The Artist Explains: Wake Up Leo - 'Nowhere to Go' (Single)

We had a chat with Leo Ulph, the Kent based songwriter, about his band, Wake Up Leo, and their newest track 'Nowhere to Go'. 

Could you talk us through the ideas behind the making of the song?
The idea came about whilst watching a documentary about Africa.

I wanted the melody to have dark tribal elements, so I started with a rhythmic bass and used a chanting vocal theme over the top to compliment it. After that, I felt that the chorus needed to explode into a protest fuelled Indie Disco feel; so I experimented with some distorted guitars interlaced with jangly picking to offset the rhythm and feel of the verses.

Where and how was it recorded?
I recorded the track at Uptown Studios in Parson's Green (SW London). I'd already laid down a demo, so working with a producer; we tweaked the orchestral elements and made the chanting and rhythm as mesmeric as it could be.

What are the lyrics depicting?
The lyrics refer to the plight of Africa. It specifically concerns the way children are horrifically radicalised and drawn into wars, conflict and gangs in a manner that is totally perverse to nature. It echoes the sentiment that it's so easy to just look away from what's going on throughout the world.

The theme is carried over to the events in the Middle East and is a depiction of the true loss of innocence overtaking the modern world and all the generations coming through, irrespective of race or creed.

I despise the idea of technology overtaking tactility.

What can we expect to hear from your upcoming EP?
The Devolution EP covers the modern world. It explores Politics, Space, War and the future of the human race. They're all huge subjects but squeezed down to mini microcosms, thoughts and provocative ideas.

Is there a message you hope people take away from listening to the song?
I'd hope that the song at least encourages a listener to think. As a songwriter, it's perturbing that very often people don't listen to lyrics. My songs always attempt to tell a story and have some meaning. There's a lot of songs composed about relationships and love and heartache and that's fine. Song writing can do so much more than that though, as all the real greats have historically proven. These have been the musical documentors for their times.

I'd love the listener to think; 'That was an interesting subject, I wonder what else he's got to say'