1man1mike

This is the first solo record Leonard has recorded in the U.S. His first three solo albums were made and released in Japan. 1MAN 1MIKE gives new meaning to the term solo album. Literally every sound on the record, from drums to bass to hooty hoot was created vocally by 1 man (Leonard) on 1 microphone (Shure KSM44). Says Leonard, 'With today's technology, all it takes is time and imagination. A 'pop' becomes a deep kick drum, a fingersnap becomes a gunshot, and a girly-voiced boy like me can pretend to be Barry White.' An accomplished composer and arranger, Leonard's work includes everything from Top 10 songs and TV drama themes in Japan to commercial music for Folger's, Taco Bell, and The Today Show to full orchestrations for The Boston Pops. 1MAN 1MIKE is perhaps a natural progression of his work with Rockapella, stars of the PBS show 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'. As the group's arranger, songwriter, and producer, Leonard has recorded 20 records and created 100+ acappella arrangements. 'When I write and arrange for Rockapella, I actually record all the parts, and then send each guy his part to learn, so this is just taking that concept to the extreme and then exploding it psychedelically on steroids.' Not only did Leonard sing every sound on every song, he recorded and mixed 1MAN 1MIKE as well. Said Leonard, 'This is definitely taking the concept of self-expression too far.' Asked to describe the recording process for this unusual project, Leonard replied, 'Lonely. Very lonely.' But, he adds, 'It's kind of an interesting contrast to the hyper-fraternal experience of working with Rockapella.' 'Computer recording technology has brought a new age of freedom to the music industry. Anybody with a laptop can make an album and share it directly with an audience. That wasn't possible just a few years ago. Today you're only limited by your creativity. This really is a time of musical revolution, and I think we're seeing an explosion of new kinds of music. As out there as 1MAN 1MIKE may seem now, it's just one voice of many to be heard in the revolution!'