We had the good fortune of connecting with Leila Addams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leila, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursing an artistic and creative career was all I ever wanted. I knew intuitively as a child that I wanted to pursue music and performing arts. As I developed throughout my years, my passion and intense desire for creating music and performing never left me. I took every opportunity I could in order to create in a studio or perform on a stage. Even when I had dedicated much time and effort into an education in psychology, and eventually a full time career in the field, I was never truly fulfilled or satisfied. Writing and performing music is not just something I love to do, it is genuinely a part of who I am. When I was pursuing my psychology career, I felt as if a part of my soul was missing. It was honestly quite depressing. The choice to be authentic to myself and my desires, returning to music and performing arts, was the best decision I ever made for myself. I now feel happy, excited to create, and most importantly, I feel like I finally can fully be who I truly am.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of the fact that my art is a reflection of who I am and that I have stayed true to myself regardless of trends or the expectations of others. What sets me apart from others is that my music is soulful and emotional, but also dark and gothic sounding, as is my visual aesthetic. I like to go deep with my lyrics and touch on topics that make people feel.

I got to where I am today by having determination and a fierce drive to make this happen, in addition to believing in my art with every fiber of my being. There have definitely been challenges along the way, but staying focused on my ultimate goal of growing my brand and sharing it with the world has helped me overcome all obstacles. Instead of brewing on mistakes and worrying about challenges, I have looked at them as opportunities of growth and learning, as small hurdles to pass that will bring me closer to what I want to achieve in music. A lesson that I’ve learned is that everything is a part of the process and journey, whether a challenge or a milestone, and to embrace all of it with your whole heart. To the world, I want you to keep my story in mind and always remember that you can achieve anything if you believe in yourself and work hard. Have faith, and never give up!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I am a pretty boring person- so I don’t know about the best time ever!! However, I am a BIG foodie so we would probably spend the whole day eating at different places around town. I would probably go to Salsa & Beer, Kushiyu, Malibu Seafood, or Georgio Baldi. If I wanted to make the day more fun and exciting, I would drive out for a day at Disneyland! I love Disneyland (and would probably spend the day eating there too)!

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?
Firstly, I would like to thank God and the universe for showing me my path and guiding me throughout the process. My spirituality and beliefs about life have been a huge factor in my journey and decision to come back to the arts. I would like to shoutout my partner and my family for the unconditional support and for rooting me on, especially since I know that seeing me in the arts, doing something “outside of the box,” is different and difficult for some of my family members due to our cultural norms. Lastly, I would like to shout out my lifelong friend and mentor, Austin Reed, who has encouraged me and walked me through jumpstarting all of this when I returned back to a career in music. I want to also thank my fans around the world for their love and support. It is surreal to see so many people listening to and enjoying my music from so many different countries. Much love to all of you!

Website: https://www.leilaaddams.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeilaAddamsMusic

Other: Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/24j0OvVL1ZgQbx6CSRk0Rx

Image Credits
Ralph Valle
GRK Production
Ask Me Media

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