It got to the point where R&B/jazz singer Ledisi was close to giving up on her musical dreams. But then, after years as an independent artist, she finally scored a record deal. Shortly after that came the buzz and acclaim for her 2007 album Lost & Found. Then she earned two Grammy nominations in 2008 for Best New Artist and Best R&B Album. Now she's on a high profile tour, landing interviews on national television, and even appearing in films like George Clooney's Leatherheads. What led to her sudden rise to success? While some would say it was simply a matter of listeners discovering her impressive vocalizing, Ledisi attributes it to waiting on God's timing. The soulful singer took time to chat with Christian Music Today from the road to discuss her impressive journey so far and the faith that sustained her when she thought about quitting.

Tell us about your journey from starting as an independent artist to your record deal with Verve.

Ledisi: I was performing around [the Bay area] at pretty much everywhere there is to sing—nightclubs, theatres, churches. I was writing with other artists in the area, like my good friend Sundra Manning, who asked, "Why don't you finally do a record yourself?" So I got money together, paid for studio time, and decided to make the Soulsinger record [in 2000]. Before I put it out, I went to a few labels and got some really nice rejection letters. It was before the whole Jill Scott/neo-soul movement, so we decided to put it out ourselves, and the buzz started get bigger. It was big already in the Bay Area, but then the record started to get word of mouth attention.

Then we did Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue in 2003, which was a mix of jazz and R&B. As an independent, every dime you make gets put back into making music again. So I wasn't making any money and I was nearly homeless, unsure whether I should continue in the business. It seemed like I was popular enough to be popular, but not enough to get to the next level. Looking back, I think it had to do with some self-esteem [issues] and not getting my spiritual base back in alignment.

Then in 2004, right when I was ready to quit, I got this call from [producer] Rex Rideout about [participating in] the Luther Vandross tribute record Forever, For Always, For Luther. I recorded "My Sensitivity" and I started to be heard because radio stations could finally play me since the song came from a major label. It gave me a lot of popularity, though I still didn't know if I should stay in the business until Verve came along.

You mentioned self-esteem and spiritual struggles during that period. What was weighing you down and how were you able to get back on track?

Ledisi: During that time I believed more in people than God and myself. I trusted people to take care of everything for me, and what I learned was not everyone believes the same dream that you have for yourself. So I felt abandoned and alone until Verve came along. At that point, I had to buckle down and pray, "Am I making the right decision, God?" And sure enough, it was the best decision I've made. From then on, I've always prayed, "Am I on the right path Lord?" That's how it is for me—everything has to work through my faith. If it's not spiritually correct, then I won't do it.

Before, I was blaming everybody else when I really needed to look at myself, really buckle down, and wrestle with issues of self. I was told I wasn't skinny or pretty enough, that I had a great voice, but had to lose some pounds. When you hear that enough times and it has nothing to do with music, you get tired. So learning to love myself was a big issue and I'm finally in the mode of not worrying about what others think anymore. In this business, everyone analyzes every part of you—your thoughts, your spirituality, your music, the restaurants you go to, the cars you drive, who you're dating. That why you have to have pillars in your life like loving parents and faith in God.

You also discovered your birth father in this journey too. How did you wind up being reunited?

Ledisi: I was raised by my mom and stepdad. My father and mother lost contact with each other when I was a baby. But I wanted to find him—I was scared to death to do so, but full of faith. The first day I met my dad was in 2004 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. We talked through it all ourselves and I accepted him fully as if he never left.

I like to tell people at shows that parents are what they are. You can ask them to change, but they're too old to change, so why not embrace them as they are? You can't take them back like a car, so go with flow—forgive them and ask them to forgive you. I forgave him completely and moved on. It was just so exciting to reconnect with the other bookend in my life, and that's what mattered most. That whole journey for me over the past three years is why I titled my record Lost & Found. It came out of the lyric for "Amazing Grace."

Lost & Found was released exclusively to the mainstream market, but are there still some spiritual components to the project?

Ledisi: Everything I do has a spiritual tone to it, but I hope that it can also relate to people in everyday life. I had a girl come up to me once who told me that I saved her life because she had cancer and listened to my CD during chemotherapy. I've had a woman come up to me who just had a baby out but didn't have a husband, and she was worried about how she was going to make it, but she'd play "Alright" and it made her feel better.

