Written by Marilù Ciabattoni
Discovered via Musosoup
Citing Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks among her influences, Leah Jett–aka Kissing The Flint–is on a mission to resurrect female rock’n’roll, one banger at a time.
Originating as a performer in cover bands, once she got enough experience she decided to launch her own brand, and it’s been a crazy ride ever since!
Now, with “Gunslinger Love,” released at the end of August 2023, she’s bringing us back to the rock of the 1970s and 80s, with unpredictable arrangements and even more unpredictable vocals to accompany the melodies and harmonies.
A self-taught guitarist, Leah is now looking forward to “plenty of songwriting, more single and album releases, live gigging and touring,” all while, of course, keeping sustainability in mind.
In short, Leah Jett is just getting started.
Introduce yourself: Who is Kissing The Flint? How and when was the project born?
Kissing The Flint is me, Leah Jett, at the heart of the vision, the singer-songwriter, the creator. I work with other people who genuinely ‘get’ my music and want to be a part of realizing its full power to connect with a global audience. I’ve had the privilege so far in my career of meeting and working with some really fantastic people – mentors, musicians and studio wizards. They’ve invested their valuable time and energy and helped so much with developing my songs into something really special to share with the wider world.
I initially started performing in cover bands and built up plenty of live performance experience at the start of my professional career. Then in 2015 I felt compelled to focus a lot more on my own original music. The Kissing The Flint brand came to me as a visual image in my mind. Ultimately it means creating a spark with a flint in just the right way to fire up and hit the world right between the eyes with all guns blazing.
All of my life I’ve been fascinated by language – words and music – but as separate entities until about 2010. Once I’d taught myself to play guitar to accompany my singing voice in public, it was only natural that the two would eventually blend into writing and performing my own songs. Things have just snowballed since the best decision I ever made. Making my own music was who I was always meant to be, it just took me a few years to discover and own my true identity.
How has your music changed in the past few years?
Artists are constantly evolving because they write from experience, empathy and emotion while observing and immersing in the world around them. So shape-shifting through growth and development and how our own personal lives evolve is inevitable for creatives. With experience also comes clarity, realization and empowerment in discovering who we really are, not just as artists but as humans in general. I think all of this influences creative output. The people you cross paths with also have an effect, either directly or indirectly. I’ve grown so much from my very tentative early performances at open mics, into an empowered female artist who knows exactly how she wants to connect with audiences and channels this into her writing, recording and live performances. All of the facets of Leah Jett are now out in the light across multiple genres, from roots-beauty all the way up to rock-raunch.
Who inspired your music? Who are your biggest influences?
I’ve been inspired by female artists such as Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders), Kate Bush, Pat Benatar, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart), Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls), Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, PJ Harvey, Kate Miller-Heidke, Missy Higgins and so many more. Some of these women paved the way for so many more of us to gather up our courage and own what we do every time we put ourselves out there. Sharing music that comes from such a personal part of ourselves is a very vulnerable place to be in and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been guided and supported in that journey by some amazing female artists and mentors including Tania Doko (Bachelor Girl), Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch, Katie Noonan, Hannah Macklin, Roz Papparlado (Women in Docs), Sam Buckingham and Francesca de Valence. I’ve also been an alumna of the global online songwriting community, I Heart Songwriting, for about 2 years now and have written nearly 90 new songs to various challenges that my peers and I are given each week in groups of 10. We all give feedback on each other’s work which directs us to constantly develop and grow our craft. This dedicated songwriting practice keeps the creative gears oiled and inspires us to think outside the box. I’ve never been so prolific as a songwriter.
Could you introduce your favourite singles you've released so far?
My debut 6-track EP Unconditionality was released on CD and digitally in 2019. One of the tracks much-loved by my listeners and which fell out pretty much fully formed in the writing process is “Fare Thee Well Lament.” I’m particularly proud of this one as it was nominated for Australian Celtic Song of the Year in 2020.
I’ve since released 3 separate singles on digitals, which will form part of my first full album due out later this year. All of these tracks are different in genre and tone and I’m proud of all of them.
“100 Or Less” released in 2021 is an alt-rock song in protest about the lack of support for the Arts industry by governments around the world, with a fabulous music video conceived and filmed with the talented Jason Carter and Lydia Martin.
“Dune Girl” is a shimmery surf-rock track about growing up by the coast and how female surf culture has become so much more empowered in the 2020s than it was just a decade or two before. This track was shortlisted in the 2022 Australian Songwriting Association awards.
And now here we are in 2023, thundering into the blues-rock genre riding our latest release “Gunslinger Love.” Shape-shifting as an artist is an understatement!
How did you develop this style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
I always write what feels like me, drawing inspiration from artists who inspire me and things that inspire me in this kaleidoscope world. I’m already experimenting again, as my third full project, recorded and produced at Unit 7 Studio in Scotland, will actually explore soul, country rock and even a touch of reggae skank. Who knows what will happen after that album? Artists never paint the exact same picture twice.
Let's talk about "Gunslinger Love:" What inspired it and how did it come to life?
I wrote “Gunslinger Love” quite a few years back, simply as a poem without music before I taught myself to play guitar and before I called myself a songwriter. I think the original idea came to me in a dream! I’m also a big fan of the Stephen King Dark Tower book series with a gunslinger as the main character, so that may also have popped up in my subconscious at that time. Feisty, empowered women also feature regularly in my songwriting and Gunslinger is no exception.
Who produces your tracks? How do you choose which producers to work with?
Both producers I’ve worked with so far in my career actually chose me after seeing me perform and discovering my music. These relationships have both been incredibly rewarding in so many ways, personally and creatively. I’m currently working on two album projects at the same time! I started recording the first project with Dave Beacon at High Lion Studio in, Australia before moving to the UK in 2020. I worked with Dave on my debut EP Unconditionality back in 2019 and it’s been fantastic to work with him again. I’m also in the process of completing yet another album project here in Scotland with Huey Dowling at Unit 7 Studio. Both album projects are kind of running kind of neck and neck, so I’m not quite sure yet which one will be released first later this year.
Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
Alan Parsons. Dave Gilmour. Kate Bush! However, I’m always blown away and humbled by those I meet who dig my music and want to work on it with me.
Is music your main occupation at the moment? If not, how are you conciliating your day job with your music career?
Financially, music technically isn’t my main occupation, but music is what I really want to be doing every waking hour. Being able to make a sustainable living out of music is the long-held dream of every artist. So yes, I do have a side hustle day job like many others, which covers the cost of recording, producing music videos, gigging, travelling and touring. These are the sacrifices you have to make to realize the dream.
Have you ever been on tour? If not, would you like to embark on one? If yes, tell us about it.
I’ve been on plenty of mini-tours (well, they do that 3 gigs or more can be considered a tour) but my first major international tour will be next year, reuniting with our Australian band members for the first time in 4 years. We’re putting together all the dates behind the scenes at the moment and will announce them later this year. We’re already confirmed for the main stage at Agnes Blues Roots & Rock Festival in February 2024 along with legendary Australian artists Vika & Linda. We just can’t wait to rock out “Gunslinger Love” on Aussie soil for the first time since its release!
Who's your dream feature?
OMG, I would love to collaborate with Kate Bush, Chrissie Hynde, the Wilson sisters from Heart, Pat Benatar – all total queens and huge inspirations to me!
Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
Plenty of songwriting, more single and album releases, live gigging and touring. Living the dream of a sustainable music career and spending each waking moment doing what I love. Making music that people really connect with in all kinds of ways. What we do is for you, our audiences, our fans. And your support really does rock our world!
Discovered via https://app.musosoup.com #sustainablecurator