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Christian Polidoro

Arts and Culture
12/28/06 Not Your Average Teenage Superstar
By: Christian Polidoro, The Bulletin
12/27/2006
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Philadelphia - While most teenager girls are preoccupied with SATs, college, and finding a date to the prom, Lelia Broussard worries about other things, like whether or not she should use a condenser mic over a dynamic mic in the studio.
At only 18, Broussard has amassed a pretty impressive recording career and shows no signs of slowing down. Her debut EP, "Louisiana Soul," first turned heads in 2004 at local radio station 'XPN. Since then, she has recorded a full-length LP - last year's "(lil-ya)" - a Christmas EP, and a live CD/DVD combo. Her songs were even featured on the hit CBS show, "Joan of Arcadia."
Broussard's music can best be described as Southern delta-blues with an infusion of folk, jazz, and a bit of Philly soul. Born in Southern Louisiana, Broussard relocated to the Philadelphia area when she was 10. She now lives in New York City.
She first picked up a guitar when she was 12 and began playing around with it. Soon she was writing her own songs. "It just came naturally to me," Broussard says of her musical talent. "I had no idea it would evolve into this kind of career. I just loved doing it."
Broussard, however, knew she wanted to be a singer in some way, shape, or form. She just didn't know how. "I remember as a kid singing everywhere I went," she says. "It got to the point where I'd be in the grocery store singing at the top of my lungs and people would tell me to just shut up already!"
When one thinks of an 18-year old musical starlet, there's a prejudice that immediately comes to mind, one of bubblegum pop princesses and Britney Spears-wannabes. But a listen of Broussard's music will break any predisposition one may have.
"I don't consider myself a pop-tart princess," Broussard says of her career. "Luckily I never encountered that problem of being typecast as one. If you hear my music then you'll know I sound nothing like them. I'm a very intense person." For one thing, Broussard writes all her own songs and plays her own instruments. Her music is more likely geared to listeners and viewers of 'XPN and VH1, not so much MTV and TRL. She's more Joss Stone than Jessica Simpson.
Speaking with Broussard, she even has a very confident, mature tone in her voice, someone who is completely in control of her occupation and environment. Something not too common for a girl her age. "I was impressed that someone so young has such poise and maturity, yet she's still a kid, and a lovely, warm, down-to-earth person," said Michael Majoun, host of 'XPN's "Morning Show," of Broussard. "She sings with authority and power but still with a range of emotion and nuance."
Her influences include Al Green, Patsy Cline, Van Morrison, Jill Scott, and Stevie Wonder. "I love Stevie Wonder," she says, "he's probably my main influence. I saw him at Live 8 last year. I was so far from the stage; I wanted to get right up there to see him but I had a great view anyway."
Aside from her extensive touring - which includes dates in the Northeast as well as shows in Los Angeles - Broussard plans on re-recording her debut album, "(lil-ya)."
"We're going to take another look at it and approach some of the songs in a new way," she says. "There will also be some new stuff on there as well." The release date is tentative.
Broussard has played shows at XPN's World Café Live and The Bitter End in New York City, a legendary venue in the Village that helped launch the careers of Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt, and Neil Young, to name a few. She was recently selected by the Heinz company, along with eight other artists from the Universal Music Group, to headline the "T.G.I. Friday's/Wal Mart Tour" covering 27 states over four months.
Broussard will play MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore tonight in her continuing quest to become a household name.
We're willing to bet that won't be much longer.

Lelia Redux
Robby Merkin

I thought I'd take a break from exploring the dark topic of drug use among musicians to tell you that last night I had the great pleasure of seeing the lithesome and dynamic Lelia Broussard perform at New York's legendary Bitter End. As long-time readers of this blog know, I attended her previous show at this club, when she was backed only by her own guitar and the dazzling fret work of Jeff Lee Johnson. This time she brought two additional members of her regular band: the extremely fleet and inventive Chico Huff on bass and the masterful conguero, Mayra Cassales.

It was apparent once again that Lelia does not perform; she inhabits her music. Each song emerges from her as if she is suddenly compelled to tell its story or release its feelings. No movement seems calculated; no gesture planned. The result is an exhibition of musical integrity that would make any venue, large or small, feel intimate.

Experiencing her in different contexts is like viewing her through a prism. Lelia with just Mr. Johnson knocked me out with her stage presence and commitment to her material. The small band brought her rhythmic command as a writer and a singer to the fore, creating a jazzier, funkier sound with the aroma of Afro-Cuba one might expect from a native of Louisiana. Her CD, enhanced by drums, keyboard, and horns, breathes Memphis soul.

