Ledisi, a Grammy-winning vocalist, has captivated audiences with her extraordinary voice for over two decades. In addition to her success as a singer, she has made her mark as a songwriter, author, actress, music producer, film producer, publisher, educator, and record company executive. Ledisi’s creative empire includes Fig Street Films, Chinweya Publishing, and her latest venture, Listen Back Entertainment/BMG. Inspired by soulful legends like Dr. Nina Simone, she continues to push boundaries, receiving critical acclaim for her 2021 project Ledisi Sings Nina. With numerous accolades, including Grammy wins and NAACP nominations, Ledisi has solidified her place among the greats. In this exclusive interview, she shares her insights on her career and much more.
Suit: Maison Martin Margiela; Tie: Dsquared2; Shirt: 831 MINHLE; Shoes: Christian Louboutin; Earrings: Alexis Bittar; Ring (left Hand): Alexis Bittar; Ring (Right Hand): Erickson Beamon
Suit: Maison Martin Margiela; Tie: Dsquared2; Shirt: 831 MINHLE; Shoes: Christian Louboutin; Earrings: Alexis Bittar; Ring (left Hand): Alexis Bittar; Ring (Right Hand): Erickson Beamon
1. Can you tell us about your musical journey and how you got started in the industry?
I’m originally from New Orleans, LA, and was raised in Oakland, CA. I claim both cities because they helped groom my musical journey. I’m from NOLABAY. (Laughing) In New Orleans, my mother had a local band, and my stepfather played drums in her band. I would watch them rehearse and record in our home. When I heard the playback of my mother’s voice after recording, that was when I knew I wanted to be a recording artist. Seeing my mother perform and lead her band was just like the first time the world saw Michael Jackson moonwalk on the Motown Special. All this inspired and influenced me to become the artist I am today. My mother ended her career as a singer to take care of her family when we moved to Oakland, California, for a better job.
It wasn’t until my college days that my career as a local artist began to take off. I started my own band, and word of mouth about my performances began to build my name throughout the Bay Area. I would wait tables, be a singing waitress, work at a record store, perform in local nightclubs, and be an understudy in theatre to help pay the bills. Until I didn’t need theatre anymore, and I used all my favors and two credit cards to pay for my first recording. I interned at a studio to complete my first project, “Soulsinger.” Here we are now, on my 12th recording, “Good Life,” and now a Grammy Award Winning Artist.
2. What inspires you when writing songs and creating music?
Life inspires me to write my songs—my life, someone else’s life, and the life that’s happening around me. I enjoy living my human experience. I love being emotional, intimate and talking about the world through music and other forms of my art. It’s a blessing to be able to express life through music and artistry.
3. What do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I want people to see themselves in my music. Becoming the soundtrack to someone’s life is a huge compliment. I hope that continues to happen. I hope my listeners feel understood, seen, and not alienated.
4. How do you see the connection between your music and your personal style or fashion choices?
I am a chameleon in my music as well as my style. I dress according to my mood and according to the moment I wish to express my art. It took a while for me to understand that I can actually visually express myself through my hair, my clothing, and my make-up. All of it is an external expression of me, just being myself. It took time to dissect who I am in this voice through personal style. Some days, I am simple, classic, and old black Hollywood. On other days, I am over the top theatrical, gothic, wearing Adidas, or in head wraps and kimonos being earthy. It all depends on my mood and the moment. My music is also unpredictable. I am known for being an R&B Vocalist. But as an artist, I have studied classical, sing jazz and I love singing in different languages. I have expanded in my personal style over the years. What’s funny is that I started singing in nightclubs in blue jeans, graphic tees, sneakers, and a baseball cap to hide my face. I’ve come a long way in my fashion as well as my music. I am very much still all over the place. That’s the beauty of growing into yourself you’re always growing. Fashion should be treated the same way.
Shirt: Jean Paul Gautier; Trench Coat: Pence 1979; Shoes: Christian Louboutin
5. How do you stay true to yourself and your personal style in an industry that often prioritizes trends and external expectations?
