Lelia Broussard Gets You Craving More "Waiting on the Nine!"

Leila Broussard is a rising star musician here in Los Angeles. She gets a lot of “air time” at the Hotel Cafe because of her truly unique sound and it’s reflected on her current EP/CD,‘Waiting on the Nine” which has a distinctly different sound than what I have currently been hearing for the last year or so in musicians. Featuring bluesy, jazz-infused arrangements, her voice wraps lusciously around the lyrics and bends them to the music and her will and makes them entirely her own and you find that you are drawn into her world and seeing life through her eyes.

Lelia Broussard
Her first song out of the gate is interesting (Scared to Feel) opens slowly as an invitation to explore and connect and it develops over the course of the song. Each subsequent song shows off a different aspect of Broussard’s performance personality and she’s quite diverse with a soft yet distinct edge and unique phrasing that reflects the era of Ella, Billie and Dinah (Fitzgerald, Holiday, Washington in case you didn’t know). For those looking for a more current reference, think of Corinne Bailey Rae but so much better, deeper, thoughtful with a greater range. Her voice goes from silky smooth to a softened Janice Joplin-esque purr and growl throughout the CD.
Produced by Dave Trumfio, Broussard has great backup from musicians like Jason Borger, Rob Douglas, Derek Brown, Stirling Trent and Keaton Simons (thought there was something familiar about the guitar-work!). This small sampler of music gives you a wide range of “tastes” or flavors of her musical presentation and she’s definitely someone to be watching and listening too.
The most contemporary radio framed song is track 2, “Don’t Let Go“, which is slow opening up but rapidly picks up tempo as she moves towards the end. It’s all about relationships and allowing oneself to be rely on another person as well as being ther too. It’s a perfect song for the radio that would pick up the pop listener.

Every other song on this 6 track EP illustrates a different musical & singing quality that is uniquely Lelia and she’s nailed it on the title track, “Waiting on the Nine“. This serious blues-inflected piece is about where we all are– “waiting on the nine” , waiting to get on with our lives, to get past the pain, to get “somewhere”. Lelia’s unique phrasing style makes this a perfect song that will haunt you because you can hear the echoes of other great singers from decades past in her styling yet it’s very much Broussard’s personality particularly in the bridge section. Just when you think it’s over, it comes back for a softer refrain that’s really different. Great song and you need to have this CD just to have this one .

Hotel Cafe Invite Waitin on the 9

An acoustic version of Waiting on the Nine
The next song is again another pop-infused and could be easily a favorite on the radio, ” I’m Not Waiting“. It’s almost anthemic in the way she talks about not letting her life slip by because of relationship and the need to move on to get her life going. It’s a great song and is thoughtful in its lyrics despite its very upbeat presentation. if you are in a quandary about what you are doing or where you are going in your life, check out this song.
Jazz-based “So Far By Far” is really incredible in it’s presentation. The lush vocals reflect an emotional depth that only comes from a relationship that is almost addictive in its power. She craves the man as much as she craves the crowd and the phrasing of that line is the icing on the cake of this gorgeously produced song.
Powerful, emotional and it will suck you in and leave you almost drowning in her voice.
” Grass is Greener” a fun, uptempo, almost gritty song that really talks about life the way it is and with a wink to boot. She’s got it all put together and her phrasing is terrific. This is a great way to end the EP and sticks in your head. Danceable yet cautionary tale about the addictive quality of “chemistry” between the sexes– because you just had a taste and how you can torpedo relationships because of that addiction.
Lelia Medley

Song medley.
Broussard has a powerful voice that is flexible in its presentation and unique in it’s ability to be many things in a variety of genre’s this is one musician you need to follow — because she’s going to get a whole lot better over time. There is so much more I could say, but the music says it better than I do– so listen to the videos and here’s a streaming mp3 of Don’t Let Go

Don’t Let Go..
Her touring calendar:
July 25, 2009: Los Angeles’ Third Annual Evening of Independence Music Night for Donate Life America Rocco DeLuca & the Burdenl Alex Band (The Calling), Ingram Hill, Sara Haze, Chris Pierce, Beau Black Visit www.Koffeehouse.com to purchase tickets
Jul 31 2009 7:00P The Living Room QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss New York, New York
Aug 1 2009 8:00P TBA QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 2 2009 8:00P Wilbert’s QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Cleveland, Ohio
Aug 4 2009 8:00P Uncle Pleasants QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Louisville, Kentucky
Aug 5 2009 8:00P Exit/In QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Nashville, Tennessee
Aug 6 2009 8:00P Rogue Tavern QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Birmingham
Aug 7 2009 8:00P Atlanta Room @Smith’s QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Atlanta, Georgia
Aug 8 2009 8:00P Caledonia Lounge QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Athens, Georgia
Aug 10 2009 8:00P BoBo Gallery QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Asheville, North Carolina
Aug 11 2009 8:00P The Pinhook QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Durham, North Carolina
Aug 12 2009 8:00P Fire Flies QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Washington DC, Washington DC
Aug 14 2009 8:00P Cyclops Books and Music QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Baltimore, Maryland
Aug 15 2009 10:30P Tin Angel QUEST FOR GLORY TOUR w/Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 16 2009 8:00P The Saint with Bess Rogers Asbury Park, New Jersey
Aug 17 2009 8:00P Toquet Hall with Bess Rogers Westport, Connecticut
Aug 18 2009 8:00P TBA with Bess Rogers Providence, Rhode Island\
Aug 19 2009 8:00P Rockwood Music Hall with Bess Rogers New York, New York
Aug 21 2009 8:00P The Red Room @ Cafe 939 with Bess Rogers Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 22 2009 8:00P Grey Horse Tavern with Bess Rogers Long Island, New York
Aug 25 2009 8:00P 8/25-9/13 Midwest Tour TBA Soon! Midwesty towns, Min
Check her page on www.myspace.com/leiliabroussard for more tour dates
Stevie Wilson