In some ways Lelia reminds me of Van Morrison when he transformed himself from a punkish blues shouter into a new, jazzy, spiritual voice with 1968's ASTRAL WEEKS. The uniqueness of his sound was such that the album as a whole made more of an impression than any individual song. Similarities in the arrangements, tempos, melodies, and chord structures made it one long intoxicating flow. I hear similar qualities in much of Lelia's writing - certain gestures of melody, texture, tempo and harmony crop up over and over. As a result, with some quite noteworthy exceptions (i.e., RISE and THAT BOY), first time listeners might not walk out whistling her tunes, but they're sure to long for another hour inside that beautiful sound.

Online Review
Steve

Excerpted from Review of Bitter End Show:

Lelia got pretty decent billing at the gig, with one of the contestants from the Reality T.V. show that found the new INXS lead singer, as her lead-in/opener.

When he was done, Lelia came up and took center-stage with a simple brown-wood acoustic guitar strapped around her neck. Behind her was a solid, tight, back-up group, featuring an amazing lead guitarist, sitting on top of his amp., a woman precussionist who slapped the skins of two congo drums for the entire hour and a half that the show ran (I can only imagine how swollen her palms were after the show, but she kept great time and was unusually musical for a precussionist). The final back-up artist was simply standing at the rear of the stage playing electric bass. The bass was not overpowering, but was the perfect accompaniment to Lelia's melodic acoustic plucking and strumming.

I swear Lelia's voice surprises me every time she opens her mouth. There are few women her age (or that look like her) that can pull off some of the songs that she did. And, she sang with swagger, soul, and an enormous amount of charisma and sex appeal.

Like a seasoned professional, fully aware of her ability, Lelia knew when to pull back from the microphone (so as not to deafen the audience) and her vocal acrobatics were a feat to behold. She is extraordinarily comfortable within her skin and with her voice. And what's more important, she knows her own voice. Her vocal riffs were often more electric than her lead guitarist's solos.

Lelia pulled off the show without a hitch. She was charming and her music was engaging.

I was shocked when she had the nerve --towards the end of the show-- to do, as her only cover song of the night, Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason". I didn't, for one second, think she could pull it off. But, she did and WELL!!

It's hard to compare Lelia to any particular artist as her style, writing and voice seem to be entirely inconsistent with her appearance and experiences. The only thing I can say is check out her music for yourself.

ENCOUNTERING LELIA/Review of Bitter End Show April 27th
Composer/Producer Robby Merkin

Lelia Brousard is a tall, thin, slip of a child/woman with a powerful presence, a beautiful voice, and a streak of soul a mile wide.

That last is the legacy of origins in Louisiana and residence in Philly. The rest well, its just Lelia. Those who know her are already nodding in agreement. Those who dont should pay attention. Shes an original, shes a throwback, shes an archivist, shes a commentator, and shes a stream of consciousness poet. Last years superbly produced CD, available at her gigs, through her website (www.leliabroussard.com) or at CDBaby.com, features her kick-ass touring band, augmented by horns and the occasional harmonica of virtuoso Howard Levy (Bela Fleck, Holly Cole, Paquito DRivera, Donald Fagen, The Subdudes, etc.). In that fully realized context its possible to hear the shadows of Curtis Mayfield, Al Greene, and Rickie Lee Jones among others, but, largely due to her developing songwriting, the synthesis is her own.

Wednesday, April 26, I had the pleasure of seeing Lelia do a set at New Yorks legendary The Bitter End, a spawning ground for Bob Dylan, Alan Ginsburg, Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon and many others. The only criticism I had was that the set should have been longer. Appearing with just her own acoustic guitar and a second, very jazzy guitarist (sorry Lelia, Ive forgotten his name please extend my apologies to him for me) on electric, her songs were stripped bare, making Lelia herself that much more visible.

What was there to see? A charming, ingratiating figure in full command of the stage. Her astoundingly expressive face moved and changed with the lyrics, as though each song was spontaneous and Lelia was experiencing the feelings as she sang them. Above all else, she loves being up there. Not for the adulation, though clearly that has its thrill; but for the chance it gives her to get lost, once again, in her stories and her music. She IS living this, and we get to watch.

If you visit any of her four (!) MySpace pages, youll see some of what comes across live. Shes funny, silly, serious, and quite spunky. Her PR machine is largely MySpace and word of mouth, which I guess in this day and age is the same thing. With thousands of friends, she still manages to create a sense of close intimacy, just as she made The Bitter End seem much smaller than it actually is. She has an insouciant charm that may lead her to, for instance, post a terrible sounding rehearsal tape of a barely finished song in order to get commentary from her fans. She makes you feel as though she trusts you.

