Back to Black
The night before releasing her newest single, I had a chance to sit down with the vibrant Leni Black. Verging on a complete first EP, Black has proven herself to be a genre-bending songstress with as much heart as she has talent. Join us on the beautiful and elusive path of self-discovery as we dive into her past, present, and boundless future.
Claire: The first thing I want to ask about is “Black Sweatshirt,” of course. Is this the first single off of your newest EP?
Leni Black: In order, it will be the first one but it’s actually the last single from my completed EP that will now be completed with this song.
C: I’ve listened to your music and there’s been such a transformation from track to track. You seem to be able to tackle lots of genres and styles. What can we expect on Black Sweatshirt and how has that been the next phase in your evolution?
L: Yeah, it’s been a journey because I wanted this EP to be done by different producers in Nashville so that’s why the sounds are a bit different. And I’m still finding my sound. So far, though, Black Sweatshirt has been the closest that I’ve come to finding my sound, I feel. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback that it’s got very Taylor Swift-type vibes. Which is a great compliment because she’s someone I’ve looked up to my entire life and we were actually born on the exact same day.
C: No way!
L: Yep, she was born on December 13th, 1989 and so was I. So I’ve always felt very connected to her and that’s why you hear a lot of the Taylor Swift sound on Black Sweatshirt. You can expect a poppy bop about another one of my exes.
C: Amazing, we need that! So when you’re writing and experimenting with different lyrics and styles, what does that process look like? Where do you draw inspiration from?
L: Growing up, it was me in my room. That was really where it started, notebooks under my bed and processing emotions alone in my room. And for some reason I was just putting melodies to my feelings when I was journaling. That was always a constant and that still happens now but I’ve been so lucky since moving to Nashville — I’ve met great collaborators and people that I can share my feelings with, which has been a whole new world for me. So now I’ll have that moment of clarity in what I’m feeling, usually in my room or in the car, and I’ll make a little voice note and send it to whoever I think will be able to relate or help me finish this song.
C: That’s great, the continuity there is so genuine. I know you’ve worked with several very experienced and even Grammy-winning producers and I’m curious what that process looks like from the perspective of collaborative and emotional connection?
L: Ugh, it’s so important. Emotional connection is so important for me with a producer, and I’ve learned that very quickly. I worked with Mark Swersky. And it happened during COVID, where I just had this burning desire. I needed to put music out and I didn’t know where to start. I was in Boston at the time and I was talking to whoever would talk to me, really. I didn’t know anything. So I was just like, “Here are some of my voice notes, and I don’t really know what to do with any of this.” I went to his studio one day and played him 20 songs. I was so nervous! And we talked about what I would want it to sound like and look like, it felt very natural at the time. That’s where Barcelona Butterflies and Marigold were created. There were actually two more songs that we made that I haven’t released yet. I’ve been kind of sitting on them for various reasons.
Leni Black: It definitely is a process to trust people in this industry. I’ve gotten burned a lot so far and it hasn’t really been that long. But Mark was great and he knew musicians, so as soon as he heard something he would bring musicians in. I was able to play the song for them on the piano and then they brought it to life in the studio which was probably one of the best days in my entire life, to hear my songs actually being recorded and played and just see what that process looks like. From then until now, it looks different. You can make music on your laptop, you know? Now I just go over to my good friend Israel’s house and he’s my main producer now, he produced Black Sweatshirt, and we make music in his room.
C: That’s really cool, it sounds like you’ve had a taste of everything in such a short amount of time. The amount of songs and the variety that you’ve put out is really exciting. In terms of finding your style, where do you feel you are in that journey, and who do you want to be? Where do you see your creative vision going?
L: I think even with my name, Leni Black, it has sort of been this identity crisis from the start of how I want to portray myself as an artist. It’s my grandfather’s name and my grandmother’s maiden name, mine. Obviously I want to be authentic, but I also want to be empowering to other women. I just have all of these ideas for myself and I put a lot of pressure on myself to express them in a three-minute song. I grew up listening to James Taylor, Carole King, and Carly Simon, and that’s eventually where I want to get to. A very singer-songwriter kind of feeling and just storytelling. That is what matters most to me. And we’ll get there! It’s a journey and that’s what’s happening now with my next album. My first album is going to be very experimental and I’m not going to put limits on it. We’ve just been in the studio kind of messing around and there’s been no sound to reference. We’re working with voice notes from my travels, so that’s been a really freeing experience. I don’t really have a genre just yet I don’t think… I guess I’m indie pop right now.
C: It’s great that you’re keeping it so open-ended, it’s so exciting to me that music is now in the hands of the people. I think we’re going to see so much variety and so many new sounds come from this proliferation of people who want to make music and put it out into the world. It sounds like you’re going to be a big part of them. Do you want to talk a bit about your travels? I’m sure you’ve got a million stories, I’d love to know where you’ve been and how that ties into your music.
