Leaf…An Artist to Watch
The winner of BET’s “Welcome to Dreamland,” this “Eclectic” lady has a style and vibe all her own. A child of artistic parents (Leaf’s mother, Alison Mills Newman starred on several shows as a teen including, “The Love Boat” and “Julia.” Her father, Francisco Newman, was a filmaker).
Leaf began playing guitar at four years old. By the time she was in high school, Leaf recorded and independently released her first solo album, “Seventeen.” She has been featured on the sitcom, “Girlfriends” and has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Common, Roy Ayers, Arrested Development, Dionne Farris and spoken word artist Saul Williams.
Her sound takes a little bit from every genre to create something, as she best calls it, “Eclectic.”
(Interview with Flaimahmy, January 26, 2010)
FM: What was it like growing up in an artistic family?
Leaf: We had a lot of freedom to do a lot of things. We grew up on a dirt road and we had horses. We didn’t watch a whole lot of TV. I think for about a year or something there was no TV in the house at all.
(Leaf’s mother: For eight years). Leaf: Really? We had a video player with tapes. We got a TV when we made the movie. It was a while before we had a TV; I don’t remember it being eight years. It was five of us growing up. We did creative things. We wrote plays and performed them in front of the family. I had my guitar so I wrote songs. We just did creative stuff; we played outside. We used to call it Camp Newman.
(Leaf’s mother: The whole idea was to develop children who were creative and productive and didn’t just sit around and watch what other people did. Television is what other people do; the idea is for you to be productive yourself. My husband and I didn’t want our kids to be raised by the television and we didn’t want the TV mentality to mold the minds of our children. It was very strategic that the years of their forming were spent reading and being outdoors and being creative).
FM: Did you ever feel pressure to become a performer?
Leaf: No. I actually thought I was going to be a basketball star. I played ball with my brothers and ball in junior high school. I was MVP in my city. In high school I was in the top ten three point shooters. I got a scholarship to college and thought I was going to be the first woman in the NBA, but then the WNBA came. I thought I was going to the WNBA and thought I was going to be a coach afterwards and all of this great stuff but in college I just lost the love of basketball. I always had my guitar with me and some songs. Even in college on road trips I would take my guitar and sing at our basketball banquets. It was always there.
FM: We know that you’ve had a few appearances on television before you were on ”Welcome To Dreamland” but were you nervous when you auditioned? Actually, I was not nervous. I had no idea what the audition was for and it was kind of a last minute thing. I was actually taking a nap that day. My brother called me and said, “Leaf, I think you should go to this audition.” He didn’t really know what it was for. He just kept urging me to go. I got up. I got dressed. I went down there and just said, “Hey guys, I’m Leaf. I’ve got a couple of songs; want to hear them?” They listened. They asked, “Do you know what this is for?” I said, “no.” They explained to me after the audition what it was for.
FM: Reality TV is big right now and having been on a reality show, how real is it?
Leaf: The show was actually pretty real. Of course, they schedule you to be in certain places and to do certain things on the show. We had to work out. We had to go to the Studio and meet both coaches. They planned all that stuff. I guess the dynamics and the energy of it all comes together when you fit different people with different people. I don’t know how planned it was as far as who picked what girls on what team. I don’t know whether that was pre-planned. Everything that was said and done was real.
FM: One of the judges on the show described your sound as a cross between Cyndi Lauper and Andre 3000. How would you describe your sound?
Leaf: I think that’s pretty on point. I describe my sound as eclectic, between genres, rock, a little jazz, some soul, on the folksy side, definitely pop. I definitely can do some hip hop too. I would say that’s on point.
FM: What made you want to be a musician?
Leaf: I don’t know if I ever wanted to. I just know that it was always there. When I graduated from college I made a decision that I was seriously going to pursue it because I didn’t want to play ball anymore. I was actually in the office one day talking with my coach and asking for advice because I could have gone overseas or I could have gotten an agent and gone to the WNBA. She said, “You know, Leaf, you can do all of these things; you’re a great player. Russell Simmons is coming to campus this week. Why don’t you go take your guitar and play for him?” She said, “Why don’t you pursue your music?”