And thats exactly how she made the capacity crowd at The Bitter End feel. My guess is its that trust which gives her the confident jubilance she displays on stage. In a given song she can be, by turns, sexy, wry, edgy, sassy and child-like. Lelia doesnt like discussing her age, and I can see why. As her notoriety spreads, a lot is going to be made of it, but in a way, its irrelevant to her music. On stage, she works the mic as well as anyone Ive ever seen, enabling her to go from a confiding whisper to a soaring high note with utter clarity and not a speck of artifice. At times her expressions, posture, even her lyrics give away her youth, but then shell take three steps back from the mic, bend her knees, and let out a chesty cry that could have come from Etta James.

There are a ton of indie musicians in this community, many of whom I admire, some of whom I my chose to write about here. But I havent encountered anything like Lelia. Do yourself a favor and check her out.

Music & More
William Kates

Saturday, April 01, 2006
Lelia Broussard - Milkboy Coffee, Ardmore PA, 4/01/06

Having heard Lelia Broussard's first cd Louisiana Soul (2004) and having sampled some of her newest cd Lil-Yah(2005) on her website, it is obvious that she is a major talent, but nothing quite prepared me for the incredible vocal ability and musical taste that she demonstrated at Milkboy Coffee Saturday night. Many comparisons come to mind; she can sing soulfully like Joss Stone but seems less calculated about it, she can sound jazzy like Patti Andress, her pop and blues bring Bonnie Raitt to mind but Lelia seems somehow even more versatile than all of those. Like Norah Jones, Lelia is able effortlessly blend the many musical influences into a style of her own.

Lelia's Louisiana birthright (transplanted to Philadelphia) not only shows in the quality of her music but also with a bit of the accent and a lot of warm southern charm that gives her an easy rapport with the audience. This performance was every bit as jaw-droppingly excellent as Nellie McKay's debut at the Point a few years ago. I should mention here that Milkboy Coffee is a worthy successor to The Point, nicely filling the need for a coffeehouse music venue in the Main Line area of the Philadelphia suburbs.

She seems to have a great handle on mixing these varying musical styles into her original compositions and as such, the artist that she most brings to mind is Valerie Carter who also combines soul, jazz, pop, and folk with a distinctly southern sensibility and whose second album Wild Child (1978) is a pop/soul gem that is one of the great overlooked albums of all time.

I initially had misgivings over missing several recent full-band shows in favor of this "acoustic" show, but the genius electric guitar accompaniment by Philly session vet Jef Lee Johnson made any other instrumentation unnecessary. Lelia's acoustic guitar work combined with Johnson's electric leads to create some of the best sounding music I've had the pleasure to hear. "That Boy" and "He Makes Me Smile" and "Rise" sounded especially good. Most of the set were originals drawn from Lil-Yah, with a couple of selections from the earlier cd.

In addition to the amazing originals, she did one from Lil-Yah, "Business of Love" which was co-written by center city neighbor and long time Philadelphia tunesmith Phil Roy that sounds like it was written just for her. After the packed coffeehouse called her back for an encore, it didn't seem at all like fake modesty when she said that she had not prepared anything for an encore and then without missing a beat, ripped out an incredible version of Bill Withers' classic "Use Me". Some years ago I had the privilege of hearing Withers sing that song just a few miles down the street (at the old original Main Point) and I'm here to say that Lelia's version improves upon the original. This was totally a knockout performance.

Philadelphia Magazine
excerpt from February 2005 article
Sandy Hingston

Pop Lelia's CD, Louisiana Soul, into your player, and no matter how cynical you are about... teen girl pop stars, you just shut up. Because Lelia can really, really, sing. Can make it damned near impossible, in fact, to reconcile the fresh-faced Apprentice escapee at the dining room table with that soaring, smoky, rocking, rollicking, wailing, whispering Voice. The Voice compelled Michaela Majoun (of WXPN 88.5) to "discover" Lelia, and to send those tapes- "before the CD was even made," Mary says in awe- to Joan of Arcadia. 'She reminds me of Joss Stone," Majoun says of Lelia, "except that Joss doesn't really write." It's because of that Voice that Louisiana Soul is getting airplay on college radio stations here and back down in Louisiana, and that Lelia has sold out every show she has ever played. The Voice has made her an idol (at age 15!) in Philly's singer songwriter community, which is sitting motionless, rapt, at the CD release party...

