Meet Vincenzo de Leon | Music Composer & Performing Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vincenzo de Leon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vincenzo, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I usually don’t. Some projects I sit with for months and months, and even after going away for a while I come back to it, finally able to make those changes that I’m satisfied with. Some other projects I just have a gut feeling that I will never discover what needs to be tweaked in order to be acceptable to me. It’s really hard to know, and a lot of times I am motivated one way or another by the conversations I have with my circle of friends and composers. We don’t necessarily talk about my ongoing projects, but I’ll have a casual discussion with them about whatever and something will click in my head. I guess that’s the most ‘reliable’ method I’ve been using.

Of course, all of that only applies if there isn’t a deadline. Deadlines are great in skewing my decision, hahaha! Sometimes getting something out at all is better than the crippling pressure of getting the best thing out, and most times you surprise yourself with the results.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m currently a music composer and arranger, and I work a lot with taking pre-existing ideas and giving them a little twist. Some of the work I’m most proud of includes the original Berklee Budaya which I directed along with 5 very capable friends, all fantastic musicians in their own right. It was the pioneering concert dedicated to celebrating Malaysian music at the Berklee College of Music, and has since developed into a full-on student association and concert series. I was mainly inspired by the other student clubs, like the Berklee Indonesian Community and their own concert series. Arranging for this first show was an immense pleasure as I got to really dive deep into the songs I’d hear in passing growing up, and then imbuing them with all the spark and joy of being a musician in hopes to bring that same wonder to a brand new audience, many of whom admittedly would not have even known where Malaysia was in the world, if they knew it existed at all!

The main thing I’ve discovered about myself is that I am very motivated by the environment I find myself in, that meaning my best and most inspired works come from the other musicians I interact with. Very fortunately, growing up, I found myself surrounded by inspiring musicians and teachers, and I’m confident that played a huge part of me being who I am today. I had a violin teacher – Lo Mei Yoke – who stuck with me for 14 years, who watched me grow since I was a measly 4 years old. She went on to lead a community orchestra which I joined and played in for numerous years. I also had many brilliant teachers at school who introduced me to all sorts of beautiful things. Ferdi Victor and April Boyd who guided me in my theater days, Victoria Henderson and John Cranwell who really sparked in me a passion for poetry, Alex Dale who was just outstanding at getting me to appreciate physics even when I really didn’t care much for it. The list goes on and on and on.

Yes, the path hasn’t been that simple, especially these last couple of years leaving college and the first year after graduation, when the road was never clear as to where I was meant to be or supposed to do. But the people around me continue to inspire me and kind of give me suggestions (while they probably don’t even know it!) as to where I want to be, at the very least. I would just really like to pay them back by being a source of such inspiration for those who need it too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take her to the Griffith Observatory – I think she might like the view, as well as getting some nice pictures up there. Then, I’d take her to the Grove one day and the Americana another, just to see her reaction when she thinks she’s getting Déjà vu. If we felt we could splurge, Disneyland would be another stop. Personally, I think I’d prefer Universal Studios, but she loves the little cute characters. I shamefully haven’t yet been to the Santa Monica Pier so we would have to do that too.

One place I definitely need to take her to is this taco stand right by North Soto St and City View Ave which has fed me and my housemates so much over the past year. To this day I cannot believe how lucky I was to discover them, and that we lived so close by.

Then, I’d see if there were any cool day or even night markets because I am terrified of going to those alone (social anxiety gang what’s up?), and I’d actually feel much more comfortable if I were to drag her along, haha!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s way too many people for me to thank in just one answer, but I would have to mention my parents and brother, Gabriel de Leon; my OG music teacher Lo Mei Yoke who watched me grow as a musician and also as a child; and my best friend Jaslyn Chia for sticking through everything with me even when I was not being easy!

Website: musicofvincenzo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vince.deleon66/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzodeleon/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIVymGRViWAiyY4jNF3qWg