Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Leiweke.
Hi Stephen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to Nashville after college (Greenville College, Greenville, IL) in 1995. I was part of a big group of folks from my school that all moved here about the same time and got busy working in music. I had helped produce a band there that ended up signing a record deal and selling millions of records. But back then no one was gonna let some punk kid out of college produce a record. So I just focused on being a guitar player.
I studied with a well-known guitarist in town for a while and then got busy finding gigs and eventually touring. This led to getting to write songs with the different artists I was traveling with. This led to getting to help record demos for the songs and getting calls to play on sessions as a guitar player. Which eventually led back to producing.
I’m a Christian, and I very much feel like I was called to be here in Nashville, Not to be some famous musician person, but to be someone whose yes is yes, and who’s no is no. I believe God brought me through different opportunities to prepare me for what I’m doing today. He taught me to be faithful in the things that were put in front of me and do the best I can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it was a smooth road. There are times where work is hard, and times where things come easily. But if you’re smart with your money, avoid debt, and budget accordingly, you can weather the hard times.
Sometimes it’s hard to get people to take a chance on a producer or see the value in what a good producer brings to a project.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today, I spend my time producing music, engineering and mixing, playing sessions on guitar, writing songs, and helping new artists develop and navigate the first years of their careers. I own my own studio and keep my overhead low, so I don’t have to charge new artists so much that they can’t afford me.
I think one thing that sets me apart is that I work on a lot of different styles of music. I don’t just do pop, or country, or whatever. I love working WITH people and collaborating. As long as the people are good and songs are good, I’m in.
Contact Info:
- Email: sleiweke@mac.com
- Website: www.stephenleiweke.com
Image Credits
Ashley Jollay
