Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Jessica Leia
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I don’t think there is one. When my mind wonders back to my earlier years, there’s a whole conglomerate of memories where music lives – it was never not there. I do remember being a little, little girl and sneaking into to my parent’s room when I knew my Dad had put on his headphones which came out of his 1970’s/80’s dual record and cassette player. He would always play classical music from said ancient contraption and I wanted to listen too. It’s so funny because at the time, I thought I was being sneaky and that no one knew I came in and listened also – Dad would always have his eyes closed (relaxing or sleeping). But obviously he knew I did it because he always left out a second pair of headphones plugged into the player so that I could listen too. It was so peaceful: those headphones locking me in to a world of big and beautiful sounds. I remember just lying there, soaking in some of the greatest classical works of all time: “Pachelbel’s Canon”, “Pictures at an Exhibition” and my all-time favorite Adagios, “Adagio in G minor” and “Adagio for Strings”. I never even knew the names of the songs I used to hear, I just loved the way they made me feel. Shoot, some of them I STILL don’t know the names of lol …. But the music spoke to me in ways nothing else did or could. Song titles or not, I can still hum all of those songs backwards and forwards.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Much like the answer to the previous question, I’d really have to say that, it started from the start. I love what music can make you feel and the places where it can take you. It was second nature to me to consider that I could paint my own sound landscapes – maybe there’s some past life stuff there, I don’t know lol … Still, I started making my own music as soon as I could remember because it simply made sense to. From the beginning, in this life, there was nowhere to go to digest the things I felt and the thoughts I thought and the experiences I had: no place to work them out, no person to disclose them to or to confide in. But music afforded me that opportunity. I could understand my life and my Self through the music. So, in that sense, music – the listening and creation of it – became my confidant, my refuge, my place to go from the very start.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My current baby is “Me and My Song”. It is a video series I produce which tells the stories behind the music I write, shows the recording of said music and then naturally, presents that music to the world. As much as one may feel drawn to create, I think the flip side of that same coin is to then feel compelled to share one’s creations. Why do you think people post so many pictures of their kids all over social media? Lol … So, feeling compelled to share what I write, I – much like many other musicians – went the traditional route of live performance and such. After many, many, many years I, however, found, although it was indeed a way to share the music, that I wanted people to be able to enjoy what I had made much in the same way as I had as a little girl; up close and personal. Even though in a live performance, you are physically present with each other, most, if not all of the live performances I found myself entertaining in were more-or-less environments and situations that took away from the music, itself.
My current project, “Me and My Song” not only allows people to know more about the music, if they so choose, but it is a way for me to continue to escort my music into the world in a clean and consistent manner. This way, I am always able to share the palette of music which I write and to present it in professional, clean and clear sounding productions that allow for people to really hear the music, itself. … You know… without drunk people shouting out from the crowd to “Play Freebird!” lol
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
Well, given that I get compared to nearly every artist under the sun; from Shakira to Elvis, (I don’t think I sound like either one lol), I’m not really sure what to tell people when they ask this question. As obnoxious as it is to say, the simple truth is that my “sound” depends on the song. Sometimes I write music that sounds like pure Classic Rock, some that sounds like 70’s Folk – even piano compositions that can only be described as New Age. And if/when I sing in these varied song styles, my vocals take on the timbre and behavior that is best for the song itself. So, in that regard, not only can each song have an incredibly different sound, but so can I as I sing in a completely different style or register from song to song.