L: I was in Beijing and Hong Kong for five years, not doing music. I was working a corporate job and falling in love, living with my boyfriend at the time. I pretty much went to every southeast Asian country. I really wanted to see things and I’ve always been that way, I just like to see new things with my eyes and be inspired that way. I need to be inspired every day and that’s what really makes me happy and motivates me. I think now I’m able to pull from a lot of different places when I write because of this experience. My mind always goes to my low points and the hardships, and some of the experiences I had over there were not easy in terms of love and heartbreak. That’s what I associate my time over there with, but it’s definitely influenced my music. What I’ve realized is that whether I’m in Nashville or Hong Kong, I still experience the same emotions.
C: I’m surprised to hear you mention that you were in a corporate job. It is so inspiring that you were able to make that leap of faith into pursuing music full time. How has that transition been? I’d love to hear more about it.
L: Thanks, I hope so badly that girls, guys, whoever — if I can inspire anyone to take the jump. If I can do it, I feel like anyone can. I was on such a different path even just a year ago, music was just never in the cards for me. I didn’t grow up around music, I didn’t even have friends that played guitar. And I just knew it was going to be my biggest regret if I didn’t do something about it. So I went against everybody’s advice. I relate to Taylor so much when she says she’s always been a good girl. I’m the oldest of my two younger sisters and I feel like there’s a lot of pressure around doing the “right thing,” whatever that means. My parents didn’t think it was a great idea, and it was the first time I was not listening to anyone but myself. But doors and people and life have opened up in ways I could never have imagined because I said yes to myself. And that is the hardest part, because it took me ten years of working in a corporate job that I loved and brought me a lot of stability. But I never pursued what was in my heart until now. I got a late start. I think at any age, any time you need a shift, the universe will assist you, you just have to say yes. You just have to follow.
C: That is truly incredible, it’s so brave that you were able to break through all that pressure and put yourself first.
L: Yeah, I mean it’s sad because it shouldn’t have taken me going to Asia to be like, “Yeah I can do anything!” [Laughs.] But you can change your life in a very short amount of time. And it hasn’t always been easy but spiritually I feel amazing.
C: I completely agree, there’s this undeniable pull to do what you’re called to do and it’s such a scary thing to make that jump.
L: You have to take it very seriously.
Claire: I know you mentioned you pull inspiration from a lot of the visual aspects of life — what are some parts of the day-to-day that have been inspiring you lately?
Leni Black: Animals… because I’ve been dog-sitting [laughs]. Travel is so important for me, I went to Europe for an entire month in May, it really feeds me to see new cultures and meet new people. I’d say every day is about meeting new people and talking to someone with a different perspective. Something that really inspires me now is just looking up at the sky and nature. I’ve really gotten into moonlight for some reason, standing barefoot. It just makes me feel so grounded in life. I’ve been trying to be really focused and in the studio as much as possible and I find you can always look at nature to be inspired.
C: Amazing, I’m going to have to remember that. As you’re progressing through such rapid growth and change in your life, how has your musical path and your overall journey impacted your relationship with yourself?
L: I was listening to Anti-Hero today, and I was thinking about how it’s such a great hook. Like, “Hey, it’s me, I’m the problem.” And I think I use that a lot in everyday speech, you know? When I couldn’t learn Mandarin I was like, “Oh, I think it’s me, I’ve gone through five teachers.” [Laughs.] Every time I end a relationship, which has been a lot, I think it’s probably me because I haven’t had a great track record. I’ve realized this industry is very different than the one I was in before. The confidence I had in the business world versus the music industry has humbled me a lot. I’m a complete sponge now and just trying to find my voice. I always thought I had it, but it can get lost very easily if you don’t know exactly what you want. “What do you want?” is the hardest question for me to face. Not having that complete sense of identity makes it hard to make strides. That’s been my biggest challenge so far, trying to figure out who I am as an artist, the message I want to send, and how I can make the world a better place and inspire people.
C: Absolutely, and I think you’ll never find out more about yourself than those times when you’re facing those challenges with yourself or with other people. I know falling in and out of love has been a significant part of your life — how has it come into play in your music?
L: Yes, the most important thing in life to me is love and I am obsessed with falling in love and dreaming of that moment. I think a big takeaway for me these days is just to chill out a little bit, I think I’ve been a control freak about where things are going from the start of any relationship. And I self sabotage a lot so I’ve definitely realized those things about myself, and I’m still trying to figure out why. You know, why I’ve had great people in my life that I’ve pushed away. I’ve heard it’s supposed to feel easy and it has not so far.
C: Process of elimination.
L: Yeah, it’s really been hard for me. I don’t have a problem falling in love, I tend to fall in love a lot, but holding onto it is really an art. I hope one day I get there, but who knows?
C: Well I am so excited for what’s next for you. Before we wrap up, what are you most excited for on the horizon?
L: I’m just excited for the next two albums I’m doing next year. I’m going out into the woods with my best friend and co-writer to make my singer-songwriter album. I am really looking forward to creating that completely authentically and doing it all on my own as an independent artist. I’m really a one-woman shop over here [laughs]. I’m trying the best that I can, so just look out for a bunch of new music. I mean, that’s really all I want to do is put a message out into the world and connect with people who are also transforming and pivoting in their lives and to inspire people on that journey.
New single Black Sweatshirt now streaming on Spotify.
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