Cant Stop Lyrics

Jesse Leach Talks Vocal Tips, Times of Grace, Solo Album, More

Times of Grace is a shock to the heavy metal system in more ways than one. Uplifting lyrics about hope and personal strength storm across a battering ram of melodic metal that was largely written and played by one man. Teaming with Killswitch Engage guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, former Seemless and Killswitch vocalist Jesse Leach brought his band to Nashville for our own night of grace on August 9th. Before the show, which was dubbed the “Illuminatour,” with Underoath headlining, Jesse took time out of his concert preparation to chat with me. Photos from the show will be up in the photo gallery shortly, but here is the full text of the interview.

Frank Serafine (Progressivity_In_All): How’s the tour been going, one month in?

JL: All the instruments were done by Adam, so that’s all him. He did it fairly quickly, too, in a couple of weeks. I was working a full-time job, about 50 hours a week, so the only open time I had was on weekends. He was on tour and was producing bands. Whenever he had a spare moment on the weekend, I’d rent a car and drive straight up there from New York and we’d do a couple songs here and there over the span of about a year – maybe eight or nine vocal sessions.

It was really spread out, so I was able to sit with the material for awhile, record vocals, sit with what I recorded, analyze it… It was a really long process, but when we were in the studio it was quick. Very spontaneous takes. I had a lot of fun with it. It was good therapy, too, because I was going through a rough spot in my life. JL: I just lived a lot. I lived through a lot of stuff. As you grow, hopefully you gain knowledge and experience. With the scars that I have earned, I see life through different eyes. I think that it’s not a negative perspective, but perhaps a more realistic perspective on life. I’ll tell you right now, I couldn’t be happier. I accept life for what it is, things the way that they’re happening… You’ve got to find the joy in the little things in life to get you through. JL: Oh yeah. When I’m alone, I listen to the record alone on my own, and I have moments where tears fill my eyes remembering when I wrote it. On the road, it’s a little different – you tend to focus on the performance of it. But, yeah, there has definitely been moments where I’m on stage and as I’m getting ready to sing a line, and I’m like “Ahhh, here it comes” and it hits me.

I do the best I can to balance it out with performing it properly, as opposed to just belting it out, because I’ve got to sing it the next day and the next day and the next. I’m actually fighting an infection as we speak, but I will nail it tonight! Haha! It’s the challenge of the road. I love it. It’s a bittersweet thing out here, but being able to see your material come to life… There’s nothing like it. JL: On the road, yeah. Sleep! First of all, make sure you sleep. Don’t party too hard, no matter who’s calling you a wimp, a pussy, whatever… Drink tons of water, especially if you’re on an air conditioned bus or van. I’m talking a gallon of water you should be drinking. If you have allergies, the moment you feel an allergy coming on, take your meds ASAP. Mucus is the enemy! Rest, rest, rest, and water. Do your vocal warm-ups and warm-downs. Don’t go out and party after, yelling in a club or a bar. Avoid that stuff at all cost, and you’ll be fine. JL: Exactly! Unlike everyone else who will bust your balls and who will say “Oh, you’re a wimp for not drinking this or partying or staying out ‘til 4 in the morning,” but guess what? They don’t have to sing the next day. You DO! What happens when you open your voice and you’re like “uhhhhhh”? It’s your fault. That’s why singers always get called bitches and prissies because you have to be! (laughs) JL: Yeah, they don’t get it. You wake up in the morning and your voice is heavy with mucus and you’re like “Alright, from this point on, I’ve got to get my voice warmed up to where I’m ready to go on.” Sometimes that takes a good hour of singing and doing stuff to help your voice clear up, especially if you’re sick. It’s an extra thing.

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