Leila Hegazy

With a light, jazzy swing, Leila's uplifting ode first reflects on hopes and dreams as-yet deferred. But in the next breath, her infectious song infuses us with hopes of what we can still be, do and have -- if we'll just continue to try.

“Maybe if we try, we’ll do something right, we will get it right,” she croons. Listen below:

Leila's impeccable vocals, lyrics and piano skills are instantly addictive -- she has the kind of talent that seems impossible to fly under the radar. Those in the know, though, have been enjoying her in local NYC venues for years. She's been writing songs since she was eleven years old, and gigging with her band since her days in college.

The gifted soul singer-songwriter-musician has a unique style all her own, but she says her inspiration comes from both storied legends and contemporary greats. Hegazy counts Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Norah Jones, and Alicia Keys among the artists who have impacted her the most.

Leila's story has everything we love about indie artists -- passion for her art, commitment to her craft, and a complete disregard for established norms or preset boundaries. She and twin sister Omnia are of Italian and Egyptian descent, yet each is pursuing the solo career that best matches her style, be it personal, jazzy soul or pop/rock with purpose.

(via Leila Hegazy Music): Leila braved the two-hour commute from Staten Island to Manhattan to attend the world-renowned La Guardia High School of Music, Art, and Performing Arts in Lincoln Center (informally known to many as “The Fame School”). In addition to her training in classical voice, she joined “New Music” an elective/ensemble facilitated by Juilliard-trained pianist and composer, Robert Apostle.

While actively gigging in NYC with her band, Leila earned her B.M at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. She recorded her debut EP (The Black and White EP) with Grammy-nominated producer and chair of Studio Production, Dr. Joseph Ferry. Her first full-length album ‘Looking Glass’ (recorded by producer/guitarist Dan Berry) was funded entirely by Kickstarter fans and enthusiasts she collected from her live shows, and released independently in September 2012.

Produced by electro-R&B/funk producer/artist Still Weavens, "Maybe If We Try" is available for free streaming on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Bandcamp. - ShowTime Legends

NY-based R&B singer/songwriter Leila Hegazy releases her sublime single, "Maybe If We Try,” a jazzy, soulful ode of hope for a beautiful future with a romantic partner.

“Maybe if we try, we’ll do something right, we will get it right,” she sings on the chorus. Produced by electro-R&B/funk producer Still Weavens, the song features soft, fluid chords and Leila’s sweet, harmonic vocals will keep your ears plastered; they don't sing like this anymore!

Leila is inspired by past and present leading ladies from the soul and jazz scene. Influenced by powerful female vocalists like Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday, and modern-day singer-songwriters like Norah Jones, and Alicia Keys, her music aims to be timeless, like that of the artists she admires. Leila recorded her debut EP, The Black and White EP, with Grammy-nominated producer Dr. Joseph Ferry. Her first full-length album, Looking Glass, was funded entirely by Kickstarter fans and enthusiasts she collected from her live shows, and was released independently in September 2012. Since then, Leila has played numerous venues in and outside her home city, including the world-famous Apollo Theater, SOB’s, the Greenespace at WNYC/WQXR, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.

Download "Maybe If We Try” for free or pay what you want on Bandcamp above. - Singersroom

NY1 VIDEO: A St. George singer now eyes the top prize in the Battle of the Boroughs singing competition after beating several other musicians to represent Staten Island. See more at: http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/news/210903/singer-beats-out-other-islanders-to-represent-si-in-battle-of-the- - NY1 News

We recently had the opportunity to speak with singer-songwriter Leila Hegazy, and while hers may not be a household name yet, she is well deserving of recognition. She is of Egyptian-Italian descent, and doesn’t fit the typical profile of many Middle Eastern news outlets, which often ignore her music because it’s “too Western.” They also criticize it because it fails to address the political or social issues many have come to expect of a young, contemporary artist with a Middle Eastern background. But she’s a trailblazer in her own right, and thus worthy of a profile here at Aslan Media.

