Robb Scott & Leee John

Musical whiz Robb Scott and dance music legend Leee John of the iconic dance band Imagination have joined forces on their first new single, ‘Gotta Get Over You’ on Ramrock Blue Records. With lots going on in their worlds, as Leee celebrates his 40th Anniversary and Robb crafts his new album, DMCWorld checks in.

 

So let’s start by going back to the beginning. How did you first get into music?

Leee:

I was signed to a label when I was still in school and was also in the school orchestra playing violin, flute and I sang in the choir.

Robb:

I always wanted a piano and lessons, but we couldn’t afford them, so I finally bought a keyboard with the money I made from my first Saturday job working at Habitat. I started writing songs at 16 with a friend from school on a Casio keyboard. Later I was in different bands, playing, writing and singing with various friends such as Elisabeth Troy and Peta Nikolich.

What was the first piece of music you played today?

Leee:

‘The Best Of Brenda Russell’.

Robb:

‘Goodbye Joanna’ by Linda Lewis. Last night I saw a message from Dee, her sister online saying that she had passed away. I’ve known Linda for a good few years and it was heart breaking news. She was beautiful inside and out and very talented.

Leee:

Yes, I knew Linda Lewis, it so sad her passing. She also wanted to do a duet with me and we talked about it for years, I loved her ‘Lark’ album.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Leee:

Far too many to mention, but many artists from the world of Jazz, Motown, Funk, Soul and Gospel influenced me.

Robb:

Teena Marie, Patrice Rushen, Charles Stepney, Minnie Riperton, Joni Mitchell, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Clare Fischer, Arif Mardin, The Mizell Brothers, Donald Byrd, Leon Ware, Roy Ayers, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Wansel, Merry Clayton, The Waters and John Barry just to name a few…

Which have been your biggest career highlights? 

Leee:

Performing after lockdown at the first show in UK at the London 02 Arena with the Gorillaz to 20,000 people with our song ‘The Lost Chord’. Also playing 7 nights and 8 shows twice at the Dominion Theatre on our first Imagination tour.

Robb:

For me it has been to finally make the music I wanted to hear by writing, arranging and producing my last album ‘Siren’, and having it win the award for Best Soul and Jazz Album of 2018 UK Bright Star Awards. It was also album of the week on Jazz FM. I didn’t compromise or think about anyone else’s opinions, and it came out just as I had imagined it with the goal being to make the kind of music that I never get sick of hearing, music that doesn’t date. Other career highlights have been to work with music royalty heavyweights such as vocalists Julia and Maxine Waters in Los Angeles, Ellen Mcilwaine and Jill Jones in New York.

And your biggest challenges?

Leee:

Surviving in the industry after 40 years.

Robb:

My biggest challenge is to not throw in the towel. Most people have no idea just how incredibly difficult it is to keep going in an industry that keeps changing so radically. In some ways it’s easier to get your music out there, however producing quality music and getting financing is almost impossible. These days the artist has to pay for everything themselves. Record companies no longer give advances, which means that in order to create beautiful live music with real strings, horns and musicians, one has to put oneself into extreme debt. Carleen Anderson said something the other day that was so poignant: “I’m paying to work, instead of earning my keep!” I would add that I have the ideas of a King when it comes to arranging and producing, but a pauper’s purse when it comes to being able to afford to pay for it all. This makes output very slow as I refuse to compromise by using computerised instruments.

How did you both meet and start making music together?

Robb:

Obviously, like most of us, I had known of Leee and Imagination since they released ‘Body Talk’. Funnily enough, I even had meetings at Red Bus Records back in the day when I was looking for a record deal. However, our paths never crossed in all those years. We really met for the first time properly at an awards show, when Leee was presenting a lifetime achievement award to Jaki Graham, and I was receiving an award from Noel Mckoy. We became good friends, it was as though we had known each other forever. We both knew that one day we’d collaborate musically together as we had so many of the same things in common. Fast forward a few years and I’m sitting in my studio with this beautiful track with all of these amazing live strings and horns that I had already written a different song over, but something just didn’t give me the goosepimple factor. Suddenly I thought, “who would do this music real justice that I know?… Leee!” So, I called him, sent him the track and in record time he rewrote the melody and lyrics etc. and the rest is history.

You’ve just released your brilliant new collaborative single, ‘‘Gotta Get Over You’, on Ramrock Blue Records, what’s it all about and what can we expect to hear?

Leee:

Robb sent me the idea and I changed some of the original ideas, it has great musical links, real live musicality from the 70s /80s influences, a cool Jazz Funk feel to it, and storyline of getting over someone you thought was your soul mate.

Robb:

Musically the way the track was written is literally how the track starts. First I had a rhythm idea, then I wrote the bass line and piano chords. It’s not usual to write the strings so early on as normally they’re added later to compliment what’s already going on, but they were arranged next. The horn parts were written afterwards. All of the music is live instrumentation and musicians. It really makes a difference to the dynamics and the soul of the composition. Sometimes I can hear entire string arrangements in my head before writing the rest of the music.

