rhodaMusic is an intimate, uniquely personal form of self-expression. This is what StarCentral Magazine has learned upon interviewing Leila Milki, our Female Artist of the Month for the Month of October 2014. Her intelligent and extremely creative way of describing her profound love for music is so moving that no music lovers would refuse the compelling idea of what it can bring to their lives.
Leila speaks powerfully about the importance of living her passion. She shares that her love of music epitomises her personality as it feels like exposing a diary entry of her life to the public while building a profound level of connection with them through her own artistry and vulnerability. “Performing is a two-way platform that unifies delivery and reception to produce a sort of magical exchange of human truth. The aftermath is deeply rewarding to me”, adds Milki.
As talented as Leila is, she once considered singing as her hidden talent while she favoured the piano more. In fact, her first musical performance happened during a dance show or piano recital when she was about 4 or 5 years old, but a bigger crowd embraced her even more at her middle school graduation where she discovered a new thrill from performing a solo verse during Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family.”
Undoubtedly, with a seemingly flawless craft like Leila’s, the opportunity continuously flocks at her door. She tenderly looks back and recalls that the first time she played a live show as a part of a full band when she was a freshman was something so grand, collaborative and beautiful. The experience that she got there was inexplicably mesmerising and she was thrilled to realise an almost transcendent moment of fulfilment behind the keys.
Furthermore, Leila plans to broaden her musical magic as she engages to build her future around song writing and performing. The glitter in her eyes easily communicates that there is nothing she is destined to do other than promote the beauty of music and expand her talent so that others can feel the magic too. With everything happening at her life right now, she remains blessed to have the full support of her entire family who untiringly encourages the prospect of a music career. She shares, “they’ve taught me so much about patience, hard work, grace, selflessness and integrity. It would be an honour to make them proud.” Indeed, Leila is wrapped with their relentless commitment and compassion, and these are something she is most cheerful about.
A glance at the immense talent and diverse abundance of creative passion that surround her would reflect Leila’s determination to pursue and maintain a high standard of greatness. She is grateful to all her peers and professors at USC’s Thornton School of Music and added that her conversation with her favourite singer-songwriter, Sara Bareilles inspires her more to emulate the pure authenticity of her character and deep loyalty to the supporters.
Recently, Leila has found that performing also appeals to her as a duty when her family faced the tragic loss of her cousin, Yara. The cathartic source of comfort and healing that music brings them has made her look at it as an emphathetic connection to human’s deep level of emotions.
Leila Milki believes that talent is perfectly enhanced when coupled with good-heartedness. She emphasises on the importance of remaining humble, appreciative, and kind. She believes that these qualities should never be disregarded no matter how success envelopes a person. Undeniably, Leila is a true-blooded artist and her spellbinding talent is something that the world should watch out for.
‘LIGHTNING FAST’ ROUND:
- What haven’t you done yet that you wish you could? Record and release an album.
- Favourite place in the world and why? Lebanon. Besides the fact that I was born and raised in California, I’m 100% Lebanese by blood and owe so much of my identity to my heritage.
- The 5 things you can’t live without? The people I love, humour, my piano, chocolate ice cream (or anything chocolate-based), and my pillow-pet frog Herbert.
- Complete this sentence: “I’m a sucker for…” and tell us why. I’m a sucker for sunsets. Few things are more gratifying, humbling, aesthetically pleasing to me than witnessing a pretty sky. I regularly abandon anything I’m doing before dusk just to catch a good one.
- Your best way to combat nerves… I usually try to take deep breaths and remind myself that being nervous is actually a good sign. It reassures me that I truly care about my performance and it ultimately pushes me to manifest my anticipation into a more energetic, authentic, and human delivery.
Jenny Aluning
Jason Harris
Eyez
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