While some may condemn Hegazy for not focusing on the music of her ancestors, she doesn't claim to be a representative of the Italian, Egyptian or Muslim communities to which she belongs. This sincerity, along with a stellar voice and ability to move audiences with her honest piano playing and relatable lyrics, is what makes Hegazy such an emerging success. Her fan-base is strong and loyal; she raised enough money via crowdsourcing in order to fund her first full-length album, Looking Glass. Each and every one of her songs stands out for being beautifully arranged; the vocals are all spot on, and the album transitions seamlessly from one song into the next. From “Monday” to “Mirror, Mirror” and “The Reason Why,” her lyrics hit you with indomitable force, and the electricity you feel through her voice and the accompaniment make you feel at ease, while at the same time, unreservedly engaged.

Hegazy’s music is a cross between the slow ballads of Adele and the spunky jazz of the late Amy Winehouse. Her music is personal, not political. She has no desire to "shout my beliefs from the rooftops" as she fears she'll "end up on a never-ending crusade of ideologies that takes me away from my first love, music." Along the same vein, she avoids being labelled as a distinctly Muslim, or Egyptian artist, as does her sister Omnia Hegazy (reviewed here by Aslan Media), who has her own distinctive style rooted in folk and acoustic rock. “Since we are identical twins pursuing two separate solo careers, we both realize that we need to be as different as possible,” Hegazy explains. “Luckily we are two completely different people with different ideas, so this hasn't been hard."

Hegazy’s musical passions are rooted in jazz and soul, which are uniquely American, just like her. The child of bicultural and interfaith parents, she is, like many Americans, a reflection of the diverse society she belongs to. "She views her ethnic and religious background as "minimally relevant" to her musical identity. In terms of style and background, her path mirrors that of fellow singer and pianist Norah Jones, who despite her multi-ethnic background and famed Indian musician father, Ravi Shankar, chose to pursue her style of music without caving to social pressures.

She fell in love with music at a young age, and cannot imagine turning away from it; it's just how she is wired. She may not like labels, but musician is one she will never shed. She refuses to confine herself by what is easy or passive and feels an office job would be too limiting and stifle her creativity. Without the ability to write, perform, and be actively pursuing her passion and creative outlet, she says, her life would be empty. This is not surprising for someone with musical inspirations like Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald, all of whom worked hard to pursue their love of music, fighting and overcoming any obstacles along the way. Hegazy’s singing, songwriting and piano playing evoke the same essence and soul of these great stars.

There is definitive truth to her statement that "every human across every culture, race, religion can relate to music on some level, and this is all anyone needs to know." For this reason, her lyrics focus on more internal experiences, the kind that "we can all relate to, because I believe that we're all just humans, struggling to find our place in the world. We want to love, be loved, find happiness, and leave some kind of legacy behind."

Leila’s online tagline is "I make sense of the world through music because music is the only thing in the world that makes sense to me." Her status as powerhouse may not be cemented yet, but like the jazz and soul greats she emulates, her focus on the music, not gimmicks, along with her refusal to fit the mold of most contemporary artists is what will set her apart from an otherwise mainstream wash.

- See more at: http://www.aslanmedia.com/music/mideast-music/35-music-artist-profile/21595-leila-hegazy-all-soul-defying-expectations#sthash.44ZSQTB2.dpuf - Aslan Media

Leila Hegazy grew up singing and playing music. After a short stint with the clarinet, she moved on to the piano.

“As a singer, I wanted to be independent, to be able to accompany myself. Six months after I started learning the piano, I started playing my own songs. I was eleven years old,” she shared. For the Staten Island native, music was “a place where I could fit in.”

Shortly after she found her way to playing songs, 9/11 happened. She’s half Italian-American and half Egyptian, and it wasn’t easy being a part of an Arab community at that time. “I was heavy into music during that time, because it was a place for me. I wrote about another place, where people weren’t as judgmental. It was an escape.”

A few years later, her escape had become her life. She attended LaGuardia high school in Manhattan, known as the “Fame” school. As a vocal major, her songwriting really developed. “I was studying with a Julliard-trained composer and he would tell me to go home every night and write a song. so I would, but the next day he’d tell me to write a better one,” she laughed. “He was hard on me, but he helped me find my voice.”