I don’t follow trends. I look at what’s classic, timeless, and iconic, and I love going against the grain. I kinda ignore trying to fit in. I love rebelling against what everyone does or wants me to be. I do what feels good to me. But I am also adventurous…I try stuff. I wasn’t always like that. But I find that when I do that, I learn more about myself, what I like when I see myself in something, and what I don’t like. I hope this journey of self-discovery and resilience inspires you.
6. What role does fashion play in expressing your creativity and individuality as an artist?
Fashion is another way for me to express myself and my vision for my music.Just like my music feels good. I want the same for the clothing that I wear. My fashion card is still growing and expanding, but I always focus on how fashion makes me feel. There is nothing like wearing something that gives you a superpower. I hope my journey with fashion encourages others to embrace their unique style. Don’t try to fit in; use fashion as a tool for self-expression. Forget what others think.
7. What message or feeling do you hope to convey through your fashion choices when presenting yourself as an artist?
I hope people see a bit of my personality. I hope they see I am soft, strong, classy, and free, AND I love being a black woman!
8. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album and the creative process behind it?
“Good Life” is my ode to “Feel-Good Music” for this era, sonically borrowing from other eras in the 1970s and 2000s.
9. What key themes or messages do you strive to convey through your music?
My storytelling has different themes centered on love: intimate love, God’s Love, Letting Go of Love, Receiving Love, and Self-Love. No matter what happens in life, we return to the topic of love or the lack thereof. My themes always revolve around getting through and surviving challenging times.
10. How do you see your music evolving in the future? Are there any new genres or styles that you are interested in exploring?
My biggest dream is to sing in a Musical on Broadway. I will definitely keep myself open to different genres of music. Right now, my focus is R&B.
11. What legacy do you hope to leave behind with your music?
I hope my legacy will be Ledisi sang life. She made us feel good.
12. Your new fashion look has been garnering a lot of attention recently. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your new style and how it ties into your music and overall image?
My stylist, Mickey Freeman, created all these looks. I decided to be open and follow his vision for me. He knows that my whole vibe changes when I wear suits. I feel empowered when I wear suits. I am a business woman, artist, smart, earthy, confident and sexy. But when I wear a suit with high heels my personality is amplified.(laughing) It displays a different side of my femininity and my strength. During this shoot, I felt like one of the songs I wrote with Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony called “Pieces of Me.” I sing a line in the song, “Like every woman I know. I’m complicated for sure.But when I love I love til there’s no love no more.These are the Pieces of Me.” This is me. I give my all to everything I do. I study and when I really focus on my vision and goals for myself I go for it. I am so grateful for this opportunity to display my voice through fashion and proud of myself for being open to trying new things. I learned so much from this shoot.
Vest: Pence 1979; Skirt: 831 MINHLE
13. What message do you hope to convey to your fans through your new fashion choices and overall image?
Be yourself and have fun with fashion. You don’t need permission to expand. I’m having fun, loving myself, and learning who I am as an Artist today.
14. Can you share any insights into your creative process when it comes to choosing your overall look?
I try not to overthink it; I ask the professionals for help if I don’t know. I love mood boards, and I try every piece of clothing my stylist gives me before saying no. I love suggestions on how someone else sees me. Being an actress has forced me to be ok with trying new things. The hardest part for me is knowing what truly is my thing. I keep changing. It was an empowering journey having my hair in locs for 20 years, but I wanted to be known for more than my hair. People kept holding me hostage to my hair.(laughing)The best feeling I ever felt was cutting it all off. I began to enjoy seeing my face, my smile and chubby cheeks.I started to understand my hair is another accessory I can use to create a statement with my looks.
15. How do you feel your new fashion look reflects your personal growth and evolution as an artist?
Right now, I’m having fun evolving and not defining things so much. I haven’t thought about what this new me is. I’m just having fun and looking for my throughlines in fashion and what makes me feel good. I do know that the natural look will always be included in my tapestry of fashion. That part will always be me. I will always love natural hair, my natural skin color and afrocentric looks. While enjoying the freedom to try different looks. It’s all very exciting.
16. How do you balance staying true to yourself and your personal style while also experimenting with new looks and trends?
I’m not a trend girl. I’m very classic and simple at times, and that never goes out of style. I run when everyone starts doing the same thing, but I will try it later and in private to see how I feel about it. LOL! Or my stylist will force me to try a trend, and I will figure out how I can make it slightly different. That’s me being rebellious and open at the same time.
