Columbia Nashville Recording Artist Leah Turner talks to us about her career thus far, her musical influences, future plans and offers advice to aspiring artists:
Tell us about the early years and how you got started in the music business?
MY EARLY YEARS IN THE MUSIC BIZ , WERE LIKE ANY OTHER KIDS WHOMS PARENTS SAW A TALENT … VOICE LESSONS , DANCE LESSONS, etc… WHICH IS SUCH A BLESSING THAT WE HAD THE MEANS TO DO ALL THAT
Who did you look up to/admire (artist wise) when you were growing up?
BONNIE RAIT , SHANIA TWAIN , WHITNEY HOUSTON, THE LIST REALLY GOES ON AND ON
How did you get your first Big Break in the industry?
MY ATTORNEY INTRODUCED ME TO THE HEAD OF A&R OF SONY AND I PLAYED SOME WORK TAPES FOR HIM , UPON OUR FIRST MEETING HE SAID HE WANTED TO SIGN ME TO SONY , BUT I HAD DONE A GOOD AMOUNT OF HONING MY CRAFT AS ARTIST IN LA … FIGURING OUT WHO I WAS AND WHAT I WANTED AND DIDNT WANT.
Who is on your team and how important are they to you with regards to your overall success?
GEEEEEEZ EVERYONE ON MY TEAM IS IMPORTANT , FROM ALL MY PROMO STAFF AT COLUMBIA RECORDS , TO MY MANGERS AT MORRIS MANAGEMENT , MY BOOKING AGENTS AT WME , MY PUBLISHER RUSTY GASTON , TO THE PRODUCERS AND SONG WRITERS I GET TO WORK WITH TO MY BULLDOG DIESEL. I CANT CHOOSE ONE .. BECAUSE I CANT DO IT WITH OUT ANYONE ON MY TEAM ! .. YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE THAT SURROUND YOU AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE A TEAM OF ELITE SOLDIERS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WAY MORE THAN I , THEY HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE !
What is a typical day like for you? Walk us through a 24 hour day!
I AM THE WORST SLEEPER INNER … ( IS THAT A WORD) SO UP AT 7:30 am , COFFEE , GOTTA HAVE COFFEE .. IF ON THE ROAD , I HIT THE GYM , THEN GETTING READY FOR THE RADIO STATIONS , THAT ONLY LATELY BECAUSE OF PROMOTING MY SINGLE “TAKE THE KEYS” AND SO RADIO ALL DAY .. IF HOME, COFFEE , DOG , GYM WRITING SESSION…
Who are you currently working with (writers, producers, collaborators, etc.)?
MY MAIN PRODUCERS ARE JESSE FRASURE , CARY BARLOWE AND JIM CATINO .. THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT NASHVILLE IS ALL THE AMAZING WRITERS TO NAME A FEW.. MARV GREEN , LUKE LAIRD , JIMMY ROBBINS ,JON RICH , HILARY LINDSEY .. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WRITE WITH SOME AMAZING PEOPLE.
Tell us about the writing/creative process and do you always focus on writing a Hit Song?
OF COURSE YOU ALWAYS WANT THE SONG TO BE A HIT … BUT YOU JUST GOTTA LET THE SONG UNFOLD, LET THE FEELING AND THE MUSIC SPEAK TO YOU , IT CAN START WITH AN EMOTION, MELODY , A GUITAR LICK OR JUST A SONG TITLE .. THEN YOU GO FROM THERE…ITS REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT EVOLVE INTO A SONG THAT PEOPLE HEAR AND CONNECT WITH IT !
Have you written any songs for other artists?
YES I HAVE .. ORIANTHI, LIT , TAYLOR DAYNE AND SOME CHRISTIAN ARTISTS AS WELL.
Have you been touring/performing on the road? If yes, does any particular city or venue stand out in your mind?
I HAVE BEEN ON A RADIO TOUR , WHICH IS GOING TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT RADIO STATIONS ACROSS GODS GREEN EARTH AND INTRODUCING MY SELF AND MY SINGLE ! I DID GET TO PLAY THE “BEACH BASH” IN DETROIT BEFORE A KENNY CHESNEY SHOW , THAT WAS AMAZING .. !!!! KENNY AND I HAVE THE SAME MANAGEMENT AND ARE ON THE SAME LABEL .. SO IT WAS A BLAST ! WHAT A PERFORMER THAT GUY IS DANG!!!!
How has success changed your life? Are you involved in any charities to give back to the community?
I AM JUST GETTING STARTED WITH SUCCESS… BUT GETTING A RECORD DEAL , PUBLISHING DEAL AND HAVING MY FIRST SINGLE HAS SOLIDIFIED WHAT I ALWAYS SAY … ” DREAM BIG” THEY COME TRUE!
Do you have a release date for your single or album? Who is working with you on the record?
MY SINGLE HIT RADIO ON OCT 7TH , “TAKE THE KEYS” ITS ON SIRUIS XM “THE HIGHWAY” NOW AND ITUNES ! RECORD WILL BE OUT EARLY 2014.
Who are your musical influences and why?
GEORGE STRAIT, TRISHA YEARWOOD, PINK, SHANIA TWAIN, GARTH BROOKS .. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON .. BECAUSE THEY SING ABOUT REAL LIFE, THE WOMEN SING ABOUT LOVING YOUR MAN , BUT STILL BEING STRONG AND INDEPENDENT ..
Are their any current artists that you want to collaborate with or feature on your upcoming release?
ERIC CHURCH , PINK , GEORGE STRAIT.
Tell us one thing about you that no one knows?
ID HAVE TO KILL YOU … SO PASS 
Do you endorse any products or companies?
NOT YET , WE ARE WORKING ON ALL THAT … I AM JUST GETTING STARTED WITH MY FIRST SINGLE.
How has social media changed the game? How active are you with all of the social media platforms and do you have a favorite?
PRETTY ACTIVE .. ITS SO COOL BECAUSE YOU CAN INTERACT WITH FANS ON SUCH A PERSONAL BASIS , THEY BECOME LIKE FRIENDS ! I FAVORITE TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
What advice would you give a new, aspiring artist trying to get into the business?
GET THICK SKIN, DONT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER AND IF ONE DOOR DOESNT OPEN TRY ANOTHER !
What are your future plans?
BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND CROSS MUSICAL LINES WITH COUNTRY MUSIC .. BUT MY MAIN GOAL IS TO BE A SOUNDTRACK TO SOMEONES LIFE OR MOMENT .. HELP THEM IN WHATEVER WAY I CAN WITH MUSIC LIKE MUSIC HAS HELPED ME !
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