Take the time when Lelia was six and Mary took her to a soccer game in their hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. There was a karaoke contest at halftime. Lelia wanted in the worst way to sing. Mary explained that the contestants had already been chosen. She'd just finished explaining this when a guy who worked at the arena tapped her shoulder and asked if she'd like to compete. "I wouldn't," Mary laughed and nodded at her daughter. "But she would." "I don't think so," the man said. "It's Patsy Cline." Meaning is wasn't music a six-year-old could do justice to. "Oh, she'll do it," said Mary, who'd been listening to Lelia mimic divas like Patsy and Whitney Houston since she was in diapers, practically. And Lelia did. She blew out the place. There were 10,000 people there, rising up out of their seats in adulation, and Lelia lit up like a Christmas tree. "That's kind of like when I knew," Lelia says.

... For an instant, Mary sounds just like any proud mom, and less like a woman navigating precariously between the rock of tossing her daughter to Sony and the hard place of a life spent regretting what might have been. If you've got doubts, listen to Lelia's CD. Then ask yourself, wouldn't you have done anything to make sure little Wolfgang got to play for the king?

Pottstown Mercury
By Michael Lello

Lelia Broussard is not your typical 15-year-old. Her idols aren't Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She speaks eloquently about her music and her career. She saw the Neville Brothers perform when she was 3.

"I grew up in Louisiana, and they have so much musical culture there," said Broussard, who now makes Chester Springs her home.

With wide-ranging musical tastes that go way beyond most teenagers' CD collections, it's not surprising that Broussard doesn't define herself by her age.

"I have friends that are in college and high school, and friends that are 60," said Broussard, who will perform Saturday night at the Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville. The last time she played Steel City, the venue was sold out.

There's been a building buzz following Broussard since she released her debut CD, "Louisiana Soul," last year. It's generated regional attention, gaining airplay on Philadelphia's WXPN, and she was the subject of a Philadelphia Magazine feature story. She will perform live on WXPN's Folk Show at 9:15 p.m. April 10. (WXPN is broadcast on 88.5 FM and at www.xpn.com.) Later that month, she'll play at well-known New York City club The Bitter End.

On a national level, two of her songs were used on the CBS show "Joan Of Arcadia" in December and January.

Broussard said she has more material at the ready and is hoping to have another album out by summer. She said it's going to be "different" and showcase more of her "soul" side. If she needs some advice on how to attack that genre, she can seek out her friend Amos Lee, the Philadelphia native and neo-soul/folk artist who recently released an album on Blue Note Records and has been tabbed to tour with Bob Dylan.

While she's a fan of Lee as well as old-school soul artists like Al Green and Marvin Gaye, there's one performer that really impresses Broussard.

"I love Alicia Keys," she said. "I think she has a wonderful career and a great attitude about everything. Her whole persona. ... She's classy. She's a rarity."

Although the humble Broussard likely wouldn't admit it, she could be talking about herself.

IF YOU GO
WHO: Lelia Broussard with Matt Santry
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Steel City Coffeehouse, 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville
TICKETS: $10
INFO: www.leliasmusic.com, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com, 610-933-4043

The Daily Local
By Denny Dryoff
Staff Writer

Lelia Broussard's young music career is starting to take off in a big way. Like a snowball gaining mass as it rolls down a steep hill, Broussard's reputation as one of the scene's brightest prospects is growing steadily from week to week.

Broussard, who is a resident of Chester Springs, will be returning Saturday night to the venue that is closest to her home – the Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville.

Currently, Broussard's live repertoire features songs from her debut CD "Louisiana Soul" along with a few well-chosen covers. Fans can also expect to hear a live rendition of "I Can't Make You Love Me", the first single off her next album, which will be titled "All I Do".

"In May, I'm going to cut back on my live shows and spend most of my time in the studio," said Broussard, during an interview last week. "I'm going to make the new album at MorningStar Studios in Spring House. It's so much fun to go there because it's a nice studio with a good family atmosphere.

"The new album, which will be released sometime this summer, is definitely a different experience for me. The last CD was a one-song demo that turned into a big project. With this one, we're going to record all the basic tracks in one day.

"Most of the songs are written – but I might do a couple covers. I also might do a song that I'll co-write with Phil Roy. I'm using some really cool musicians in the studio. They're brilliant. They really feel the music."

With "Louisiana Soul", Broussard burst on the scene and immediately impressed listeners with her abundant talents, which include a warm, expressive voice and a knack for writing intelligent and heartfelt lyrics.

