stars of the PBS show "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?". As the group's arranger, songwriter, and producer, Leonard has recorded 15 records and created 100 acappella arrangements.
"When I write and arrange for Rockapella, I actually record all the parts, and then send each guy his part to learn, so this is just taking that concept to the extreme and then exploding it psychedelically on steroids."
Stevie Wonder, Prince and others have recorded one-man records, producing and playing multiple instruments, but one-man acappella records are rare. Todd Rundgren tried it in 1985, and a popular Japanese artist, Tatsuro Yamashita recorded a one-man acappella album in 1986. Not only did Leonard sing every sound on every song, he recorded and mixed
1MAN 1MIKE as well. Said Leonard, "This is definitely taking the concept of self-expression too far." Asked to describe the recording process for this unusual project, Leonard replied, "Lonely. Very Lonely." But, he adds, "It's kind of an interesting contrast to the hyper-fraternal experience of touring with Rockapella."
Is the music of 1MAN 1MIKE Rock? R&B? Pop? Booty Bass?
"If you figure it out, let me know," answers Leonard. "The fact that this is a one-man acappella record tends to spark curiosity, and it's a lot of fun to make music this strange way, but for me, the emotion of the melody and lyrics comes first, and provides the foundation from which to ricochet off on pointlessly self-indulgent tangents."
Melodically and lyrically, Leonard counts among his inspirations such varied sources as Stevie Wonder and Stephen Sondheim. "For me, Stevie Wonder is our century's Mozart. And lyrically, the artistry and craft of Stephen Sondheim is so unprecedented that it deserves its own genre.
"Not that I'm worthy to even dust their pianos, but the songs that come out of me that I enjoy most are those that emulate the heart of Stevie, and the brain of Stephen.
"Computer recording technology has brought a new age of freedom to the music industry.
"Anybody with a laptop can make an album and share it directly with an audience. That wasn't possible just a few years ago. Today you're only limited by your creativity. This really is a time of musical revolution, and I think we're about to see an explosion of new kinds of music.
"As out there as 1MAN 1MIKE may seem now, I think it's just the first voice of many to be heard in the new musical democracy."
Learn more at www.scottleonardmusic.com
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