We recently had the chance to connect with Leslie Rich and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Leslie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music. Always. Either absorbing it from places like YouTube (Thanks KEXP!), my own collection, or more likely, playing it, and writing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Leslie Rich and I am a singer songwriter. I’m originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, but I’ve called Minnesota my home since 2004. I’ve been writing and performing music for 36 years and I’ve discovered that what I write are songs laced with hope. I’m an eternal optimist, and that shows up in my work. I play rock music when I write for myself, but with a Celtic lean, so although not fully Celtic, or folk, I sometimes veer into those areas. I love my Minnesota music community and am actively involved in the Irish Fair of Minnesota, and Folk Alliance Regional Midwest. I think it’s important to not just take, but to give back, and I find that very fulfilling.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad was a business owner and I worked for him at his butcher shop, so I always had a good idea of what hard work looked like, and knew that you can’t just show up and expect to coast. My very good friends Mary Jo and Krista were both leaders in a coffee company I worked for and they invested a lot of time into me as a manager of their business, but also (Perhaps surprisingly) were invested in my music outside of having a day job. The things I learned then, are the same principles I apply to the path the band takes, and also share with my own team.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
In 2024 I had tremendous loss. My mum went into hospice at the end of 2023 and I had to travel back to Ireland for that. While I was letting my friends know that I was home, and why I was home, I learned that two of my closest friends also lost parents that same weekend. While checking social media at the airport on the way to Ireland, I learned that the first songwriter (Davy McMahon) to take me under his wing and take me on my first tours had passed. I was sorry to learn that I had missed his funeral by a day.
After my mum had passed and I had returned home to Minnesota, I had a phone call 3 weeks later that my dad had died of a stroke. I once again had to make the trip home. in 2024 I lost close neighbors, people in the local music scene, three nephews, and the final nail in that, my gentle giant pet cat, Gary.
I had hard moments and for sure sought professional help, but I think that the thing that helped me the most was songwriting. I was able to process through writing, and also give voice to the hardships… It was therapy in itself. My mum raised me with a strong faith, so there is also a lot of comfort in that, although it doesn’t take away missing people you love dearly. I can remember them with fondness, and share their stories while performing.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I don’t really think about this too much. I can certainly see musical “movements” and often enjoy them, but I don’t consider those when I’m writing for myself. I do believe that striving to find, or follow fads, is a waste of time, and stops your own journey of simply finding the authentic you. That’s what I’m probably doing the most; Always making sure that what I create reflects authenticity.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I compare writing songs, or even simply playing guitar, to a tidal pull. My wife laughs because even if I’m passing a guitar on my way to do something else, I’ll still strum it! When I’ve been busy with volunteering, or my day job to the extent that I’m not playing or writing music, I feel down. I feel lost. I always feel that pull and get drawn back to playing and it’s the one thing that grounds me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leslierichmusic.com
- Instagram: @leslierichmusic
- Facebook: @themusicofleslierich
- Youtube: @leslierich
Image Credits
@crystalliepaphotography @davidtannerphotography