17. What advice do you have for fans looking to embrace their own sense of style and confidence?
Have fun! Be Open, and don’t let the world hold you to a look that makes them feel good. Do what makes you feel good. The camera will tell on you. LOL!! Keep growing and be a chameleon in fashion. Dress according to your mood, don’t feel obligated to anything. Let your personality be your best accessory. Take care of your teeth, eyes, skin and your feet. Your body needs you to love it internally as well.
Denim Shirt: Maison Martin Margiela; Denim Vest: Pence 1979; Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti; Earrings: Loeffler Randall
18. You’ve performed on many stages (tours, award shows), performed in front of Presidents and Dignitaries (The White House…many times), and all over the world (London, Paris, etc.); what have been some of your favorite looks and why?
Good Life has been my favorite album cycle. The photoshoots, the video concepts and all the people I have worked with on this project visually has pushed me forward. They are the reason I was ready for something like this. My classic mushroom cut that my hairstylist Sir Tony Walker created for me reminded me of my childhood. I felt love, I felt soft, vintage and modern in all the looks Nonja McKenzie (my very first stylist), whom I have worked with for over 10 years, put together for me. Classic looks from the 70’s never go out of style. She and my husband/photographer Ron T. Young made sure I was outside my comfort zone. Being adventurous in looks I hadn’t done before. My Make-up Artists Kym Nicole Ombré and Nicole Caldwell made me feel like Donna Summer with glossy pouty lips and soft eyes. Ron T and Nonja created a mood board filled with edgy feel good looks that embodied the nostalgia of an old soul record. It was exactly what I wanted to describe the music from my latest project,”Good Life.” I love wearing A. Potts’ Gold Gown for Patti LaBelle’s Birthday Party. I felt statuesque like the Queen that I am—royalty and feminine—very girlie! I loved everything I wore on my Ledisi Live At The Troubadour Performance! I wanted a rock ‘n soul feel. The Ruthie Davis boots, graphic T-shirt dress, and fishnet stockings felt good. I felt like I belonged in the history of The Troubadour! I felt like a star!
19. What are some of your favorite designers and why? How does wearing them make you feel?
I have loved working with so many amazing Black Designers, even those who aren’t as popular as the designers I will mention.
Lilian Raven is an amazing designer from Britain. She was the first to make me a beautiful African Kimono for my performance Tributing The Great Nina Simone at Royal Albert Hall for BBC.
Ralph Jefferies has also made many of my iconic Afrocentric Kimonos and tailored many of my garments. He taught me the importance of having pieces tailored to the body. It gives a beautiful refine look.
When I wear Jean Paul Gaultier, I feel sexy-geeky chic. In JPG, I feel like my true nerdy self.
Sergio Hudson, I have yet to wear any of his designs. I’m hoping to change that very soon.
Alexander McQueen, there’s a gothic side to me. Growing up listening to Madonna, The Cure, and Tears for Fears reminds me of my heavy eyeliner and black lipstick days. I love looks that feel like freedom, beautifully disturbing the peace. Thats art to me.
Emilio Pucci is so much fun! Fits my colorful personality.
Loewe comfortable and still edgy.
Christian Louboutin, you must have these shoes when you have great legs like mine. Who needs a dress when you have great legs and a Louboutin shoe? (laughing)
Maison Martin Margiela, again, is comfortable with an edge.
I pray to always wear Versace for the rest of my lifetime. I feel regal, sexy, and bold.
Jovana Louis is stylish and comfortable.
A. Potts, I feel regal and vibrant. I belong in A. Potts clothing!
Ruthie Davis shoes make a short girl like me taller. I looove!
Stockings: Wolford; Boots: Versace; Trench Coat: Pence 1979; Shirt: Pence 1979; Jewelry: Miraco
TEAM CREDITS
– Photographer: James ‘JD’ Barnes
– Fashion Stylist & Creative Director: Mickey Freeman
– Hairstylist: Stacy Gray
– Makeup artist: Latisha Chancey
– Production: Freemen By Mickey
– Photographer assistant: Oren Siddo
– Stylist assistant: Carla Martinez @cecemystylist