The single also comes with remixes from North Street West and Wade Teo, what did they bring to the table?

Leee:

Both added their own unique Soul, Funk and Sance flavours without taking away the vocal storyline and enhanced the groove and danceability. We love their mixes!

Are you planning to write more music together?

Leee:

We already have a hotttt follow up track, it’s really mega!

Robb:

Yes, definitely! We’ve got something else that we’ve worked on, plus I’d like to write and produce something for Leee’s next solo project too!

Leee, congratulations on your 40th year of Leee John & Imagination, that’s some milestone! What have you been doing to mark this momentous occasion?

Leee:

I’ve released a 17 CD box set – Imagination featuring Leee John ’40 Years’, which is a huge body of music. I’m also touring everywhere, which will go on into next year.  And on May 20th we will celebrate 40 years of imagination feat Leee John at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush with special guests Central Line, along with a few special guests. Plus I’m working on a lot of new collaborations in the studio.

Leee, you’ve also recently starred in Mike Read’s ‘City Of Dreams’ (‘the music of Eric Coates) musical show at the Esher Theatre, how did that go?

Leee:

Amazing! The show was directed by Ray Shell and I starred alongside the legendary Peter Strake. It started as a workshop and now looks like it will be touring next year and then into the West End, fingers crossed. So many people came to see me act, dance, sing and portray the St Lucian character ‘Creole’. There were many famous people came including writer impresario of ‘Evita ‘and many more famous musicals, Tim Rice, who loved it .

So where can we catch either of you playing live in the near future?

Leee:

Aside of the big Anniversary party at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Saturday 20th May, I’m touring all over into next year. Please check my gig guide http://www.leeejohn.com

Robb:

As I don’t have my own band, I don’t have any plans to play live dates unless someone is offering substantial funding for the musicians and rehearsals needed. I spent years playing small gigs in New York with my guitar and so now my vision for a live show includes strings and horns. Again, ‘paying to work’ is not sustainable financially as all of my money goes into recording, and none of my musicians are in a position to play for free.

Do either of you have any plans to record a new album?

Leee:

I have plans for a solo album next year as I have already a few things lined up, but I’m sure Robb and I will write more songs together .

Robb:

I am currently working on my next album called ‘FORVM’. And, hopefully Leee and I will work together again soon. Also, I would love to produce some other artists and do more collaborations, music for films and soundtracks.

Both having music careers spanning several decades, you’ve seen a lot of change. As artists in 2023, what needs to change in the music industry for the better?

Leee:

More diversity, more support from the Government for the arts for the youngsters, and less celebrity and more artistry.

Robb:

I think Leee nailed it! Less celebrity and more artistry. Fame without talent is vacuous. If fame is your goal, then you will just be an internet slave to numbers and followers. Creating beautiful art and music and inspiring others is our job, not creating content ‘clickbait’ for advertising. I’d like to see a return to the art of arranging music, using key and tempo changes. We’ve lost the art of creating beauty as everybody seems to create everything these days based on people’s short attention spans. On the business side of things, as artists we need more access to funding, as it’s impossible to produce beautiful music without it. Also, the internet and technology is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean that companies should be able to charge their users money to play / stream our music as many times as they like without us receiving ‘fair’ compensation. Great exposure is only great if your landlord accepts great exposures as payment! Hahaha!

What’s the secret to writing a good song?

Leee:

It has to come from the heart, the listener can tell if its real or not.

Robb:

I’m not sure there is a secret as such, as sometimes the best compositions occur by accident when you were trying to do something else and a song suddenly finds you or reveals itself to you unaware. However, I agree that the best songs are the ones that come from the heart when you’re open to the divine vulnerability of your creative muse. Sometimes we are just conduits. Also it’s best to stay away from the trends and the affectations designed to impress others. Make the music that you feel resonates naturally from your soul and spirit. Never make music thinking about money, think about expression, beauty, pathos and evoking emotion.

What record makes you say ‘damn, I wish I made that’?

Leee:

There are too many to mention, but I’d say ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gay. and also anything by Issac Hayes and Stevie Wonder.

Robb:

The Sweetest Pain by Dexter Wansel, Emotion by Merry Clayton., Portuguese Love by Teena Marie, One Day I’ll Fly Away by Randy Crawford and The Magic in Your Eyes by Rufus & Chaka Khan. The production on these tracks is everything I love! Such exquisite arrangements. All of the instruments and vocals are perfectly placed.

What’s next in the pipeline for you both that you can tell us about?

Leee:

A lot of touring, creating new ideas and collaborations on new projects.

Robb:

Trying to find financial funding to finish writing and recording my album, “FORVM’, and hopefully a few collaborations, and trying to get some synching organised.

Robb Scott & Leee John ‘Gotta Get Over You’ (Original Mixes) is out now on Ramrock Blue Records.

https://lnk.to/RobbScottLeeeJohn-GGOY