"Think of You" is the first song I ever wrote about God, but the irony is it can work as both an R&B love song and a spiritual song. In concert, people leave crying because they always feel something spiritual form the experience. Everybody tells me, "It's like church when we go to see you," and they tell me they feel renewed and inspired when they leave. I'm just being who I am, but everything has to have God in it for me to do it.

How does it feel to be following in the footsteps of so many legendary artists on Verve, like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday?

Ledisi: I feel like I'm right where I belong considering I'm an R&B singer with jazzy themes who likes to scat. I can do both, but it's great that I'm on a jazz label because wherever I go with music, it's a good spot. Verve has been really supportive, letting me be myself and not trying to change me. And to be with the same company responsible for great legends like Ella, Billie, and Sarah Vaughan feels really good and feels at home fro me. They've all definitely had a big influence on me.

Do you ever worry about how jazz purists will react to your more unconventional blend of the genres?

Ledisi: Well, look at Ella. If you watch [the documentary DVD] Something To Live For, she tackles country, Broadway, jazz, and R&B. Inviting a whole bunch of styles into one is also what I've loved about people like Quincy Jones or Herbie Hancock. They've all embodied music as a whole and had big influences on multiple generations. Without free styling bebop, there would be no hip-hop.

A lot of people are taking jazz to another level, but you've also gotta be careful not too make it unrelatable to young folk. They'll be bored if it's too technical and sometimes jazz is made so elite that it seems untouchable. There are so many jazz purists that only listen to [traditional artists] that they forget you have to keep the new generation interested. For example, you can mix jazz with hip-hop. A lot of jazz purists would frown on that, but it has something to draw younger listeners into jazz. For me I'm always keeping that element in my style. I'm not going to change to sound just like Ella or Sarah. If there's any scatting, you're always going to be categorized as jazz, but it's actually R&B that I'm playing around with.

The mixture of retro and modern sensibilities seems to be at the forefront of music today, especially at this year's Grammy Awards. What's your take on Herbie Hancock winning Album of the Year and the music of Amy Winehouse being recognized?

Ledisi: Me and everyone from the label jumped up when Herbie's name was called. Seeing him win was great for me. There seems to be a resurgence of appreciation for jazz music and he's a good example of someone who has combined old with new back when he did [the 1983 single] "Rockit"—it's so exciting because he knows both worlds. And now he's taken Joni Mitchell songs and made them hot, so he deserved it like any of the others.

Seeing Amy win, I enjoy her craft and I loved it. She's been at it for a long time and was an underdog who refused to change for anybody. She has a lot of personal stuff she needs to deal with—all I can do is just pray for her to get through it. But I love her sound of mixing the old school and the new. We need to keep that because it keeps R&B alive.

Despite not winning a Grammy, how did scoring two nominations help increase your visibility?

Ledisi: I just loved being part of the show and being recognized for my hard work. I felt I accomplished more than I expected, especially because at first I was just happy I finished the record. Here I was almost quitting, and then right at the end, everything worked out amazing. Now for the rest of my life, I can say I was Grammy nominated. I love it!

What's on tap for you during the rest of 2008?

Ledisi: I'm planning on some more touring overseas, and then I start working on the new record in August, plus some other re-releases of older material. I'd love to do a Christmas record!

Would you ever consider recording a gospel record?

Ledisi: If I start with Christmas, maybe I can squeeze over there if they'll have me. I'm working with other gospel artists in the future and I think you'll be surprised, but I can't disclose those projects just yet.

What spiritual goals do you have on the horizon?

Ledisi: I'm pretty much deciding on a church so I can become more active in a community. My travel schedule is super tight and I have a big commitment with that. But every time I'm in one place long enough, I want to continue going to the same church. Right now that's just hard with my schedule, but I will go as often as I can on the road if it's a family church. I'm not really interested singing in choir, but I like listening to pastors that are realists and talk about things that are really going on. I went to one church where the pastor held up two plates—one was silver and the other was rusty. He was saying how we come to church all rusty, but we hope to leave clean enough to see God's reflection in the plate. I love real examples of faith like that.

Click here to read our Glimpses of God review for Ledisi's Lost & Found album.

Copyright © Christian Music Today. Click for reprint information.

Click here for more interviews.

Click here to view our music review archives.

Visit the artist pages for related interviews and reviews.

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian Woman Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up now for the Christian Music Today weekly newsletter:    RSS Feed   RSS Help