The Mike Leslie Band has been going non-stop since bursting onto the Detroit music scene in late 2012. Four months after releasing their debut album, they won the People's Choice Awards at the 2013 Detroit Music Awards. The summer followed with countless shows in and around Detroit culminating in winning the Doug FM Battle of the Bands. Now the band -- Mike Leslie, Mike Parrott and Bryan Reilly -- are ready to venture beyond Michigan.
What was your approach when starting this band?
Mike: It took a lot of planning and meetings. We wanted to start on the right foot and build a solid foundation, so we really studied the business through online research and webinars. We set goals for the next 6-12 months and determining how we could reach those goals.
Another big thing is I didn’t know anything about the Detroit music scene when we started. We’ve spent a lot of time going to shows, shaking hands and learning from other acts.
Parrott: A lot of bands are out chasing record labels. When we started planning everything, we thought about going after a couple labels. But we said, “No, let’s make them come to us.” We’re going to work hard and stir up the pot enough to the point where people ask, “Who are these guys?”
What’s it like being a band in Detroit?
Mike: Being in the Detroit music scene is like being on Survivor. There are a lot of people who want the same thing and it’s basically a question of who wants it the most and is going to dedicate everything to their project?
You’ve been part of the Detroit music scene for a relatively short time and yet you’ve accomplished more than some bands that've been around for years. What sets you apart?
Parrott: There are a lot of bands with awesome musicians but they’re not 100% dedicated to the project. If you’re in a comfortable spot where you have a cozy job or you have 6 bands that you’re working with, you’re not going to make it. I think our dedication is what separates us a little bit. We made the decision to put ourselves in the position where we have nothing else. So, we have to give everything we have. It’s the best motivation and it’s made it easy to go 150%.
Mike Leslie: We have dedicated the next chunk of our lives to do this. That’s the first thing we had to decide. Are we going to be cool with not being rich for the next couple years?
Besides playing shows and recording music, what’s your day-to-day work look like?
Mike: Our days are spent mainly on the computer and making phone calls. We’re constantly doing business and making connections. And at night, if we’re not playing a show, we usually go to other people’s show. We like to support other local bands and learn from them.
What’s been the most challenging part of this project?
Mike: Waiting on people and not having things in your control. People don’t know how much goes into being a working band. You have to have not only the right music but the right people and instruments.
Parrott: Trusting people is tough. We do everything ourselves right now and waiting on others to do things has been disappointing. You never know if they’re going to pull through and make things happen.
What’s your favorite show so far?
Mike: The most rewarding was winning the Detroit Battle of the Bands at Chene Park because we worked so hard to get there. We were playing against some amazing musicians and we played the greatest performance of our lives. We went in with the mindset of we’re just going to do it.
What sets Detroit music apart from the rest of the world?
Mike: Every band that’s come out of Detroit has been different but they’ve all had the same essence. The music has this raw, angry feeling sound. I can even hear it in Motown. It’s got this “Screw you” attitude and I think that’s a reflection of the city itself.
Parrott: A lot of acts that come out of Detroit feel like they have something to prove because Detroit is the underdog. A lot of musicians that are coming out of Detroit are thinking, “I’m going to do what I want. I don’t care what the rest of the country thinks. Screw you. I’m going to make it.”
Tell me about Weezer Cruise Video Contest you’re posting about on Facebook?
Mike: Well, Weezer is doing a cruise in February that sails from Jacksonville, FL to the Bahamas. This is their second year doing it and this year, they’re holding a contest for no-name bands like us to play on it. Sixty bands have entered. Each band had to post a video on YouTube and whoever gets the most thumbs up on their video wins. As of now, our video (below) is in third place with more than 3,600 thumbs up. We have until Oct. 31 to get this done and win it.
What’s next?
We just shot a huge music video with Madonna University’s Capstone Film Class for our upcoming single, “Weather Vane.” The release will be Wednesday, Nov. 27h at the Magic Bag. We’re playing with the Infatuations and Paulina Jayne which will be amazing. We also have an album coming out in January.
