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Presenting Leah Siegel, Unclad July 2005 Feature Monthly Partnership with Block Magazine Feature Article by Cameron Brindise Photos by Judith Schlieper
THE COMMONERS: Who are your influences? I'm influenced by everyone obvious, past and current, and then everything else. Especially really crappy songwriters. It's much easier to put your finger on what sucks and why. And then you think, how do I do the opposite of that.... Other than that, I think my guitar playing and vocal technique surged ahead quickly when I studied Joni Mitchell's record "Blue". And then I remember once humming one long note and I stepped into an elevator which was also humming this deep low buzz. The two notes rubbed together and I was so excited. I rode the elevator a couple of times and went home really inspired and played all night.
I began playing violin at 6 years old. The violin tuned my ear and gave me a basic understanding of melody and then harmony. I picked up guitar at 13 and started writing at 15. I just remember music making sense to me. I draw from some of that now but its taken years of sitting with my guitar to finally feel like I'm making the sounds that I want, but your wants always change, and should change. Who are the other core members of your outfit? Brian Wolfe - drums. He's f***ing sick and the most meticulous drummer I've ever met. He notes every stroke and nuance and his compass for song development is astounding. Chris Tarry - bass. He found me and wanted to play. Even after his invitation, when I heard his skill I was terrified that my music would bore him. He brought the band together and can f***ing play anything - that I ask of him! HA! And he's famous in Canada. And certainly not least Steve f***ing Elliott - electric guitar. His ears seem much like mine and the part that isn't I trust wholly and know will put me on my ass. The melodies he finds buried in my guitar parts bring the music a new dimension, a bigger life... Needless to say, I'm goddamn blessed. What is your recording history? Latest albums? "Leah Siegel presents..." was recorded summer 2003 and released independently February 2004. That was my last official release. Unofficially I just put out The Lemon EP. It's preproduction for the new record and I'm expecting to get into the studio this fall. THOSE BOLD INQUIRIES: If you could share a cigar with one somebody who would that be? Someone who's going to clean up my vomit. What song would you play if the radio buzzed the city was freezing over tomorrow? Radiohead's Nice Dream makes me cry. So does Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. I'll probably need a good cry. The history of a musician: Where were you when Kurt Cobain died (1994)? When Luxx turned into Trash Bar? When Coney Island shut down? History wasn't my best subject.
Richie Havens lived on my block in the East Village thirty years ago and paid 13 bucks a month to live there. He also said that back then if you wanted to sing someone else's unpublished song, all you had to do was ask the guy to write it down for you. I say, the times they are a'changin. ONE LINERS (ABRIDGED) Drugs or water? Water. In a crowd: stand still, head bop or disco dance? Head bop. Dancing in the event of heavy drinking. Walking: dirt, faces or sky? Dirt and faces usually. Sometimes I'll remind myself to look up and I always think I should do so more often. Wine, people or woolgathering? I guess I'm into wool. I like the word 'skein'. Hands: rough or soft? Completely f***ing mutilated. Mr. George W.? I can't start. I won't stop. Three necessities to write a song? Humming, walking, distractions. Bull, bullfighter or Hemingway? Kurt Vonnegut. Alarm clock? NPR's morning edition. There's no sense of that hell-cat's rejection coming anywhere near Leah. She's gold, choking you, giving you the cold sweats, golden songs like golden whiskey. You need a cheap glass of something to start anew, you need a song; you need a reason to forget the boring and the stale ones. Check this gal out, feel awakened. Leah plays every Wednesday at Laila Lounge as part of the Jezebel Music showcase. Quiet, humbug free place, with an air for good music, Leah shows the locals a new way to make song. Find more information about Leah Siegel at www.leahsiegel.com. This article presented with permission from Block Magazine and can be found in their monthly section of Uproar. |
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