Meet Lein | Singer, Composer, Vocal Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lein, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Well, I definitely wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t love it. As they unfortunately say with careers in the arts, if you can picture yourself doing absolutely anything else, DO THAT INSTEAD. A career in the music industry is not for the faint of heart, especially for those who choose the independent route. I grew up with two parents in the arts and saw firsthand how much work this life is. But my parents value art and its place and purpose in society. I value music more than anything. I believe in its power not just to enhance, but to heal, to connect, to bring understanding. Good art resonates, makes you feel something. Great art can shift perspectives. I guess I feel I have a message to transmit and hearts to change.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been making music a long time, but only very recently (last year) did I start to release some of my own into the world. I spent many years as a student and a mimic, studying Western Classical music and archaic American pop (often known as “jazz” or more accurately BAM-short for Black American Music, look up Nicholas Payton if you don’t know what I’m talking about). Meanwhile, I was also writing songs and playing them alone, singing to empty practice rooms. I’ve performed live all my life, but it took 25 years for me to start playing my original music in front of crowds. Everyone has their own timeline.

I was initially drawn to BAM for its improvisational qualities. Embellishments and coming up with melodies have always been my favorite part of singing. One of my favorite things to do is put on a random record and see if I can predict the chord changes, or at least follow my ear and sing something over the top of the song. (That is a fun compositional tool as well). Not sure if it’s my Aquarian nature, but I have this compulsion to never do something the same way twice. For example, ask anyone who’s been to my live shows- my live arrangements of songs only loosely represent their respective recordings. Whether I’m singing with a 5-piece band or a prerecorded track, the song will feel new every time to me. Lately, I’ve been in finding a balance between that unpredictability and a more comfort-based level of familiarity that makes my audience at ease. It seems that people like to know what to expect, and also be surprised within that framework. I love the challenge of making each show better than the next. “Better” to me means more focused, more intentional, serving the ART

I really value getting to perform my own music live, as it gives me a chance to tell my story and share my heart with people. And I especially don’t take it for granted, because prior to living in LA, I was holed up in my parents’ garage 24/7 teaching myself how to produce. Those years became a necessary step in my trajectory, and gave me the groundwork I needed to take the next step and truly become an independent artist.

It was not an easy path to get where I am, and seeing the road ahead of me, I know that this journey will continue to challenge me. But I have people in my corner who are learning to understand me, and I am growing to understand myself more each day. The power of community is so profound. As a Queer person, I have found that the more other LGBTQIA+ people I get to know, the clearer my vision of myself and hope for the future of the world is. That is what my music and my artistic trajectory is about: the journeys to the self and to each other.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ll be honest, I’m somewhat in the habit of gatekeeping my favorite spots. There are some places that are better stumbled upon. Just roll with locals if you want to see the best spots. Because it’s no secret, I will say the best Italian deli in Santa Monica is Bay Cities. Almost every time my roommate and I go to the beach, we stop by and pick up sandwiches and gourmet snacks for our day.
I’m an outdoorsy person, so a hike and/or beach day is probably on the itinerary. I know it’s touristy, but I truly love the Venice boardwalk. If you want a less hectic scene, the Venice Canals are a beautiful nearby walk as well. If you’d rather see the ocean and spend time in the sand, go further up north in Malibu to find lovely, quiet beaches. At night, there are a billion places to go out if you want to see live music or go dancing. I go to a lot of house and soul/disco DJ nights, and especially like to visit places where they spin vinyl. After dancing, there’s usually a taco stand or street food vendor nearby that fuels the end of the night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I need to express my thanks to my recently departed voice teacher, Vergene Miller, for her mentorship and love. I send all my love to her family. Thank you to all of my mentors and teachers, Darmon Meader, Tierney Sutton, Sachal Vasandani, Walter Smith, III, Wayne Wallace, there are too many souls who have poured into mine to name. I would also like to thank my mom and dad, my siblings, James and Finn, and every member of my family that has believed in me and supported me throughout this journey. Mom is always the first to buy my songs on Bandcamp, and my parents even let me set up my music production studio in their garage for a couple years. Shouts out to my best friend and manager Hannah, and to my longtime friend and collaborator brz (whose music you should definitely check out); without you both I would never have made it to LA!

Website: https://leinmusic.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itisi.lein/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leinfkaelenaescudero5230

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itisi.lein

Image Credits
Hannah Elizabeth