Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Leila, who discusses her origin in music and more.
About Leila:
Leila couldn’t be further from your typical indie artist. Hailing from Neverheardofit Pennsylvania, her sound and lyrics carry their humble roots. A little Jazz, a little soul, a hint of strange and three shots of romance will keep this spellbinding cocktail of uncanny ballads in your head forever. Having grown up playing piano, singing, and dancing in recitals and competitions she was exposed to the industry at an early age, setting the stage for this artistic endeavor. Her love for Chopin and Debussy heavily influences her songwriting, infusing her sound with a musical maturity and sophistication.
Primarily inspired by late romantic classical composers and vintage Italian film scores, Leila describes her sound as “Subtle Freak Hawaiian Prom.” A syrupy vocal and hypnotic wave of guitars wash you away from wherever you’re sitting and into a velvet armchair at a sparkling B-list dinner party.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
Leila: Music has been part of my fabric since I can remember. I’ve been singing and playing piano since ages four and five and my earliest memory of music is watching the opera Carmen on my mom’s VHS player at age 3.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Leila: My songs start with musical motifs or lyrical phrases that then, via writing sessions before work, are fleshed out into more cohesive demos over time. Then I work with my producer Tim Carr to develop the instrumental arrangements in the studio. Whatever the case, it’s important there’s a thesis of sorts to my sound and words. Ideally something always sticks with you after hearing a song.
Review Fix: What inspires you?
Leila: Trying to find meaning in the ideas I’m grappling with and an eager attempt to make the most of our all too short lives!
Review Fix: What does music mean to you?
Leila: It can mean many things based on the song, genre, its historical significance, and so much more! I do love how the music you play on repeat creates a “folder of memory” in our minds. It feels like everytime you come back to a song you once played on repeat, the smells and sensations of that time in your life revisit you along with the song itself.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Leila: Romantic indie soul with rich syrupy vocals.
Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?
Leila: Well this is my first release as an artist and due to COVID I haven’t performed live yet, so get let me get back to you on that!
Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?
Leila: I needed to write a song to encourage myself to move on from a particularly heavy moment. This was my inner dialogue telling me to keep on.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2020?
Leila: Start the production process on my next album!
Review Fix: What’s next?
Leila: I’ve written a few songs for my next album and look to hit the ground running on their production. Also, I’d like to fine tune a live acoustic solo set while in quarantine.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Leila: I did my best to be as sincere as possible, but ultimately you’ll receive it in your own way, and I can only hope you like it! Thank you for providing a platform to share my music!
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