She released an EP in college. “Performing live is so different from the recording process. I learned so much.” Two years later, her album came out and now, she’s playing shows in the northeast, including the Apollo. “Everyone told me to sing a cover, but I did something original because I had to be myself. I came in second, so I guess it was the right choice.”

“This is hard work,” she shared, “but you get out of it what you put in.” Check out tracks from her album below, and keep up with her on her website. - Channel One News

Skope: How long have you been making music and what do you love about having music in your life?
I’ve been singing since I was five years old, but I began writing my own songs when I was 11, shortly after I began playing the piano. I love that music gives me a way to observe the world around me and make sense of it (and let’s be honest, it rarely makes sense). It’s also awesome to know that as I continue to grow, my music will inevitably grow with me (and it has!). Sometimes I go back to old songs I wrote when I was a teenager and smile, because my music has matured so much since then. That doesn’t make what I wrote any less valid, it just shows where I was at a certain stage of life.

Skope: When are you most inspired to create music?
Whenever an extreme emotion jumps out at me, that’s when I’m most inspired to create music. So of course if I’m head-over-heels in love, heartbroken, angry, anxious. etc. I write a lot. But there are also times when I’m not sure exactly how I feel about something I’ve witnessed or experienced, and writing a song about it helps me figure out what I truly think. My best work happens when I can tap into my subconscious and write down what it’s in my head before I have a chance to judge it.

Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Lately my focus is on writing new material. I’d really like to release a single or short EP by the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015. In the meantime I’m still promoting my album “Looking Glass” http://leilasmusic.bandcamp.com/album/looking-glass

Skope: Where do you turn to hear and discover music, social media, Pandora, FM radio, etc?
I find/listen to new music on Spotify, and if I like it, I make a point to buy the record, either on iTunes or Bandcamp (which is even better). I also keep an eye/ear on social media/music blogs – if a lot of people are talking about a particular artist/song/album they’re usually onto something.

Skope: Do you have any new Youtube videos or Soundcloud singles posted online we should hear?
Here’s the music video for “Mirror, Mirror”, a single off my recent album. More to come soon! http://youtu.be/vdRQlffUZG0

Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Writing, hopefully recording, and filling in the gig calendar. I’ll be repping my home borough of Staten Island in the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs at the Greenespace (WNYC/WQXR) so if you’re in the NYC, come check it out! When the new material is released, there will be some more US tour dates. Keep up with me on my website leilahegazy.com and follow me here:

http://facebook.com/leilasmusic
http://twitter.com/leilamusic
http://instagram.com/leilahegazy
http://leilasmusic.bandcamp.com
http://youtube.com/leilasongbird - Skope Magazine

I have had Leila on my daily playlists for a while now and I just came across her album "Looking Glass." Please take a minute to listen to this album and support this truly independent artist. Leila is an amazing vocalist and I can't get enough of her music.

Leila is a New York-based singer-songwriter. Her first EP (The Black and White EP) was released in 2010, under the direction of Grammy-nominated producer, Dr. Joseph Ferry. Leila released her first full-length album titled 'Looking Glass' in September of 2012. She is currently performing in venues throughout NYC and hopes to tour the US in the next year. via Bandcamp

http://www.leilasmusic.bandcamp.com - We Are the Archetype

LEILA HEGAZY: This 23-year-old S.I.-raised singer-songwriter -- fresh from a recent performance at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem -- is inspired by past and present leading ladies from the R&B and jazz scene.

Armed with powerful vocals, killer piano chops, and a knack for writing soulful melodies, Leila recorded her debut release — “The Black and White” EP — with Grammy-nominated producer, Dr. Joseph Ferry.

Continuing to make a name for herself at venues throughout NYC (SOB’s, The Bitter End, and even the world-famous Apollo Theater), she was able to release her second album, “Looking Glass,” thanks to online Kickstarter donations from fans she collected from her live shows.

Leila hopes to tour the US in 2014 to promote her recent album, which is available on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, and other digital music outlets. LeilaHegazy.com - Staten Island Advance