"I Wasn't Ever Aiming For Sexy" - MTV Meets Leo Kalyan

If you've ever trusted your Spotify enough to leave it on shuffle, chances are you've drifted across the smooth grooves of Leo Kalyan's 'Fingertips'. 

Topping its viral chart earlier this year, the tune is lifted from the UK singer-songwriter-producer's debut EP Silver Linings, and his previous tracks 'Over You' and 'Stranger' have been given Annie Mac and Mistajam's approval.

BUT WHO IS HE?

We caught up with Leo to find out his story, becoming a sex symbol, how his first headline gig went the other week and what guilty pleasures he has locked away. Plus you can check out his lush vocals in our full Silver Linings EP stream below too...

Who/what pushed you to make music?

"It's the only thing I feel like I'm good at. So if it doesn't work, I'm in trouble..."

For people that haven’t discovered you yet, how would you describe your music?

"Oceanic."

How would your parents describe it?

"'Noisy.'"

You’ve had the most viral track on Spotify with ‘Fingertips’ – is it weird for you how it’s gotten so big, so fast?

"Yeah! Very weird. It still doesn't feel "real" because to me it's just numbers on a screen. But obviously it's a great feeling to think that people connect with what I'm doing."

You called the debut EP ‘Silver Linings’, is there an overarching story behind the songs on the EP?

"The EP is sort of like, the different stages of a relationship. The chase, the honeymoon period, the end, and then a reflective look-back at what happened. I didn't plan for it to be that way, but that's how it turned out."

https://soundcloud.com/leokalyan/sets/silver-linings-ep/s-K40vD

How was it hearing your music on the radio for the first time? What were you doing when it aired?

"The very first time it happened? it was in the morning, and I was, erm... asleep. (Clearly I'm not a morning person) but the second time it happened, my mate came round with a bottle of champagne."

You recently played your first live show – how did it go? Any horror stories or nerves?

"No horror stories, thankfully. I had rehearsed it to death... I was pretty nervous though. It's a strange thing when you've produced and written music in a studio, on a computer - and then you have to take it all apart and give different instrumental parts to a band to play. It took some getting used to, but now I love it."

What’s the weirdest/strangest description you’ve heard of you/your music so far?

"It's always weird when people tweet me saying I sound "sexy". I'm just like "lol". I wasn't ever aiming for sexy."

Who's footsteps (career) would you like to follow in?

"Leonard Cohen. He's the coolest."

What's on your iPod that people wouldn't expect?

"Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' and the Spice Girls', 'Say You'll Be There'. Is that embarrassing? Nah I don't care, they're both big f**king tunes."

What do the next six months have in store?

"I have a single coming out in September called 'Get Your Love'. There will be a video for it too, and then there's another live show to follow. Other than that, I'm just tryin to write an album.... so it's all systems go!"

What’s your ultimate career goal?

"Making music makes me feel alive. iIjust want to feel alive."

Leo's Silver Linings EP is out now.