Allisa, known artistically as LEECE, was born a naturally gifted singer with an impressive range. Hailing from London in Canada, at seven years old she began studying classical vocal and piano through The Royal Conservatory of Music. In her teens, she auditioned and performed with Amabile Choirs of London, won top placements in various solo singing competitions, and began writing and recording her own original, contemporary music. She’s also a dancer, producer, multi-linguistic, and multi-instrumentalist who has spent the last fifteen years specializing in everything from music to international business. We had the opportunity to speak to her.
LEECE, thank you for agreeing to this interview with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be and why?
It’s my pleasure, thank you for taking the time to interview me. If I wasn’t an artist I’d still be working in a creative space – maybe in fashion & branding back in Europe or I’d be a journalist. I love writing in all forms.
How did you get into music?
I suppose you could say it’s something that’s always been in me. I started studying vocal and piano at a very young age and have been singing and secretly writing songs ever since I can remember. To be honest and more specific with you though, I had a pretty significant head injury a year ago and as part of the recovery, I was re-learning the piano. It was a powerful experience for me. It showed me that when all the distractions of my life were removed, and my brain activity was truly stripped back, what I started to hear were all these song ideas. I probably wrote a hundred songs in those couple of months. I had been writing and even recording songs since I was about 10 years old, but this time it felt different. It was like I couldn’t push it aside anymore out of fear. Since then, it just felt like something I needed to pursue because these songs come from a place that is bigger than me.
Who have been your industry influences?
Lorde, HAIM, King Princess, Taylor Swift, Christine, and the Queens, Matt Corby, and the absolute legend that is James Blake. I would say I follow songwriters and producers more closely because I like to find themes in their sounds and words. Everything Sarah Aarons touches turns to gold. She’s a great songwriter. I also love following what Joel Little is producing.
Please tell us more about your latest project.
My new single, Move Your Feet, is a complete juxtaposition to 2020. I wrote the song a while ago when I was feeling bored and uninspired. It’s an ode to all the curiosity I have about the world around me and, especially in the production and lyrics, I wanted it to create sounds and ideas that would be able to pull someone out of the mundane. Originally, I wasn’t sure if I was going to release it because it felt like such a contrast to what was happening in the world this year. But when I was expressing these doubts to some of my friends and peers, the feedback to actually have a pick-me-up song to remind you that there is still a lot to enjoy and explore in your everyday surroundings was resounding. I brought this song to Nick Fetchison & EMAC Recording Studio in London once it was safe to record and over the summer we created something together that, I think, feels nostalgic and optimistic at the same time.
What has been your biggest challenge as an artist and how do you overcome it?
I have a real love/hate relationship with time. Some days it feels like I’m not moving fast enough in my career. It’s hard not to compare yourself to other artists who are accomplishing amazing things. On the other hand, there are days where I can’t believe how much I’ve accomplished in only eight months of releasing music on my own. To overcome these ups and downs, I rely heavily on my meditation practice and continue writing music. For me, the noise of the world and the pressures I sometimes feel like a product of it, all quiet and become a distant hum when I’m writing music. I try to focus on finding that feeling in my life as often as I can instead of obsessing over my social media or streaming numbers.
Who would you love to collaborate with and why?
Oh my gosh, the list is so long. I’d have to say Rostam Batmanglij. The moment I heard the violins in Gwan, I felt this overwhelming feeling that I had to work with him at some point in my life. It would be a huge honor to collaborate with him.
Can you share any information on other projects in the pipeline?
I am working on lots of new music that you can expect for the first half of 2021. It’s been a very creative and exploratory time, and I feel it’s actually a privilege right now to release music where each song feels really unique from the previous. I am compiling a debut EP for next year as well. Outside of music, I’ve also launched a podcast called A New Leece On Life, where I continue the creative conversation speaking with creators of all kinds and share my own experiences along the way.
Where can our readers find out more about you and your projects?
You can follow me on Instagram (most active), Twitter & Facebook & Youtube @leecemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2g2Y3MHWEfBpreBWioWwOK?si=viLFWxqSQPOh4j2B5fVWeQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/leece/1502855321
TikTok: @leecebeats
Website: www.leecemusic.com
Images by Becca Webster
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