news archive for Leila Adu
Photo by John Munson, The Star Ledger
“The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra musicians rehearse new works by Princeton University graduate student composers at Richardson Auditorium. Professor Michael Pratt sits on the conductor’s stool and discusses revisions with graduate student Leila Adu-Gilmore after hearing her piece played.” Princeton, Tuesday, December 11, 2012, The Star-Ledger
See more photos by John Munson of the NJSO readings at The Star Ledger
The Electric Foundry — Past and Present Electronic Works
Celebrating our LAST PIANOS RESIDENCY SHOW THIS WEDNESDAY 19th at 9PM. Futurospective: Song of the Day No. 6 is the electronic alter-id, rare and unreleased oh!
Rare Cuts from the Lilburn Electroacoustic Studios (2003.)
Chronological clips have caught up to an EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW to the 5th album! Now for the moment you would have waited for had you known it was about to happen…
This is my first fully created album track programmed in Ableton with beat loops, vocal layers, some warm real vintage synths and final mixing wizardry from Mike Gibson in Wellington, NZ.
A seldom heard track often too delicate to be played in live concerts, ‘Glass’ is on my fourth album. The title/chorus (0.37″) is partly about the sounds that you can hear inside your head when things are very quiet juxtaposed with the visual memory of a play that I saw in Rome where an actress swam in broken glass on the floor…
‘Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker’ the is my most recently released album and was recorded whilst I lived in Rome for the Italian National Radio label, Rai Trade/Tracce. You can buy it at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Ode-The-Unknown-Factory-Worker/dp/B004B3PC1Y where it is listed in the COUNTRY section?!?!?)
Recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audion in Chicago on a brill small Wurlitzer!
“Still got my teeth and my nine pairs of shoes
Still got my teeth n’ food n’ shelter n’ shoes oh
Am I torturing you?
My neighbour is no better than you
My family is no better than you
My skin is the same if not darker than you
Well, I’m sorry if your skin’s a ticket to disaster for you”
— Ode the Unknown Factory Worker, Leila Adu
I have a huge soft spot for my second album, ‘Cherry Pie.’ I wanted to record with New Zealand producer David Long who is lead guitarist in NZ indie band, ‘The Mutton Birds’ (love the lead guitar lines in that band!) makes music for TV and film, including hobbit music for Lord of the Rings, music for dance projects – a close collaborator with amazing dancer Douglas Wright. I digress… We received funding from NZ on Air which I was extremely grateful for, allowing us to rehearse with my amazing line-up (more soon…), with plenty of time for my vocal overdubs and David’s banjo, electric guitar and mellotron loops. Usually bound to chords and accompanying myself, I even had time for organ bass (with my feet?!?) and keyboard melody lines!
Bokoo: “Bokɔɔ” (sounds like “bockaaw”) means ‘soft’ in my father’s native language, Ashanti Twi – as in, “How are you?” “Soft” (cool.) The vocal line reminds me of Roy Orbison a bit…
[this kitten is still available in CD from NZ; otherwise email – info at leilaadu.com ; or you can buy it digtially at Bandcamp ]
I’m not so big on words about songs; thus I thought I’d come out of my shell and sonically time-travel through my past and future albums in SoundCloud clips over the next few weeks. This is in celebration of our residency this month at Pianos NYC and a bunch of upcoming releases including the nearing dawn of my fifth album! That’s right.
Let’s start back at the beginning… This is ‘Sweet Indulgence’ from my first album recorded with New Zealand producer, Jeremy Cullen. A sublime guitar intro from Chris Palmer, then I’m on piano/vox, a symbiotic kick-A rhythm section of Tom Callwood (bass) and Chris O’Connor (drums) with a sweet cello line from Francesca Mountfort to ice the cake.
[The CDs are sold out (yeah baby!) but you can buy the album digitally here on Bandcamp]
At Pianos, Leila will play songs from her unreleased fifth album that takes a new direction into Avantronica, replacing her acoustic sound for layers of organ and vintage synth backing in Ableton. The live set is a duo of Leila’s vocals, synth and piano with New York based Italian drummer, Federico Ughi. The duo met in Rome as Federico divides his time between New York and international tours with legends such as Daniel Carter, William Parker and spends time playing with Ornette Coleman.
Leila is currently writing for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s readings. Her latest recordings have offers from vinyl and electronica labels in London and abroad. Leila’s new music video “Bluebeards and Monsters” was recently produced in by New Zealand by film director, Alyx Duncan and is soon to be released.
LEILA ADU’ SEPTEMBER RESIDENCY AT PIANOS, NYC
158 Ludlow Street, NY 10002
Wednesday September 5th at 8pm,
Wednesday September 12th at 7pm,
& Wednesday September 19th at 9pm
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/414381548608968/
Price: $10 — Advance Tickets available @ www.ticketweb.com
Details: www.pianosnyc.com & www.leilaadu.com
Next level UK Hip Hop chart success Murkage is a late addition to the Invader Music Video Special next week at the The Book Club in Shoreditch and if you’re new to them you can check out the recent Guardian article, Behind the music: Political music tries to break down barriers – on the streets and on the radio. The event is free and features Live performances and Video playbacks by: Murkage, Leila Adu, Golden Rabbit, Mademoiselle Mademoiselle.
Award-winning video director Alyx Duncan is a kiwi to keep your eyes on; her new feature film The Red House is out on the international Film Festival circuit this year and her production of Leila Adu’s video single ‘Bluebeards and Monsters’ will be screened at the Invader Music Video Special on Thursday as a world première.
Thursday 28 June
8PM
Invader Music Video Special
Murkage + Leila Adu + Golden Rabbit + Mademoiselle Mademoiselle
The Book Club
100 Leonard St
Shoreditch
London
FREE ENTRY
Invader Music Video Special FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/473006169392888/
Stills from “Bluebeards & Monsters” Music Video directed by Alyx Duncan with editing and special effects by Jason Bock
Invader presents a Music video special. Talks with directors, actors, about the videos created for bands. Including Live performances and Video playbacks by: Leila Adu, Golden Rabbit, and Mademoiselle Mademoiselle
FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/473006169392888/
Thursday 28 June
8PM
The Book Club
100 Leonard St
Shoreditch
London