Broussard grew up in western Louisiana but is no longer under the spell of that region's syrupy drawl and slow pace in everything.

"My mom and I moved here about five years ago from Lafayette, Louisiana," said Broussard. "I like it up here. The music scene in this area is more for singer-songwriters, which is what I do now. I write about life and relationships. I love to write songs that people can relate to. One of my main goals is to help people through music."

"And, I like to play covers – but in my own style. I like to do covers that aren't well known and I try to interpret each song in my own way. I also like to do 'guy songs'. I do 'Stormy Monday' and that definitely is a 'guy song'."

Broussard will get to sing two unusual cover songs when she performs at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on April 6 as part of the "Philly Songwriters Project -- A Tribute To Gershwin...Philly Songwriters Style".

"I'll be performing with a pianist and a percussionist for that show," said Broussard. "I'll be doing two songs – 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off' and 'They Can't Take That Away from Me', which is one of my favorite songs of all time. I like Sarah Vaughn's version the best."

Broussard also will be playing in Philadelphia on April 23 when she does a return engagement at Indre Studios (1418 South Darien Street, 215-463-3000). Tickets for that show are $15.

The Daily Local
By Denny Dryoff
Staff Writer

One of the most talented and promising new singer-songwriters to appear on the scene in years lives right here in Chester County.

Lelia Broussard, a resident of Chester Springs, has been generating a buzz with her live shows at area venues and now has just released her debut CD "Louisiana Soul". Tonight, Broussard plays the venue that is closest to her home when she headlines the bill at the Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville.

"Louisiana Soul" is a sparkling introduction to Broussard's insightful songwriting. It is also a showcase for her rich voice – a voice that wraps itself around the lyrics and infuses them with warmth and depth. The CD's opening track "Love Me Anyway" immediately worms its way into the listener's brain and its haunting chorus remains there long after the song is over.

Broussard makes people forget about preconceived notions – what you might expect is not what you get.

She grew up in western Louisiana but don't expect her to be a slow talking "Southern Belle". Her Bayou accent has disappeared and she fits right in with her Yankee friends.

"My mom and I moved here about five years ago from Lafayette, Louisiana," said Broussard, during a recent interview. "I changed my accent when I moved north. I like it up here. The music scene in this area is more for singer-songwriters, which is what I do now."

Broussard is still six months away from being old enough to get a Pennsylvania driver's license (16) but don't expect her to be another teen "pop diva" singing slick dance-oriented songs to formulaic per-recorded tracks. Instead, she delivers musically complex compositions with intelligent, mature topics.

"I write about life and relationships," said Broussard. "I love to write songs that people can relate to. One of my main goals is to help people through music."

Broussard is home-schooled by her mother Mary but don't expect a shy, introverted girl who spends most of her time at home strumming a guitar and writing moody lyrics.

"Even though I'm home-schooled, I don't have any trouble meeting people. I'm not shy at all. I make friends easily and I have friends of all ages."

Some of the friends she has made up north are musicians at Indre Studios in Philadelphia – the studio where she recorded "Louisiana Soul".

"I started recording the album last January at Indre and worked on it throughout the year. When I began, I was thinking about doing one or two demos but the project kept evolving.

"The number of songs we recorded went to four, then five, six and seven. It was hard not to keep going and do a whole album. But, I just wanted to get it done and get it out there. So, we stopped and made the CD with seven songs.

"I have about 15 songs that I do in my show. And, I like to play covers like 'Stormy Monday' and 'Ain't No Sunshine'. I really started doing a lot of live performances this year. When I was young, I was a singer and guitarist but I didn't think I'd ever be writing my own songs."

Broussard had the advantage of growing up in a state where all styles of live music can be heard – on the radio and at live venues. Attending concerts with her mother on a regular basis introduced Broussard to a wide variety of music – including rock, blues, folk, R&B, Cajun, jazz, Creole, Americana and zydeco.

Not surprisingly, the precocious singer-songwriter has developed her own style – a musical gumbo featuring the flavors of all her influences.

"When I was younger, I listened to pop divas like Whitney Houston and also to a lot of Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Paul Simon and James Taylor. I tend to go for the soul in music. I like lyrics that have meaning. With 'Louisiana Soul', I wouldn't say it's a rock album. I try and throw in a lot of different elements. It's soulful pop music"

Broussard has just recorded two Christmas songs – "Let It Snow" and "The Christmas Song". The holiday tunes will be released as internet-only gifts for members of her on-line fan club (www.leliasmusic.com). Also on tap for early next year is a CD release of her recent live show at Indre Studios.