Leila Adu profile picture

Leila Adu

LOVE not WAS!

About Me

"Her voice is extraordinaryboth tender and terrifying" -Sunday Star Times.

"From the moment she opened her mouth I had almost constant goose bumps. Her voice moved from the absolutely sublime. The set was flawless. Listening to Adu is like being exposed to something elemental" ***** -Salient Magazine. Sounding like hot treacle on broken glass, Leila Adu has been described as "Nina Simone for the noughties". Praised by critics and fans alike, Leila Adu explores the dissonant edges of familiar forms with a voice that is simply incomparable. London-born with a heritage both European and Ghanaian, Leila was brought up in New Zealand. She has appeared with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and produced two acclaimed albums, which led to national tours in Australia, Indonesia, U.K. and Russia. Since returning to London 2006, Leila performed both solo with piano and with her live band at various venues in London, as well as recordings from The Orchestra Pit and live studio sessions and interviews on BBC World Service and Resonance fm. In 2007, Leila performs in London and abroad, solo and as part of Leila Adu & the Don’ts with heavyweight rhythm section of bass legend John Edwards and the infamous Steve Noble on drums. ALBUMS: CHERRY PIE (2005) Produced by David Long (winner of Producer of the Year Award 2001 and sound designer on Lord of the Rings) with some of New Zealands top musicians. "Curiously compelling . . . Centred on her percussive piano playing and an astonishing voice theres little I can compare it to. -National Radio. "If you havent already aquainted yourself with Adu, go do it." ****1/2-Dominion Post DIG A HOLE (2003) Leilas debut album received rave reviews both in New Zealand and Australia from the media and audiences alike. Her singles and video clip have been played on both student and National Radio stations and on NZ Televsion as well as live performances at Wellington International Jazz Festival concert have featured on Concert FM and National Radio. "She has a hypnotic voice, moderately spiced, sprinkled in firewater. Some call it sultry, and it is, but its also heavy and soothing and gets under your skin in the most welcoming way."-Beat Magazine (Melbourne)


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/15/2006
Band Website: www.leilaadu.com(reconstructn)" leilaadu.com(reconstructn)
Band Members: LONDONSteve Noble hits things www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mnoble.html John Edwards plucks the bass www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/medwards.html NEW ZEALAND David Long (The Mutton Birds), Jeffrey Henderson & Tom Callwood (Urban Taniwha, Syzygy) and Ricky Gooch (Trinity Roots) - play on CHERRY PIE. Leila has also played with Nick Gaffaney (Cairo Knife Fight) and Rick Cranson (The Little Bushmen) on tours of New Zealand.
Influences: Howlin' Wolf, Bessie Smith, Indonesian Gamelan, Claude Debussey, Dimitri Shostakovich, Slint, PJ Harvey, Stravinsky, Galena Ustvolskaya, Mark Rothko, Tartovsky, Einsturzende Neubauten, Primo Levi, Ingmar Bergmann, YOU
Sounds Like: Reviewers have compared Leila Adu to: Nina Simone, Bjork, Ute Lempe, PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell, Astrud Gilberto, Fiona Apple, Nico....[(i.e. basically any female artist, who is equally uncategorisable, that a reviewer can think of at the time) Actually, Mark Braby finally compared her to a man, Tim Buckley, which she was rather chuffed about.]
Record Label: none ...
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Golden Smile [friend x friend = millionaire]

Hey Folks,   Just had a great time in Sina Lunga and Roma with THE TRUTH IN ABSTRACT BLUES, playing with Mike Cooper and Fabrizio Spera, thanks to Daniel, Roberto, Luca V, Luca T and his housemat...
Posted by Leila Adu on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:50:00 PST

Last London Gig before Italy & US>ELECTROACOUSTIC CLUB@The Slaughtered Lamb

Hosted By: ELECTROACOUSTIC CLUBWhen: 04 Oct 2007, 20:00Where: The Slaughtered Lamb34 - 35 Great Sutton StreetLondon, LO EC1V0DXUnited KingdomDescription:ELECTROACOUSTIC CLUB Click Here To View Event...
Posted by Leila Adu on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:26:00 PST

leilaadu.com

It's a lovely day in London and i have nothing to complain about.My website has been down the last week or so, because it has changed to leilaadu.com. I had been avoiding becoming a .com for quite so...
Posted by Leila Adu on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:09:00 PST

LEILA ADU Broadcast Worldwide

On The Ticket this week, I'm being interviewed by presenter, Mark Coles. I'll also be playing two tracks live on the grand piano, Train and Cherry Pie , from my latest album, Cherry Pie. &nb...
Posted by Leila Adu on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:17:00 PST

Moroq

Gathering up the inspirational sights, sounds and smells of Morocco at present. Everyone here seems to have good musical taste. Gnenoa, gypsy, Arabic music waft from the stores. Feeling like a bit of ...
Posted by Leila Adu on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:55:00 PST

Howdy Pardners

I've decided to enter my blog under the catergory of pets and animals to gain a wider readership. I feel justified in doing so. I'm a pretty fluffy-headed lady, as one can tell from my portrait.Been c...
Posted by Leila Adu on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:14:00 PST

London's hottest day, my hot gig

Gidday, Hey, big ups to my subscribers, just realised that you were out there. I'm feelin' a little jaded the day after my first gig in London for 5 years. It's the hottest day ever recorded here, so ...
Posted by Leila Adu on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 04:19:00 PST

London's Calling

Gidday, In London. Just had a lovely gig in Paris a couple of weeks ago, thanks to saxophonist extraodinaire, Lucien Johnson. London is full of football fever. Checked out some great improv by R...
Posted by Leila Adu on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:02:00 PST