Leeroy Reed
We caught up with ‘The Valleys’ star Leeroy Reed to discuss his latest single ‘Can’t Get Enough,’ being in care as a child and touring Australia in July.
-Hi Leeroy! So you return to ‘The Valleys’ in the next episode. What should we expect from you?
With me you can expect all music. I come in and show you what I’ve been doing. I’ve got my debut single coming out and my video for the single.
-Who have you missed the most since your departure?
I missed everyone; I couldn’t wait to see everyone as soon as I got back. But I missed Carly, Jenna and Chidgey out of everyone the most.
-What do you think of the twins, Anthony and Jason? Will there be any rivalry between you three? Particularly with Jenna?
(laughs) No there won’t be any rivalry, I think they are cool man. And we get along fine and we are all friends.
-The cast are a very good looking bunch. Who do you think would rate themselves a 10/10 and why?
Chidgey would rate himself a ten out of ten because he actually believes it (laughs). But if you were to say to me: "rate yourself out of ten" I would never say 10, whereas Chidgey would actually say 12 (laughs). But out of the girls, I sway back and forth who I find attractive.
-Is it true that you have a record deal? How does it feel?
Yeah my record deal is with ‘Transmission Records.’ I was over the moon when it happened, it was unbelievable. This is something that I’ve wanted more than anything and now I’ve actually got it, it's surreal. This is why I need to stay concentrated and make sure it doesn’t go nowhere.
-When will we expect a single to be released?
The single ‘Can’t Get Enough’ will be released on the 23rd June and it’s more of a dance, house beat than a hip hop beat and it's one for the crowd and everyone is going to love it.
-Will there be a video for your new single?
Yes. The concept of the video is that I’m in a club with my mates, and the main girl who I’m talking about in the song is also in the club with her mates, and I’m talking about this girl in my lyrics and describing and explaining her and what’s going on, and I try to chat to her but she isn’t having any of it! A clip of my video will be on 'MTV The Valleys' website on the 4th June.
-The type of music you do is rap. Where do your ideas originate from?
From experiences. I’ve rapped all my life; it’s something I’ve always done. I sit down and I watch documentaries about the world, so my intelligence is higher. I get ideas from anything. If I’m in a conversation with someone and they say a word I haven’t heard before I have to write it down and then maybe use it in my music.
-When you were younger, you say that you spent a lot of your time in care. Has this inspired the style of your music?
Yes definitely. I’ve got more to talk about and there are a lot of people out there who can relate to my music in that way. When I was younger I never wanted to be in care, but when I look back now, I’d never change it as it’s made me the person who I am today.
-Do you think that people who are in care will look up to you and follow their dreams?
People are getting in touch with me and asking me questions about it. It’s good to feel that people want advice and I feel proud of myself that I’ve come from that and I’ve actually done something with my life. And now I want to give it back in my songs.
-What artists do you aspire to be like?
No artist in particular. But I just inspire to be a big name in the UK music scene, like Wretch 32 or Devlin, and get their recognition and respect too. Also to have similar success would be great.
-If you could collaborate with anyone who would this be with and why?
I’d collaborate with Devlin because he is just amazing. His concepts, his metaphors, everything is on point. I don’t think anyone could come close to Devlin. I am more drawn to him than anyone else.
-Is it true that you will be touring Australia in July 2013?
Yes I’ll be touring with Emily Williams from ‘Young Divas.' I’ll be doing a remix of my single, ‘Can’t Get Enough,’ and will be releasing it in Australia too. I’ll be going all around Australia visiting Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. This tour will help me to push my single as much as I can, but I am just concentrating on this for now to help it do well.
-Will we be seeing any new material?
I’ve got a lot of things that I’m sitting on its just waiting for the right time to release them.
-Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time?
Well I’m 22 now, so I’d be 27, so I’d just like to be living comfortably, and to have achieved my goals and dreams and to have a good name in the music business. I don’t really care about being rich and famous but just to know that I have fulfilled my dreams and doing well with myself is all I want.
You can catch The Valleys, Tuesday nights at 10pm on MTV.