Following the release of 'Venus' live at Morroco's Paradise Valley, we caught up with electronic artist Leo Wood to find out more about what goes into her eclectic sound. If you enjoy Leo's picks be sure to check out 'Venus' at the end of the article.
1. Little Dragon / Subtract - Wildfire
"This tune, what can I say? Timeless - I remember when it first dropped thinking it was the most classy and respectively dirty tune ever written. I love it, I keep going back to it, and its definitely a tune that inspires my writing. An absolute ‘go to’ when I’m trying to think outside the box or I need a reminder of how a quirky great underground dance song sounds! Its very South West with a baseline that rips any dance floor. It’s pure excitement and takes you on a succinct journey of anticipation and satisfaction. I respect Little Dragon so much as a songwriter and amongst a hugely diverse discography, there are some true classics."
2. Days To Come - Bonobo w/ Bajka
"For me, Bonobo started a whole movement of people creating classically inspired dance music that grew this epic appreciation for clever, laid-back, multi-layered, evolving masterpieces. I think a huge inspiration to a lot of artists in my generation. All the vocal artists he works with are just as sophisticated in weaving the tale and together dance music that is about so much more than the hook."
3. The Rhythm Of The Night - Corona
"Now to flip the previous comment on its head - this record is all about that perfect killer hook. Just enough repetition, its 'feel good' and it defines that dance anthem era! Rhythm Of The Night is the kind of tune I go to when I want to bring a little nostalgia into my writing. A garnish of bit tongue & cheek, cheese but not cheese - just great writing! It's a timeless soul anthem that everyone loves."
"Where would we be without a Drum & Bass tune that absolutely slams! Take Me Away throws me right back to my teenage raver years, and I remember hearing it and thinking, my god, I want to be singing that! It’s that ultimate classy soul vocal that excites every part of your body and clenches at your heart - Aaaaaagh! Combined with the insane artistry that is Chase and Status, what can you do but be putty in their hands? It's a proper jump up, go mental with your mates record that sits there forever in the back of my mind and makes an appearance every time I’m scatting over a pumping DnB demo."
"My final song keeps inspiring my current direction and is just well vibey and to the point. Sweet Baby by Mikey is a real unknown underground gem that I discovered on shuffle - it brought both my BF Dan and me together from different corners of the house to see what it was and say, ’ This is a sick tune’. Bouncy, warm, emphatic & feel good - it's a production that makes you want to groove and grind the night away in floaty euphoria. It pulls together flashes of Prince, Little Dragon, Polo & Pan and rolls along in a vibe of it's own simple confidence. This tune has influenced the entire middle section of my life set and brought on a little writing spurt to create new music that will mix into the groove. These are yet to drop ;) "
Watch Leo Wood 'Venus' Live at Paradise Valley