Something I find that people often say, aside from comparing me to an endless variety of other artists that I don’t think I sound like, is that they describe my music as being very powerful and full of soul. That’s a description I appreciate more than any comparison to anyone else’s sound because, for me, it’s about what the music does to us that is the important part. And although it seems impossible for such a notion to be separate from the sound of the music, itself, in my opinion, the “sound” is almost secondary to the energy it is imbued with. Although, if you want that energy to reach people, you better make sure the sound isn’t ugly lol…
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
The open root position chord. It taught me to pack a harmonic punch in one go of it instead of getting stuck on basic triads all of the time. It’s the shape my hands automatically take when I sit down at the keys. It’s weird how one little thing can change your entire landscape.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Well, if you are asking about the music only, sometimes I am writing lyrics in my head while I’m in the middle of conversations (I know, rude, right?) or sometimes I am working on melodies while I am walking around or driving in the car. They haven’t yet made a law against creating music while you drive. Lol … But don’t tell anyone, I do often grab my phone to speak or sing into it the ideas I am working on. It’s not texting! … So, in that sense, all I need is my self, really. But naturally, if you want to get in and figure out the nitty gritty of what chords you will use precisely etc., it behooves you to have your instrument of choice at the ready (mine being the piano). Software is definitely necessary when it comes to the recording and presenting of music and music videos. But when it comes down to writing and creating, I am really happiest just to be sitting at my piano with a pencil and paper.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Actually, I have a nephew, Gabe, ( Tokyo_Tony ), who is a Hip Hop/Rap artist and I’ve recently been listening to his work on SoundCloud. I wanted to learn one of his songs and rap it back to him at the next family get-together lol … I am, however, finding, that his songs (as tends to happen with Hip Hop and Rap) have a LOT of words in them and I’m not quite sure I can do it… Maybe just a chorus or a verse hahaha … Anyway, it’s been fun to listen to because it’s so different from what I write and is not normally a genre I listen to. But he’s my boy (Godson too, in fact), and it makes it extra neat to hear songs from him – no one else in my family writes music. There’s been a time or two when we’ve been hanging out and he’s busted some rhyme on the fly. It’s a fun talent and he plays with words well. But dang, Gabe, watch your language!! Sheesh. Kids these days. SMH.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I don’t separate the two actually. The music I write is all about personal experiences: my experiences, of course, but also at times, the experiences of others. This is, in my understating, a one player game. So, unless one makes an effort to get outside of one’s Self, everything one creates will ever be influenced by the experiences of one’s Self – up to and including its observations of others. Life is chalk full of the stuff that music is made of and creation is coming through the Self so I’m not sure there is any way the two actually could be separate.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope any potential listeners will find that, no mater what aspect of my work they come across, they benefit from it energetically. I deliberately don’t use the word ‘emotionally’ in this instance because although emotions can be a gateway to the underlying Self, I hope that whatever message and emotions folks may experience from my work, (more so than being something they take from it), are a means by which they can access deeper and wider parts of themselves. Even if it’s something as simple as going to an energetic space where they find themselves laughing at some instance of the human experience they never thought to laugh at before.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Simple: music has taught me that I can have experience and simultaneously observe that experience whilst I am in the throes of it. In that regard, music has pointed the way to my inner witness and if I didn’t know how to pop into and live from that eternal perspective when needed, the tsunamis of life would have swallowed me up long ago. So, in essence, music has ineffably taught me how to live in this world.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Well, I grew up in Concord, CA, so all of my first and most memorable concerts were held at what used to be called (and still is by the locals) the Concord Pavillion. It changes names deepening on who buys it, but we all call it by its OG name. I would love to do a show there! I did get a chance to perform a piano composition I created for my high school graduation on that stage once long ago. But I would absolutely love the chance to do an actual show. Just being the one who’s doing the performing on that stage after having seen so many greats up there over the years and after having so much fun and experiencing so many awe-inspiring performances over the course of my life, well, it would be such a treat to have a chance to give something like those experiences to the folks back home!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I am actually blessed to be working with some of the most talented and fun guys I have ever known. You will see in the upcoming Season 4 of “Me and My Song”, Garry Williams on drums, Rob McCloskey on bass and Dean Kattari on guitar and music production. Rob and Dean have been working with me for like 15 years! To make music and arrangements with these guys is not only so much fun – just because of who they are as men – but because they are also SO f*ing talented. I’m not sure exactly what good karma brought these fellows into my life experience, but even though we don’t see each other a lot (and mostly just do music projects more than hang out at bbqs and such), they have become such a part of my musical endeavors, that I fear I would feel a bit lost without them. I consider myself VERY lucky to have them to collaborate with.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Please come on over to www.JessicaLeia.com or www.MeandMySong.com! They lead to the same place. I mostly have 2 of each in the social media categories as well: one for me (Jessica Leia) and one for the show (Me and My Song). Naturally some of the material crisscrosses, but “Me and My Song” platforms are mostly strictly about the video series, whereas, a lot of the Jessica Leia stuff has info and performance stuffs from outside of the series. But if you go to my website, you can find all of those platform links there. You can also sign up for my email blasts or even get personal texts if you want to be apprised of any and all new videos, performances and/or press releases.
You can head straight to “Me and my Song” at this YouTube link, although I also post the video series on Vimeo, Bitchute and Rumble. https://www.youtube.com/meandmysong
Here are some music streaming links if’n you’d like to head straight to the tunes!
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NyyeAJp9e2AHCIsLSBvlo
ITUNES: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jessica-leia/1046619203
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
Naturally I would like to reach more people with my music. It’s the reason why I do everything I do. If I only wrote and recorded for myself, things would be much easier. But as I mentioned earlier, I want to be able to share what I create with others and therein lies the rub. So, I am planning to essentially keep on keepin’ on for now. But “Me and My Song” pretty much costs me all of my resources and takes all of my time, so if it doesn’t catch steam by Season 5, I will essentially be forced to focus my energies elsewhere – lest the drain of not having a life for years on end starts to take its toll lol …
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Actually, I hope very much so, that if my music does anything for folks, that it helps them to discover things about themselves.
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the
interview 🙂
Great! Here’s a link to my promo describing Season 4 of “Me and My Song”
