HEY YOU! LEDI
Hi Ledi, how are you and how does it feel now that Nothing New Under The Sun is out in the wild?
Hi, I'm great, thank you! I'm just super relieved that the whole EP She's 24 is finally out because I've been quite stressed doing all the prep, as it's the biggest body of work I've had to put out there in my career so far. It's definitely the next big step for me. I'm really hoping people enjoy my work, but regardless, I'm very glad I get to share my work from the past two years with the world!
Tell us a bit about your jazz roots - do you remember the first time you were exposed to the genre?
It was probably when I was learning music in high school, but the first time I knew I wanted to sing jazz was when I took singing lessons in preparation for my music college audition after high school. I was taught how to scat and improvise, and it really changed the way I sing. It enriched my skills and helped me define my singing style and expression. I continued taking jazz vocal training at university, and I’ve carried that jazz influence into my music practice today, along with other musical influences I'm exposed to.
While putting together Nothing New Under The Sun, were there any particular life experiences you were drawing inspiration from?
Definitely. Two years ago, in the summer, I started seeing someone, and after getting to know him better, I started doubting the relationship. I really liked him, but deep down I thought it might not work out in the long run. It felt so bittersweet—exciting because he was a great guy and the relationship was nice and fun, but it made me super anxious thinking about our future. I started writing poems in my journal about how I felt. Then, I started singing about my feelings in the shower, and after that, I found myself writing a whole verse, then another verse, and so on. At the time, I was very new to songwriting, but somehow I got in the zone, fueled by my emotions and creativity. The next thing I knew, I'd written the first song I truly liked and was proud of. It was all about the poetic writing and how it worked together with the chords and melody.
What's the hardest part about being an artist in London, and also the most rewarding?
The hardest part is the loneliness and the self-doubt. I actually wrote a song about the irony that you can still feel lonely, even though you live in a big city like London, called Big Cities (Get Me Out of Here). It's also part of the EP, and it basically sums up how I feel sometimes as an artist in London. The self-doubt comes from comparing myself to other artists. There are so many of us here, and everyone is at different levels or stages in their careers, with different niches—this is what I like about the scene in London. But somehow, you still compare yourself to others. I have to remind myself that it's pointless to compare myself in that way because everyone is different, and we don’t know their full stories.
The most rewarding thing, though, is when your hard work pays off. Last year, I really wanted to do gigs, and now I’m doing some cool gigs. Getting discovered and featured here and there feels pretty cool too!
What's next for Ledi, and when can we see you live?
Very exciting things are coming up! I have a few live shows lined up. The confirmed ones include a performance at Bread and Roses in Clapham on 30th November, where I’ll be supporting the 253 Jazz Band; two headline shows—one in Jakarta (my hometown) on 11th January, and another, which is my biggest upcoming one, at The Forge at The Lower Third in London on my birthday, 29th January. I’m also returning to the Royal Opera House in January and February for a short musical, where I play the main character. For all the details about my upcoming gigs and music updates, you can follow me on socials @musicbyledi.
