With a sound that blends jazz, soul and a considerable amount of romance, the songs Leila writes are spellbinding in their own right. As a young girl, she grew up playing piano, dancing in recitals and singing from a fairly early age and developed a love for Chopin and Debussy, both of whom heavily influence the music she creates and shares with the world today.
Upon moving to LA from her home town of “Nowhereville”, Pennslyvania, Leila joined the Angel City Chorale touring England, performing with the London Philharmonic and recording at Abbey Road Studios. It was while singing in this choir that she began putting pen to paper and working on her own original songs, including new single “By You Now”, which PopWrapped are delighted to premiere.
Asked about the idea behind the song, Leila says: “Despite how emphatically we attempt to distract ourselves, the reality of heartbreak inevitably sets in. That’s the arc I was going for in ‘By You Now’ with a vibrant upbeat opening that ultimately leads to a somber and lonely ending”.
The track is taken from her upcoming album Glass Highways, set for release later in the year. She says of the collection: “Glass Highways is a breakup album exploring the bittersweet stages of romantic loss. Beginning with doubt and moving all the way through to reflection. I tried not to be too prescriptive in my lyrics, but rather acknowledge the varied and at times dissonant emotions we encounter amidst heartbreak.
Lyrically my songs are bittersweet, or I strive to make them so. I like to invite the listener to consider the dark and light of life in tandem, as I feel it adds more truth and humility to my story. Thematically my music is romantic and lush. They’re quite long and dramatic songs with a cinematic feel.”
Give “By You Now” a listen below and for more information on Leila, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
