London has arguably the best music scene around, with thousands of talented musicians emerging every day, most of which are unsigned acts waiting for their big break.
Unsigned Friday brings you the very best unsigned music artists from around the capital, as well as giving these acts a platform to promote their music.
This week, getwestlondon's Emily Chudy caught up with west London rap artist Leon Jewlz.
Leon Jewlz is a rap and R&B musician from west London; he currently has an EP out and available to download, and is working on brand new projects for 2016.
He said: "As a music fan I've always loved rappers and singers that can paint pictures with words and stretch their abilities to say things outside the box in a bid to be seen as one of the best.
"So when people listen to my music I want that wow factor in my lines. That's what I pride myself on, always improving, always striving to be the best. I think progressive best describes my sound, always improving, always adapting.
"Although I'm initially a rapper/MC, I create all types of music and often find myself writing a R&B or slow jam track."
On his inspirations, Leon Jewlz said: "Life! The good times, the bad times, friends, family, relationships, everything really.
"I'm infatuated with the power that music holds, the way it can manipulate a person's feelings and even memories is something else. I want to be able to create music of that magnitude.
The musician cites Wretch 32, Ghetts, Kano, J Cole, Cassidy, Pusha T and 50 Cent as his main influences; "Say what you want about the man [50 Cent] but he has always been a beast with the bars!"
Leon Jewlz currently has a mixtape out and available to download, entitled If Carlsberg Did Rappers, and has been working on two joint EPs, which will be released in early 2016.
One upcoming EP is created with producers Southpaw, and the other is a joint release with west London artist Chrissi. The two musicians will be performing at a music event, Da Upcoming, in Battersea this month.
Leon Jewlz said: "I grew up in the heart of the garage age, So Solid, Heartless Vs PAYG... My high school years saw the whole birth of the Grime era; Dizzee, Wiley, Kano.
"If I'm being honest about it though, sports and football were my real passions back then, even after I left school. I was a youth football coach and was determined that was what I wanted to do with my life.
"Music was always in my heart so I kept up with the writing but didn't really do anything with it, until an accident in 2011 lead me to badly break my ankle and effectively end my sporting career.
"My time in recovery gave me a lot of time to work on my writing which brought me to the realisation that maybe sports wasn't my calling but the music was."
Leon Jewlz said: "I just love writing music, so if I can be recognised in the industry as a writer I'll be happy.
"I don't have to be the guy on the stage at all the award shows trying to make these Number Ones, but if thats where it ends up taking me then so be it."
Upcoming shows in London
- Monday December 28: Da Upcoming, The Battersea Barge, 52 Nine Elms Lane, Battersea, SW8 5DA - 020 7498 0004
For more information on Leon Jewlz, please listen to him on Bandcamp, follow him on Instagram, or follow him on Twitter @leonjewlz.
If you'd like to be featured in Unsigned Friday please email emily.chudy@trinitymirror.com.
