The Bite Magazine Issue 17

A lmost like a dance scene from Flashdance or even Soul Food where Faith (Gina Ravera) performs an emotional performance before getting intimate with Miles (Michael Beach), British-born musi- cian and trained dancer Leon Else amazes us with his choreographed moves in the video for his ‘Dance’ track. The video which was recently premiered on Paper Magazine was created to reflect how music can be a form of therapy and showcases Else’s fluid dancing and singing skills. “The song is about dancing as a way to make depression go away,” says Else describing the new track. “It is about how music can be like medi- cine and finding ways to get through life by yourself. For me, that’s moving and being physical.” ‘Dance’ is the follow-up to his major label debut single ‘Black Car’ which features model Suki Waterhouse in the video and gathered over 600,000 streams after it was played on New Music Friday on Spotify. Popdust said the single mirrored “his own per- sonal evolution” while i-D Magazine commented,“Leon croons in his new- found dreamy deep vocals” and the Guardian described him as a “young soul rebel”.The video opens up with a levelled semi-darkened stage with a flashing lamp sitting on the side and as you hear footsteps, you can just about make out a figure walking away from the camera toward the stage. The rest of the lights come on and Else positions himself on a chair in a slouch starting pose like he’s auditioning to an invisible panel or audience. He then perceives into a series of dance moves that show off his trained abilities and the light suddenly goes off for a few seconds. When it comes back on, the camera is focused on the artist’s taping feet and he then launches into even more dance moves whilst singing about the power of dance setting you free from your woes. The artist is known for his articulate songwriting, introspective storytelling and impassioned dance moves and has captured his work ethic through his music. Coming from meagre backgrounds, Else hustled and saved up to put himself through classes at England’s finest dance schools which would propel his skills and eventually landed him in the Daniel Day Lewis’ film NINE . He then returned to doing music, a craft that he used as a distraction from his struggles with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper- activity Disorder) and depression. After he self-released his EP in 2014, Else found his home at Polydor, with his debut full-length set for release next year. www.leonelse.com Leon Else Images courtesy of Purple PR DANCE bite new music