• News

• All

Apr 01, 2021 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Ryan Jay

South African indie soul singer/songwriter Nick Leng made his debut in 2020 with his LP LEMONS. Coming in the wake of an emotional breakup, apartment fire, and loss of a friend, Leng chronicled these experiences on his debut, exploring his innermost pains and returning to a newfound sense of renewal. All these reflections were, in turn, backed by Leng’s lushly layered arrangements and maximalist instrumental flair. Now Leng has returned, launching into his next phase with his new single, “One More Time,” premiering with Under the Radar.

With his newest effort, Nick Leng leans into a swaggering throwback to strutting ‘70s pop. Leng’s lyrics describe an inescapable seductive figure, one that keeps bringing you back time and time again. Leng mirrors that same magnetic force, drawing the listener in and holding them in rapt attention amidst the track’s heady atmosphere and eminently danceable beat. The groovy mix of genres, instantly catchy hook, and playful delivery from Leng all combine for an undeniable allure.

Leng says of the track, “The seed of the idea for ‘One More Time’ first came to me in 2017. it’s a song about a character I created in New York City; someone with a special kind of poison that ruins your life but a seductive toxicity that keeps you coming back for more. The production around it has worn many faces over the years but finally unearthed a feel that felt like it echoed many of the influences I grew up listening to particularly songs from 60/70’s that my brother and I covered with my dad’s band at farmers markets and little gigs all over NorCal. This one makes you want to move which I love.”

Listen to “One More Time” below and read our brief Q&A with Leng on the track here.

This is your new material since your debut LP Lemons. How has your creative songwriting process evolved since then?

I find myself always reinventing my process, but it’s lately been much more centered around just the piano, melody, and lyrics. I used to create a sonic universe for a song to exist in first, and that still is very important for me, but I’ve been spending more time away from the computer writing, before approaching the production. I think it has coincided with me solidifying how I see myself as an artist. The vision of me as a piano player/songwriter has been more important to me lately than production. I also have so much fun figuring out the piano parts. Usually takes some time because I have to have everything note be intentional.

What is your inspiration and behind One More Time, and what does this song mean to you personally?

The first demo for this song came about in 2017. It came about as some cool little bluesy electric piano riff, and, at the time, was quite inspired by the idea of creating a character and writing about them. I ended up making a whole mood board for who she would be which helped bring the lyrics along. this song definitely feels like a little memory capsule. I wrote it just when I was new to LA, and remember almost every aspect of my headspace the place I was, emotionally and physically, when I listen to it. Also love that, even though I started it back and it had many iterations, I only finished it this year. Insertion of the old self, and some of the new.

How has growing up in South Africa shaped your musical career, and who are you musical influences?

I moved to America when I was 9 and was homeschooled my entire life pretty much till college. I was definitely in this lil South African cocoon, with direct influence from my parents and their taste in music, art, and humor. I find it important for me to insert that upbringing in my music, even if it’s just some quirky little sound blurb, or something that I feel reflects my personality. I think there’s a lot of personal expression for me in the outro of one more time, and I don’t think it would be that way without a semi-isolated childhood where I got to explore myself a bit, and then express it as an adult.

My influences come from all over, and a song is rarely influenced by another song in the same genre. Sometimes I’ll listen to some classical, let’s say Ravel, and relish the harmonic content and voicings and then put that in a song that lives in a totally different universe. My brother DJ’s vinyl in Chicago and is constantly sending me fascinating music to listen to. I think I’m on a rhythm kick right now. Lots of Brazilian and African music, but juxtaposed with some ambient or more tender music like Sarah Davachi or Colleen. I also have an unhealthy obsession with techno over the years.