Low Leaf, high feathers
Originally from the Philippines, Low Leaf’s musical career has flourished on the West Coast of America thanks to the world famous Los Angeles beat making scene; a vibrant movement which boasts names such as Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, Madlib and many more. Her live show demonstrates her electronic production skill alongside her classical musicianship. A live combination of the two on stage is a treat for any music fan.
All five of her records to date have been self-released and are available for free download on Bandcamp. Her latest release is 2014's Akashaalay (released via Fresh Selects) which has been well received by both the blogosphere and music lovers everywhere.
What becomes apparent when listening to Low Leaf's albums is that each has a distinct mood. From the restlessness of Chrysalis and the beat heavy styles of Giga Gaia, to the harp orientated of Alchemizing Dawn and the cosmic Unearthly, she's proven herself to be a progressive, diverse musician with every release. Listening to her work in chronological order portrays her latest work Akashaalay as her most complete and cohesive work to date. As far as the future is concerned, she explains that her music is closely bound to her religious beliefs: “I've always created music in my head and found whatever means I could to document it as a child. I'm classically trained in piano and self-taught with the harp, guitar, and production. I was born into this body to do the work of the creator and try my best to dedicate my life to music in an act of devotion to God.”
But what else gets her creative juices flowing? And what kind of environment does she make music in? “I am inspired by the artists around me in LA but, to be honest, I spend most of my time in solitude or in nature with a few close people. Almost everyone I know creates electronic music back at home, so it's difficult to imagine being planted in a different type of soil. I'm naturally introverted so no matter where I am, I prefer to spend most of my time alone.”
Los Angeles is arguably one of the world's most fertile electronic music scenes, the Philippine-born Californian explains just how much it has affected her work. “I honestly don't know what's hot or what people are into. For me it's a huge distraction because I start to see myself in light of what is presented around me. I'll always appreciate timeless art, but I won't ever like something just because the majority of people around me do. For the sake of staying focused and maintaining my balance, I just stay tuned into the path, as variables are free to change.”
Low Leaf has capitalised on the simple and highly accessible nature of online music hosting platforms. Websites such as Bandcamp allow independent artists to make their music and merchandise available for streaming and download. Although musicians can charge customers to download their music, Low Leaf's first four albums are available to download for a donation of any amount. She explains, “The last album Akashaalay was released via Fresh Selects. All albums before that were self-released. It just happened that way because I wasn't gonna wait for a label to pick me up and validate me. I've also had a problem with being under someone else's umbrella from the beginning. Over the past three years, I've learned so much from self-releasing my music, and for the most part I'm still a DIY artist. I honestly like it because I feel that the foundation that I've built for myself has been very organic and stable; I feel like a free agent. However, working with Fresh Selects has been cool thus far, it's nice to have a helping hand in the whole business side of things.”
Akashaalay will be released on twelve-inch vinyl this winter. Low Leaf is also presenting a remix of the track called Acacia Stems with musicians she admires, alongside some bonus tracks. She'll be returning to the Philippines in December to tour, record, and explore the islands more.
Low Leaf plays at The Running Horse on Tuesday 30 September at 8pm for Sounddhism. Check out the event on Facebook and buy tickets via TKTBox
Sounddhism website
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