Lelia Broussard

By Alicia in Musicians on Feb 6, 2010

Singer/Songwriter Lelia Broussard recorded and released her first album at 15. She has since gone on to release two more albums with another one in the works. She calls herself a diverse artist and performer with many styles. You will hear a little jazz, blues, pop, rock and everything in between in her music. You can learn more about Lelia on MySpace.

Lelia is currently trying to raise funds on KickStarter to produce/market her next album, please check out the website and make a donation (cool gifts are given to those that do!).

What events occurred that helped your music take off and lead you to the career you have today?

I've just been plugging away, doing my thing. Touring. Putting stuff on the internet. The "Single Ladies" video I did had a pretty big impact I think. My version was featured on the front page of Yahoo.com and it got over a million views on YouTube. I think a lot of lot of fans probably came from that.

What were some of your earliest influences that have motivated you make music such a big part of who you are?

Music has always been a huge part of who I am. I don't know what I am without playing music. I can't remember a time when it wasn't. There was a lot of Paul Simon, Elton John, Beatles, and Stevie Wonder playing in the house when I was growing up.

You spent a significant portion of your career in NYC before moving to LA. What influenced this decision and has it worked out so far?

I moved to LA because I signed a publishing deal with Rondor/Universal. I've had a great time living here in LA the past two years but I'm ready to go back to New York now. It just suits me better, for right now anyway. I change my mind a lot.

What prompted you to choose pop music as your platform for musical creation?

Well, I like to listen to pop music, so I think that's what naturally comes out.

Your last album, Waiting on the 9, came out in 2008. Is there a new album in the works or are you working on some other projects?

Yes! I have a new album coming this fall! I'm really excited. Can't wait for everyone to hear it!

How do you think your music has evolved over the years? Do you think your sound is different or has pretty much stayed the same?

Yes, I think my music is always evolving and changing. I would be really bored doing the same thing over and over. Evolving musically and trying new things makes me a happy lady.

Do you have a particular process that you go through when writing a song? How often do you find the time to work on your songwriting?

It varies. It's sort of an intangible thing...it's something that just clicks. I try and write at least a little something every day. Even if it's just an idea that pops in my head. If I don't have time to flush out the whole idea I write it down or record a bit and save it for later. It's a constant part of the way my brain works, I'm always working on something.

I heard you were going to be venturing to Europe for a few tour dates. Have you ever played outside of the US before? What cities do you think you will hit?

I've never played outside the US before. It's something I'm really looking forward to. I know we're doing a full UK run. Not everything is finalized yet though.

You have toured with a lot of amazing artists. What would you say your favorite tour was? Are there any particular moments that have stood out?

The Quest For Glory tour was probably the most fun. We laughed constantly. I had abs of steel after that tour.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you can’t live without and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your favorite recordings by this artist?

Laura Veirs is pretty incredible and more people should definitely be listening to her. Start with "Cast A Hook" from the Saltbreakers record.

What is your favorite part about being a musician and has this changed over the years?

Hearing from people saying that my music has helped them get through a rough patch in their life, or been inspiring in any way to them. That's a pretty incredible feeling. Also my newer music is a bit more "rockin" if you will, it's so fun to play live and to watch people just have a good time. Party in the USA!

Having been in the industry for a while now do you feel that things are getting easier or harder for aspiring musicians?

Some of both. It's a lot easier to promote yourself and do things on your own. There's so much you can do on the internet it's mind boggling. It's harder in the sense that major labels have no idea what they're doing anymore and they are grasping at straws to figure out how to make money. So the whole get a big fat record deal! Spend lots of the labels money! Become FAMOUS! Doesn't really happen anymore. So you need to think outside the box and DIY.

What advice would you have to people who think they have what it takes to start a career in music?

Make sure you really want to do it, because it isn't easy. Develop thick skin. Take advantage of the internet. Lastly, don't give up.