October 2024

Shredding Boundaries: An Exclusive Interview with Leilani Kilgore Interview by | CapnBlakk In this edition of Ryze-Up, we sit down with the incredibly talented Leilani Kil- gore, a rising star in the music scene known for her powerful vocals, dynamic guitar skills, and fearless approach to rock and blues. Leilani has been making waves with her unique sound, blending classic rock influences with modern flair, and captivating audiences wherever she per- forms. Join us as we dive into her musical journey, creative process, and what’s next for this groundbreaking artist. Your music is a unique blend of blues and rock with a modern twist. How do you navigate staying true to your influences while pushing the boundaries of genre? My influences are deeply engrained in my musical expression whether I like it or not, and they always manage to show up in my writing one way or another. But af- ter years of playing, I finally learned how to start listening to my own voice instead of trying to imitate, and that helped me understand how to experiment with my sound rather than trying to force it into a box. Nashville is often seen as the heart of country music, yet you’ve carved out a space for your distinctive sound. What was the most rewarding and challenging aspect of this journey? Moving to Nashville with no connections and no real plan was frightening for ex- actly that reason. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to fit in. But I knew that the city would push me to work harder at my instrument and my career, and honoring that drive despite failures and doubt has honestly been the biggest challenge. Yet, on the other side of that coin, the support and family I’ve found here has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Nashville is truly a reap-what-you- sow kind of scene if you don’t have money or connections to just buy your way into opportunity, and I’m eternally grateful for the lessons I’ve learned as a result. I’m a better player and a better person, and I have gotten to live through some really beautiful moments along the way. As an artist who has built a reputation for electrifying live performances, what do you aim to make your audience feel when they see you play? I want them to feel all the emotions I’m feeling. My playing and songs are my best effort to make a connection with people, and if I succeed at that, I’ve done my job. But I’ve also had people tell me I’m intim- idating due to the aggression in my per- formance style; frankly I’m okay with that too. With the release of your singles “Steal Your Love” and “Take It For Granted,” what story or message were you most ea- ger to convey through these tracks? “Take It For Granted” was a shot in the dark since it’s so incredibly different from my previous releases; it’s soft, it’s sensitive, it’s a proper love song. I wanted to tell a classic “I’ve found my person and I’m the luckiest woman in the world” story. But “Steal Your Love” is all lust, scandal, and a bit of a “how do I get you back to my room?” vibe - the original lyrics were su- per X-rated and had to be rewritten. That one’s just all fun and rock and roll. 13