Biography

Luke Leighfield is a 23-year-old aspiring pop star. He was born in a sleepy town called Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire, but now resides in Southampton, UK. Luke’s love for music began when he started learning the piano and violin at the ages of four and eight respectively. However, after spending his youth competing in classical music festivals and playing in orchestras he realised that his heart truly belonged to rock and roll. Luke subsequently played guitar in various awful bands in his teens before eventually reverting to his trusty steed, the piano, and with some inspiration from Ben Folds and Something Corporate he started to bring his musical creations to life via those 88 keys.

Luke’s first releases were a cluster of home-recorded EPs in 2005, followed by his debut album Garde Ta Foy, Garde Ta Foy in 2006. Since then Luke has released two further albums and a Greatest Hits CD in Japan (!) in addition to various singles and EPs. His debut single If You Haven’t Got Anything to Say hit the top 5 of the UK indie singles chart upon its release in 2008. Luke’s most recent album, Have You Got Heart?, was recorded with UK underground super-producer Peter Miles (The King Blues / Futures) and was released for free download at the end of 2009, as well as being available to buy as a limited edition 40-page photo book, with images by award-winning photographer Tom Price. Luke’s albums have all been released on his own label, Got Got Need Records.

In his quest to take his music to the masses, Luke has notched up well over 550 gigs in eleven countries around the world, including tours in Russia and China. Over 150 of these performances have been house concerts in fans’ living rooms, testament to Luke’s grassroots, DIY approach to making music. In 2007 Luke managed to play 170 gigs whilst simultaneously studying for his Music and English degree at the University of Southampton (amazingly, he managed to graduate with a 2:1 in 2009.) Higher profile gigs have included appearances at Latitude Festival and The Great Escape, as well as support slots with the likes of Joshua Radin, William Fitzsimmons, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Kate Nash, Scouting For Girls, Jenny Owen Youngs, Frank Turner, Johnny Borrell (Razorlight) and Jose Vanders. A full gigography can be found here.

Luke has recorded live sessions for Huw Stephens at Radio 1 and John Kennedy at Xfm, as well as receiving support from Tom Robinson at BBC 6 Music who said of Luke’s latest album Have You Got Heart?; “If there’s any justice in the world, Luke Leighfield ought to be all over the Radio 1 playlist. Luke has completely upped his game on this new album. He’s got mainstream playlist appeal together with indie sensibility, which he still hasn’t abandoned.” Luke is currently writing for his fourth album, which he hopes to record in early 2011.