4 X GRAMMY Nominee-LEDISI on Taking Risks & Finding Confidence
I thought I discovered Ledisi. When I heard the 2007 hit, “In the Morning”, and it became the new song on my ipod’s rotation, I had no idea I was two albums, several awards and almost a decade late. Fast forward, four GRAMMY nominations and three albums later to October 2011 at Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC. I was blessed with the opportunity to interview Ledisi who is not only an artist but also a budding author and entrepreneur. I speak with my fellow New Orleans, Louisiana native about risks she’s taken in her career, advice for artists on how to accomplish their goals and learning to see outside of herself.
AimerAmour: As the CEO of your own independent label, are you looking to develop any artists yourself based on your experiences in the music industry?
Ledisi: I would love to do that! But right now, my entire focus is on building on my career so that I can have longevity, then I’ll be able to help others. You have to help yourself first before you help others. But, I’m writing songs for other people and I’m advising several singers. A lot of artists look up to me for advice and that blows me away because I don’t know what I’m doing! I’m just writing out my ideas and my plans for what I hope to accomplish and I execute them. I don’t always know how I’m going to do it but I know its possible. So I always tell aspiring artists you have to write your goals down then you read it, say it and do it.
AA: It’s been over ten years since the release of your first album and you’ve been GRAMMY nominated four times but many of your fans still feel you’re underrated. Do you feel that way?
L: Not at all. I’ve never felt underrated because I’m always being me consistently and naturally and I feel like each time is brand new. I have a new CD and a new audience. Each album creates new experiences and opportunities for me and I’m enjoying the ride as it comes. I know that a lot of people view me as underrated but I love who I am and where my presence is at any level. So as it rises, I’m excited about it. I tell people, any level you’re on, make the best of it. As you grow, it will be the same level just more things surrounding you; more work, more people that hear your music and either criticize you or love you. The levels of people I can reach changes but I’m still making Ledisi’s music.
AA: Can you discuss the new book your working on?
L: Its kind of a memoir, its kind of inspirational. The release date isn’t set, probally sometime next year. I have a Time Warner Inc. book deal thru ESSENCE. It’s exciting because I’ve never been able to express myself so freely as I’m doing now. I’m very comfortable becoming an author. I was doing it naturally thru songwriting, poetry and affirmations but I was hiding it! When someone saw it they said I needed to find a way to let the world see it. I was like, ‘No, I don’t want everyone to see my words!’ But this person really stressed me putting it out. And that’s how it happened, one person told another person and they read it and said we must make you an author. I have great material and I didn’t know it. It feels really good to have this opportunity.
AA: You were apart of a group, Anibade, and you started LeSun Records with your friend Sundra Manning. How was that group dynamic and was there a particular situation that influenced you to go solo?
L: I enjoyed it being in a group, I loved it. I thought it would allow me to hide; or at least I tried to hide but it didn’t work. She was just as strong as I was with songwriting and production so we shared in that aspect. It was fun to have a partner to work out everything business wise, musically and creativity; it felt comfortable. But at some point you have to find your own voice and see what else is out there for you. I was writing before I met Sundra Manning, who was my business partner with my first two independent CDs and we still friends, we still work together here and there and we still own our masters to my first two recordings so we’re still, in a sense, business partners. I loved being in a group, I still miss it sometimes because you want someone to take the reigns but that’s why I have great managers and great people on my team. I loved the dynamic of being apart of a unit because I worked really well within it.
AA: Were there any risks that you’ve taken within your career that you would advise for other artists?
L: Wow, that’s a good question. I think artists should take more risks. If this industry was easy, everyone would be doing it. I think the risk that I’ve taken includes trying different things with my imagery and trying different things musically. For example with “Turn Me Loose” a lot of risks were taken with mixing different genres with R&B for one album as well as putting several different producers together, that was fun. Be open to different collaborations. I wasn’t that open at the beginning but that risk was necessary and ended up being a natural progression for my music. When it’s comfortable, that means you aren’t growing completely. You have to go out of your comfort zone and constantly challenge yourself in different ways. Everyone’s risk is different, mine happened to be more creatively and with my imagery.
AA: If you weren’t singing, is there a particular hobby or career path that you would pursue?
L: If I wasn’t singing, I would want to do what you’re doing right now, music journalism, film making and editing. I’d be a complete nerd with glasses! Or I would love to teach. I never really thought about having a clothing line, but if I did, it would focus on empowering women to make them feel beautiful, I would love to do that. Maybe a scarf line or lipstick but I’ve never really thought about it. Basically, what I’m doing outside of singing is the book. It’s fun writing affirmations, playing with words and telling people about my story about feeling inadequate, insecure, not good enough and then overcoming those obstacles. I look forward to sharing my story with more people, having it resonate with them and hopefully inspiring other women.
AA: Everyone finds self-confidence in themselves and then as an artist at different ages. Was there a particular moment, age or situation in your career that solidified your confidence in yourself?
L: Being in the business that I’m in, everything is about how you look so it’s very hard. Always having my mom with me has been a blessing because she’s so supportive. The first time I felt like, ‘Finally, I’m in my own skin’ is when I did BET’s “Black Girls Rock” and I saw myself. It took me a while to watch it. I saw people go crazy over it but I never had the time to actually stop and watch the whole show. When I finally saw it, I said, ‘WOW, I’m ok with me. I’m finally in my own lane and that’s me. That’s Ledisi right there.’
I had never seen myself that comfortable and confident; as black and beautiful and as strong as I was on that day. And I didn’t know it; I was really goofy that day I wasn’t trying to act a certain way, I was just the little girl from New Orleans amongst people I admire. But I had grown so much into my confidence and strength that I was exuding it naturally. And that’s what I saw when I watched my performance. To see myself back at me made me feel…I felt proud to be Ledisi. That was the time I connected with the imagery. I felt like-that’s MY Voice and I love me because it was mirrored back at me. It’s hard to see yourself when your looking at yourself everyday but when you look outside of yourself it’s an amazing experience. And when you see yourself and you love yourself its great. I’m now confident with all aspects of myself.
To also have Michelle Obama say great things about three women that have persevered through many different obstacles and I’m one of these three women who’s story has inspired her really blew me away. That made me feel like I’m doing something right.
Watch the Video for Ledisi’s new single, “So Into You”!
Special Thanks: Wendi Cherry
