@EricLeva DOES #INSPIREDBYSOUND TAKEOVER, April 10, 2015

Whenever we can, we have photographers takeover our Instagram page for a weekend to talk music and show how their photography is #InspiredBySound. This past weekend we had Eric Leva (@ericleva) takeover. See either our feed or below on how music inspires his photography.

Hi there! My name is Eric Leva and I am taking over the Grado Labs account this weekend as I share how songs, sounds, and music in general has inspired my perspective on life. Follow along! #InspiredBySound x @ericleva

A photo posted by Grado Headphones (@gradolabs) on Apr 10, 2015 at 7:38am PDT

When I was seven years old, I taught myself how to play the piano by ear. A year later I was accepted into the preparatory program at New England Conservatory, where I spent the next ten years studying classical music extensively. My favorite composers were Chopin, Debussy, and Beethoven. To this day, I still visit the conservatory and practice in some of the rooms I used to have workshops in. The Steinways still sound great, too. #InspiredBySound x @ericleva

A photo posted by Grado Headphones (@gradolabs) on Apr 10, 2015 at 11:16am PDT

Four of my favorite records. "Back to Black", "For Emma, Forever Ago", "Days Are Gone", and "Everybody". It's funny how music can hit you at the right place at the right time. I had just started writing songs when this Ingrid Michaelson record came out on my 17th birthday. I took that as a sign that it was going to leave an impact on my life. To this day, the opening track "Soldier" is my favorite song. Every time I hear it, I remember exactly how I felt hearing it for the first time through my car speakers in the parking lot of Barnes and Noble. These records take me back. #InspiredBySound x @ericleva // What are your favorite records?

A photo posted by Grado Headphones (@gradolabs) on Apr 11, 2015 at 10:53am PDT

I get a lot of questions about where I find inspiration for lyrics. For me, the lyrics that always move me the most feel genuine – but ironically enough, it can be challenging to write the truth if you try too hard. I have found that a great way to find inspiration is to listen to the words and phrases people naturally use in everyday language. There have been many times where an honest and meaningful conversation over coffee with a best friend has later sparked the premise for a full song. This is because in a unfiltered conversation, you don't have to be artful with what you say, you just want to speak your mind. #InspiredBySound x @ericleva

A photo posted by Grado Headphones (@gradolabs) on Apr 12, 2015 at 5:08pm PDT