When a fox rips open your dustbin bag, it is said, he is not looking for caviar. It can equally be said that when the lyrics and music of Kieran Leonard visit a listener or audience, they seek to fuse natural target with utmost urgency.
Born in Ireland and following a childhood spell in North America, Kieran Leonard is an emerging singer/songwriter who has been forged absolutely in London: aimed lyrics redress its bloated, plate glass citadels; goad its romantics, fixed arcane across railings; and implore its lonely, wondering hopelessly toward fluorescent stripped 24 hour grocery shops like hawk-moths to headlights.
Unquestionably influenced by mesmeric, hammering ghosts such as Guthrie, Buckley or Cobain, Leonard remains a student of Dylan and White, frequently skipping class to in order to understand further and deeper his subjects. As a writer and performer, he is richer for his truancy.
The instrumental string concord of guitar accompanied by violin at many live shows conveys almost solar warmth before the fast delivery of a reminder to the audience that if the sun shines when it is raining then the devil is probably beating his wife. Newer material is streamlined yet in places relentless, touching on familial conflict, social injustice, love invariably, and lost barbaric luxuries.
In Kieran Leonard’s music expect giddying journey, tender reproach, tear drying violence and you will not be disappointed. Our music, the music we wake to, that talks to us at twilight and ignores us and that surrounds our emotions imperceptibly like a glass canyon occasionally needs to be shattered. But occasionally it needs to be clear and solidified. Is now such a time for you? Nevermore.
