Unique. Off-kilter, lyrical, sexy, soulful, seedingly hummable. The songwriting reveals a mind as beguiling as the voice, reflecting the realms of love and life with the jagged brilliance of a wine glass on the verge of breaking.

10 MP3 Songs
POP: Delicate, ROCK: Acoustic



Details:
Please visit Leila on myspace!
www.myspace.com/leilaflorentino

In New York City, Leila Florentino went to an open call audition for the Broadway musical Miss Saigon hoping to land a part as a chorus girl. She was offered to play the lead role.

"Florentino sings compellingly."
- John Simon, New York Magazine.

Now Leila's pursuing a solo career as a singer-songwriter - trading the glitz for a more personal music vision.

ABOUT LEILA BY LEILA

"I was born in the Philippines. I remember growing up in a house surrounded by rice fileds and water buffalos. We had dogs, cats, chickens, turtles and fruit trees.

My father was a successful playwright. He also wrote for TV and film. But success in those times didn't translate to money. His success meant recognition in theater. My sisters and I got to see a lot of plays for free.

My mother was an art curator who loved to "adopt" painters. These artists lived with us for many years.

I spent my early teens at a high school for the arts up on Mount Makiling. Far from home.

It was a lovely time up in the mountains. My friends and I nurtured dreams of becoming famous musicians, painters, actors and dancers.

When President Ferdinand Marcos was booted out of the country, my mom feared civil unrest. We flew to America.

In New York City I started singing with a rock band and then a cover band. Then I heard about a musical called Miss Saigon. I went to an open call audition hoping to get hired as a chorus girl. I got the lead part. And a nice review in New York Magazine.

After a year and a half on Broadway I moved to Los Angeles.
I discovered songwriting."

âSailâ is for fans of Norah Jones, Alexi Murdoch, Gary Jules, Joe Purdy, Jude, David Gray...

Fans are spreading the word about 'Sail.'

This is cool angst from a superb artist! Spare and evocative Everything works well: the off-beat and catchy arrangements; the spare unpretentious vocals; the lyrics straight-forward and evocative. It's atmospheric cool though there's heartbreak in the songs' words. I have this CD on repeat in my player. I just love listening to it!
- Vince S., SF

a deeply personal album, enigmatic, A COURAGEOUS DEBUT! My personal favorites are 1) FREEDOM and 2) BACK (for their beautiful lyrics and 3) SIT BY ME for its lilting melody.
-Sonya Marietta, NYC

Just finished listening to the CD, on headphones, for the third time through. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The voice, of course, is perfect as always! My faves are: Freedom, Cold Cold Heart and Happiness is Real (this one can heal the broken heart). Sail is really something special.
- Claudette Powell, Los Angeles