Meet Leoni Jane Kennedy, PRS artist blending prog, soul and pop to redefine rock music
Leoni Jane Kennedy is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter whose music has been described by audiences as hauntingly beautiful. Blending intricate guitar work with powerful, soulful vocals, she crafts a distinctive sound that pushes the boundaries of rock with progressive influences woven into her melodies and rhythms. Her lyrics carry a depth beyond her years, earning praise from publications such as The New York Times calling her music as “a welcomed portal to something passionate and powerful.” Recognized early on by Queen’s Brian May, who awarded her the prestigious Freddie Mercury Scholarship, Leoni relocated to London to pursue an MA in Songwriting. She has since toured extensively, most recently showcasing her album New World Woman - an acoustic reimagining of iconic Rush tracks. In 2024 she became an official PRS Guitars artist, and in 2025 Prog Magazine ranked her No. 4 in their Best New Artist category. Now, with her brand-new single Sloe, Leoni continues to shape a bold new wave of rock.
Leoni recently joined us at our Camden store, where myself - currently a PRS Pulse Artist - spoke with her about her musical journey and progression to becoming an official PRS Guitars Artist.
The guitarguitar Exclusive Interview with Leoni Jane Kennedy
guitarguitar: Leoni, it’s a pleasure to meet you, thanks for taking the time to talk to guitarguitar today. Last year you graduated from being a PRS Pulse Artist onto becoming a fully endorsed official PRS Artist. This is the dream come true for any guitarist out there! Huge congratulations! Leoni, how does it feel to have achieved this and how did it come about?
Leoni Jane Kennedy: Thank you! It’s still not quite sunk in yet. It felt amazing to be recognised by such an established brand that I’ve loved since being a kid! I looked on the PRS website one day to see updates on latest models and saw the Pulse Artist Program pop up. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I’d receive the Pulse Artist placement, let alone graduating to be an official artist!
gg: What has changed for you, as a musician, since you became an official PRS Artist?
LJK: My confidence is sky high right now. It’s given me the boost I needed to really put my time into my music career rather than avoiding it for a million excuses under the sun. When a name this big says they believe in you, you fucking listen… and get over any self doubt you’ve ever had. They will always be in the back of my mind, but now I have a point to prove not just to myself, but to and on behalf of PRS. I try my best to represent them through my live work and releases because I feel like they really look after me as an up and coming, independent musician.
gg: What advice would you offer to guitarists looking to enter the PRS Pulse Program?
LJK: If you truly believe you’re in this career for life, then just go for it. It’s a tough industry, but the setbacks should make you work harder for what you want. Never tell yourself you deserve anything. The minute you look past the grunt work instead of through it is the moment you let yourself down. Reward the small achievements in a subtle way, and then think of the next thing you want to achieve. I can guarantee your audience will be doing the same, so think like them… too much time on one thing regardless of how amazing it is just isn’t cutting it anymore. Don’t think of this as a negative - it’s providing you with room to experiment and find who you are for the long run.
gg: What advice would you give to players who are looking to move up to the PRS Official Artist Roster?
LJK: Value characteristics over technical playing. It’s never been about how fast you play, although social media does a great job of convincing us otherwise. If you can find your voice on an instrument, that’s what they will look to endorse. Ways of doing this could be for example, looking to your musical roots and finding what elements you resonate with most, then writing or playing in response to that influence as a form of practice and technique building. The parts of my playing that I love most of the time are directly influenced from players such as Alex Lifeson, Mark Knopfler and Francis Rossi to name a few.
"It’s never been about how fast you play, although social media does a great job of convincing us otherwise. If you can find your voice on an instrument, that’s what they will look to endorse."
gg: Let’s go back to the beginning of your journey with PRS – how did you first hear about the Pulse Artist Program, and what inspired you to apply?
LJK: I came across the programme on the PRS website and literally thought, “fuck it!!” and applied immediately.
gg: Was there a particular moment or milestone where you felt that your work as a Pulse Artist was starting to lead to something more with PRS?
LJK: No, not at all. I was regularly posting my work as a guitarist for other artists and myself on social media and tagging them [PRS] each time with the guitar in the shot. They would regularly engage with me and offer opportunities to get involved with the community which was fantastic. When I received the email saying they were promoting me, I was totally in shock! I never could have dreamed this would happen, especially considering the roster of artists they have already.
gg: How did the transition from Pulse to Official PRS Artist actually happen? Was it a conversation, a performance, or a culmination of things?
LJK: I’m presuming it was a culmination of my live work and social media postings. They never said anything specific, just that they were fully on board with what I was up to and wanted to make the relationship official. I said yes… (of course)
gg: Looking back, how important has the Pulse Program been in shaping your journey as a professional guitarist?
LJK: I wouldn’t be where I am today without the Pulse Program. It’s been absolutely vital in my career - I’ve always had major self doubt issues which, most of the time, stems from other people not taking an interest. I’m a believer in my ability and what I could be, but PRS taking a shine to me is what really made me wake up and take myself and my career seriously.
