(Originally published for Outline.)

Norfolk-born soul singer Leo Lore writes songs from the heart; his emotional honesty and attitude blended with soul and jazz influences makes him one to watch. His debut single ‘Sorrow’s Golden’ was released last year, and I spoke with him ahead of the release of ‘Billie’, the first single from his forthcoming EP.

How’s this last year been for you?

It was definitely an adjustment period. The lack of live gigs was…is annoying, because that’s what I love to do, I just like to do live shows.  But feeling much more confident, now that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

How do you think the interaction between musicians and their audience has changed in the last year or so?

I suppose it’s that shift of being able to film work – the whole thing about Instagram is that it’s that quick content, isn’t it? The churning out of content, rather than doing a gig, or doing a set of gigs, doing a tour, and that would be it for a few months. It feels like there’s more pressure to have a constant stream of things happening.

When you were making this EP, did you feel pressured at all?

I think it was more of a personal pressure because of the content of it…I’ve never really written from such a personal perspective before, social commentary. I’m out of the picture when I’m writing songs, so I think because it’s quite difficult to write it, I just wanted to get it done as quickly as possible.

How are you feeling about finally being able to release it?
Really good. Now I’ve got a release date for the first single, it feels like it’s happening now, which is a massive weight off my shoulders. You can build yourself up for releases and put loads of pressure on yourself.

The first song is called ‘Billie’, and that’s after Billie Holiday, isn’t it?

Yeah. I was listening to loads of her at the time that I wrote that. If I find an artist that I love, I just listen to them – exclusively! And I thought that I would name it after her.

Why did Billie Holiday have such an impact on you? She’s from the 50s era, so she’s not someone you would necessarily come across.

My brother listened to loads of jazz when I was younger, Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald and people like that (…) and this one album – a compliation album, one with Billie Holiday.
It was just the purity of her voice, and the more I listened to her and looked into her life and what she’d been through, she was just so defiant in her music. I just love her whole being.

With [‘Sorrow’s Golden’] and ‘Billie’ – they’re different musically, but both raw emotionally – how did you become comfortable with being so open about your feelings?

The first tune that I wrote, ‘Sorrow’s Golden’, and ‘Billie’ – I was writing it not ever thinking in my head that I was going to release it. I could tell that I was getting in my head about it and worrying about what people think. Obviously a man talking about another man, it should be normal by now but definitely isn’t. For that same reason I was like, I need to be better about it. I need to be cooler about it, I need to be more confident about it, and for other people’s sake. For other people to hear that.

You mentioned that when you were growing up, there was a lack of queer role models for you to look up to or relate to. Being more open about your sexuality, do you think if someone finds your music, it might help them as well?

Yeah. If one queer kid finds comfort in themselves quicker that I did because of a tune I wrote – I don’t know how likely that is – but if that does happen, then I’ll be well chuffed.

Are you looking forward to being able to play your EP live?

I’m literally now getting in touch with a few old mates of mine who are from this kind of area in London, to put on shows. I think it’s going to be really weird, to start with. It’s certainly going to feel different. I’ve done solo acoustic gigs before, but having to translate a full track, project, try and create a live show… we’re now trying to work out how to do that. In that sense it will be different than normal.

What are your goals for the future?

The plan is just to release the EP, play a live show, feel normal again and get back in the studio!

‘Billie’ will be released on the 26th of March, with the EP to follow later in the year.

Words and audio: Frances Butler