Blackpool singer songwriter and Freddie Mercury Scholarship winner Leoni Jane Kennedy releases her first single 'Life Like This'

A promising Fylde songstress, labelled for greatness by Queen’s Brian May, has released her first single this week.
Leoni Jane Kennedy with her band Will Plunkett and James Jackman picture by Rob Blackham, Blackham ImagesLeoni Jane Kennedy with her band Will Plunkett and James Jackman picture by Rob Blackham, Blackham Images
Leoni Jane Kennedy with her band Will Plunkett and James Jackman picture by Rob Blackham, Blackham Images

Leoni Jane Kennedy, from Thornton, has also received the backing of fellow home-grown star, opera singer Alfie Boe, from Fleetwood.

The 20-year-old has now created an album and single 'Life Like This' with renowned producer of Mötorhead, John Gallen. The single is released tomorrow, October 1.

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Former pupil of Millfield Science and Performing Arts College Leoni, who is now based in Guildford, was chosen by Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor to receive the Freddie Mercury Scholarship at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) where she has just graduated with a First Class Honours in Music Industry Practice.

Of the new single Leoni said: "It's just exciting to get it out there and share with people after this year, which has been a bit of a shambles, something we could never have expected.

"It was such a good opportunity to be able to work with John, who was a tutor hereon on my production class at the university, he is such a cool producer and I jumped on the chance to work with him with my band. We started last year and were also able to make use of the SLL studios and make a 'live album' it was incredible."

Leoni began playing music at the age of four, when she got her first guitar. She was inspired by the sounds of rock bands Rush and Status Quo.

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Aged 13, she won the title at the 2014 Rock The House competition, which saw her performing in Parliament, where she met Tony Moore.

Having since played many live gigs, including Wembley Arena in front of thousands, Lockdown has been a strange experience.

She added: "I played my first gig, a sell out show at The Bedford in Balham, London, a music venue run by a good friend of mine. It was phenomenal, insane- I loved it.

"But before that I hadn't even picked up my guitar for six months.

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"Lockdown hit just as I was getting into my dissertation and it might sound strange for a performer but I didn't write a single song. I've finished my degree and I'm working at the university until December. I've now got around five songs in the works but for now focus on the single and watch this space."

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