"Be totally and unapologetically 10000% yourself. Remember to surround yourself with equally motivated and similar people to you. Have friends that make you want to do better, not ones that ignore your success because of jealousy or ignorance. Don’t value anyone else's judgement but your own."
gg: Leoni, you are also endorsed by other brands such as Orange amps and BOSS to name a few. What’s the secret to the world of endorsements for a young artist like yourself?
LJK: Be totally and unapologetically 10000% yourself. You don’t want to work with people who you don’t get on with, just because it might be alright in the end. It never is. The companies that have supported me throughout the years have done so because I have been completely open and honest with them about myself, my experience, where I want to be and what I want to achieve in the near future. If you can paint a very clear and advertiseable picture for them, you bet they’re going to pay attention. To note - you don’t need the support of these brands to ‘make it’ (whatever that means for you). What I realised after 4 massive brands and companies entrusted their name on my shoulders was that the belief you need comes from yourself. Remember to surround yourself with equally motivated and similar people to you. Have friends that make you want to do better, not ones that ignore your success because of jealousy or ignorance. Don’t value anyone else's judgement but your own, UNTIL you are convinced your personality and brand can’t be shifted by difference in opinion.
gg: What inspired you to pick up a guitar in the first place and decide that you wanted to become a professional musician?
LJK: I was 4 or 5 and my ma taught me dueling banjos on her old Fender acoustic - just the opening riff, but since then I’ve been hooked. I loved the way it made my fingers move… felt right I guess!
gg: Prog rock seems to be your speciality. What guitar techniques do you implement into your music?
LJK: I’m certainly a huge prog rock fan and it plays a massive role in my background influences, but I wouldn’t say prog is my speciality. I’m always interested in creating something different and interesting with movement and character rather than just a hook (which is still just as important). I don’t limit my hands. I have notes in my head I hear and then I try the weirdest shapes and tunings until I’ve painted the thought onto frets. It’s such a satisfying process. Lyrics most of the time come after music, and I cater to the lyrics sonically depending on the impact I need it to have.
"I have notes in my head I hear and then I try the weirdest shapes and tunings until I’ve painted the thought onto frets. It’s such a satisfying process."
gg: Let’s talk about your rig: what guitars are you currently playing and what’s on your pedalboard?
LJK: Live I tend to use my PRS Alex Lifeson SE Signature acoustic Angelus. It’s a proper workhorse and puts up with me bending the neck for full acoustic Rush solos! If I’m playing in my band or with other artists, I tend to use my PRS SE McCarty 594 in charcoal grey. It’s such a gorgeous design and the sound of those humbuckers is ridiculous! I used to use my floyd rose ebony wood ltd edition PRS but it’s a heavy fucker and did my neck and shoulders in when used every night on tour. It’s a great recording guitar though… the McCarty is just so much lighter, although I miss my whammy!
I’ve been working with a few different artists lately so to save the physical strain and patch cable nightmares I’ve had, I bit the bullet and went digital. I now run through a Boss GT-1000 and it’s a total beast. Again, for recordings it’s not my first choice because I still believe in experimenting to the max, but for live stuff on long tours, it’s a godsend with a huge array of possibilities all adaptable to the extremes.
gg: Leoni, you’ve played in bands but you’re also a solo singer-songwriter. What area of your career do you plan on focusing in the future - what are your next projects?
LJK: I’m currently in the middle of releasing my debut originals album “Synthetic”. All 7 tracks are being released one every 6 or 7 weeks with music videos for all of them thanks to the fantastic JJ Eringa who has done wonders for my moody face…! I’m focusing on releasing this album with singles for now, then once the whole album is out I’ll release the merchandise to go with it, plus a tour next year with my band.
I’m touring in October / November with my stage dad Eóin de Paor on bass from Moving Pictures Rush tribute band. I toured with them as the opening support act for a few years promoting my acoustic Rush re-interpretations album “New World Woman” and it proved to be a huge success. Now Eóin and I are doing a duo run playing all songs from this album, plus the next acoustic reinterpretations album…….. More soon! (join the mailing list - leonijanekennedy.com)
So far we have Hull, Aldershot and Stratford booked in and we’re looking at either Scotland or Manchester area for the 4th show.
I’ve just completed my Masters in Songwriting at ICMP - I ended up writing near enough a book before whittling it down to an hours long final presentation, so I plan on releasing this book with live soundtrack of the songs written for each section and touring this next year in libraries, alongside community workshops for creatives going through the grieving process.
gg: What’s your next guitar going to be? And what’s your dream guitar?
LJK: After we did the original interview at guitarguitar Camden, I went to look in the acoustic room and ended up buying a pre-owned PRS SE A50e Angelus too…!! I’ve had my eye on it for about a year and as soon as I picked it up, I knew. I’ll be using this for alternate tunings live. This was my “next” guitar and I won’t be buying anymore anytime soon!
My absolute dream PRS though, is the 2002 double neck ltd edition dragon inlay body…!
gg: Thanks for joining us for a chat Leoni & best of luck in your career!
Listen to Leoni Jane Kennedy’s latest single Sloe.
Be sure to follow Leoni Jane Kennedy on social media for updates, tour dates, and behind-the-scenes moments. Her journey as a PRS Artist and her mesmerising guitar melodies are guaranteed to inspire!