He did come to campus and I was brave. He was giving a lecture. I got there early and sat in front. I was sitting next to some of the football players. They said, “Hey, what are you doing?” I said, “I’m going to sing.” And so I did. That was my first step in making that decision that music was something that I was going to pursue.
FM: What has been the most difficult challenge for you?
Leaf: Maybe the time; the length that it is taking to realize this dream. You want this dream to happen and it doesn’t always happen that way. But, it’s good that it doesn’t happen that way because in this time you’re developing, you’re getting better, you’re learning, you’re networking, you’re sharpening your skills. I think the toughest is the waiting part. You’re not actually waiting. You’re working while you’re waiting.
FM: We know that your mom was a performer. What has it been like having her in your corner all this time?
Leaf: My mom is like Mickey from Rocky. She’s like Mickey from Rocky and we watched Rocky early this month. I’m Rocky and she’s Mickey because she’s so tough with me. Mickey is like, “You’re a bum, you’re a loser!” My mom doesn’t call me a bum or a loser and she doesn’t put me down but she gets on me so hard, like, “You need to be better.” And, that’s what Mickey was doing to Rocky, like you’re a loser if you don’t work hard. That you have all this talent and you’re letting it go to waste. Not that my talent is going to waste but she’s definitely on me like that. Like, “Never perform sitting down, give your all 100%.” (Leaf’s mom: I believe in 100% for all my kids. I have five kids, I can’t be not tough). Leaf: My mom is very tough. (Leaf’s mom: I’m gentle and loving and kind.) Leaf: My mom is very loving and kind but she’s a tough coach. She’s tough on you. (Leaf’s mom: I’m generous and helpful). Leaf: You’re all of that too. Her toughness comes from her love, kindness and concern for me. It comes from a mother’s heart who wants the best for her child. And, I appreciate all that my mother has done for me and I feel that she is really one of the main reasons, she and my father who has passed on, for all the success I have so far and the rest that will come.
FM: What can mothers of talented children do to help their children realize their dreams?
Leaf: My mom has been super duper supportive along with being tough. She is with me 100%. She encourages me. She comes to my shows. She says, “You can do it.” She’s showing her support and saying, “Go for it.” She’s allowed me to pursue this. It’s not easy all the time. Along with being tough she’s very encouraging. She does believe in me. I think it’s a balance and you have to have balance.
Leaf’s mom: All kids are talented in different ways. The key is being encouraging. When Leaf says I’m tough, I think the key to that is that I’ve been a performer. I’ve been an actress on national TV shows; I’ve been on Broadway; I have a record deal. So I know it’s a tough business and I know how hard it is. Not just for Leaf but for anybody. It’s a very, very, very tough business. I try to encourage Leaf to maintain her humanity and her love but to also be strong. Not just for Leaf, for all of my kids, for anybody, I believe that all things are possible. I want Leaf to dig down deep and to give her gift its all. Having been a performer and having been encouraged to do that myself, I try to do for Leaf what was done for me.
FM: Tell us what we should look for from you?
Leaf: You can look for the album. I do have a name for it. I don’t know if I should reveal that yet.
FM: It’s up to you.
Leaf: I’m going to call it, “Eclectic Leaf.” I have an EP that I released in 2008 and I called it, “Leaf, Cool, Eclectic,” so “Eclectic Leaf” is a name my mom came up with. “Eclectric Leaf” is the proper name because I think it describes me as a person and my music. That’s coming out soon and we’re working in the studio. Keep your eye out for that. You might see me on TV again soon. Also, my web site is www.eclecticleaf.com You can get some downloads of my EP. You can see some videos. It has my bio on there. You can leave me a comment if you like. You can email me. Check it out.
