Leslee Lewis reinvents himself… deservedly!
In this dynamic world of media and entertainment, more so since content consumption turned digital, paradoxically there are some things that brought relief to me by remaining static: excellence in creativity, and being humble, all this while meeting Leslee Lewis…guitarist, jingle composer, music producer, and band member.
Nevertheless, Leslee has always reinvented himself with distinction, dependant on the requirements of the industry that has supported his passion and at last, but not the least, he has decided to make a change for himself – for the better, if we may add – by becoming a [solo] performer. He explains: “Since 19, I’ve always made music for everybody else, but myself. I’ve never made music for the artist named Leslee Lewis, but now’s the time. I feel 19 again, as I introduce myself as a singer… I’ve gone to being 19 at heart again because I am going back to my school and college days by creating music that I like. Ever heard of a rock guitarist singing a ghazal? You will, because Leslee Lewis is coming from the Jimi Hendrix school and also from the ghazal school.”
Leslee Lewis, popular as a member of Colonial Cousins, says that after serving as a composer for others, he is excited about showcasing his fifth avatar – as a singer and performer. “In a manner of saying,” adds Leslee, “I am starting my career again as no one knows Leslee.”
In a casual conversation with this writer, the meeting occurred at a Coffee House in a location that both Leslee and this writer are fond of: Mumbai’s western suburbs known as Bandra. Accompanying Leslee in his new avatar as a solo artist, is a singer that he is mentoring – a skill that Leslee is known to support with brilliancy – by the name of Kavya Jones.
With an aim to provide audiences a taste of varied music flavours, Leslee has been successful, through the years, in keeping his originality intact while indulging in composing advertisement jingles, film music, and other forms of music. However, in an era where music is freely available on the internet and new artistes arrive on a daily basis, Leslee admits that the value for music has dipped.
“The skills in the music industry have faded,” he shares. “Everyone is making music these days. There are barely any specialists in the [music] industry anymore. Music has turned into something that you play in the background. This makes the art form mediocre.”
While Leslee agrees that there are many youngsters who are talented but, in the same breath, Leslee adds: “A good voice doesn’t make you a good singer. You should be remembered for the songs you create. It is the melody and the lyrics that should strike your listeners, not just your voice.”
Leslee expounds further: “I have two ways of composing. If you hear my singles, which I have done across the last 30, 40 years…in the jingle world, I get the script first, 99% of the time and, hence, I already have the lyrics…so I am used to working that way, but for all my Indipop hits – from ‘Pari Hu Mein’ to ‘Janam Samjha Karo’ to ‘Yaaron Dosti’ to ‘Pal’ – I would write the tune first because I believe that melody is the key. I prefer starting with the melody. I feel more connected with the music part and, from there, arrive the lyrics, because if the melody does not talk to you…” concludes Leslee, as he intentionally leaves his sentence unfinished.
Meanwhile, Leslee also has a well-deserved opinion on the market for remixes today. After all, Lewis was a progenitor of sorts when he remixed Asha Bhosle’s album, ‘Rahul and I’, in 1996. “When I started my career,” Leslee recalls, “my music came to be known as Indipop and then, when I went on to do something else, it became a Bollywood remix project such as the one that I created with Ashaji…”
Leslee also reminisces the changing manner in which music consumption shifted, due to technology, from analogue to digital. “The transition impacted a lot of composers,” Leslee admits. “What used to be recorded with live instrumentation then is now undertaken through technology [and it] no longer appears to touch your heart. The focus now is on the mukhda, and the antra has become more of a filler. New songs are no longer ‘songs’, but appear to be extended jingles, keeping in mind the limited attention span of listeners. Indeed, where is the soul behind the music now?”
No wonder, Leslee has recently been focussing on composing and singing his own songs. “You need inspiration,” he explains, “something has to click, and the elements have to be just right for a successful creative process. Everyone can sing, but only inspired songs stand out.”
Meanwhile, Leslee also explains his connect with Kavya, an association that was almost coincidental. When a female vocalist left Leslee’s band in the midst of her contract, Leslee’s drummer, David D’Souza, suggested a singer that was known to him, which happened to be Kavya. She not only filled the void in 2018 but, since then, she has wowed some of the other stalwarts of the industry too. Leslee explains: “In
Kavya Jones
an informal get together which consisted to Sonali Rathore, Roop Kumar Rathore, and Hariharan, I had Kavya accompany me, who I introduced as a singer. As the evening of friends progressed, Kavya was requested by them to sing a song. Not sure as to what she should sing, I suggested a folk song. Kavya sung it acappella, and my fellow singers were completely blown by her talent…”. Since then, Kavya has been omnipresent in Leslee’s musical ventures which can be gauged with the amount of content available under her own name across digital platforms.
In inquiring about his involvement with the Indian production of the stage musical, ‘Beauty And The Beast’, which featured original compositions by him, Leslee explains: “I have always been connected with theatre in India… ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Evita’, ‘Tommy’… I have been involved in all these productions, but always wanted to do something on par with Broadway, and I think Disney pulled out all the stops as I had all my basic work [undertaken] in Los Angeles. Next, I did the entire philharmonic recording in Prague. Then you have Amitabh Bachchan’s voice opening the show. Broadway met Bollywood!”
with Nikhil Mehta
Leslee also fondly recollects the support provided to him by Nikhil Mehta – who, unfortunately, passed away in September 2021, and was the man behind Sudeep Audio which set up their first studio in Andheri in 1977 – during Leslee’s early days in Mumbai. Leslee also speaks in support about how the brand not only having survived through the years, but being nurtured by Nikhilbhai’s son, Aditya. “I remember seeing him as a young kid,” reminisces Leslee, “wearing his uniform as he attended school but, more importantly, it is remarkable the way he has matured and is supporting his father’s legacy.” Leslee speaks about the how Nikhilbhai had a distinctive “futuristic plan” for technology, which Leslee supported by purchasing huge amounts of software from Sudeep Audio.
A little history about Leslee
For those who still remain uninitiated about Leslee Lewis, he is one of the first Indian composers to have introduced Indian audiences to rock and pop music. He was educated at St. Mary’s High School, Mount Abu, in Rajasthan. At boarding school, Leslee was exposed to the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. With these diverse musical influences, Leslee soon began plucking guitar chords and, in furthering his musical capabilities, received the opportunity of recording with renowned music directors such as Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal, R. D. Burman, Viju Shah, Vanraj Bhatia, Khayyam, Anu Malik, and Louiz Banks.
Leslee’s creative side arrived was inherited from his late father, P. L. Raj. “My Dad was one of the leading choreographers in Bollywood,” Leslee says with pride, “and was a perfectionist. That’s where I got it…from him!”
Leslee first worked with ghazal singer Hariharan in 1992 in creating a jingle. They went onto form Colonial Cousins in 1996 and recorded a self-titled album. They were the first Indian act to be featured on MTV Unplugged. The duo released follow up albums too, The Way We Do It (1998) and Aatma (2001), and Leslee composed the soundtrack for Tamil films Modhi Vilayadu and Chikku Bukku. Leslee also conceived and created music for MTV India’s Coke Studio for their debut season.
The “indie music” plans in 2022 and beyond
Atul Churamani
Returning to the present, Leslee sees a bright future in live events again, which is probably why Leslee arrived for this interview wearing shades. “Once people commence taking their booster shots,” states Leslee, “and there are no longer any government restrictions in people getting together, the market will open further – which I am looking forward to – and that could occur as early as April with the market continuing to build thereon.” In support of his belief, Leslee is also building his catalogue of solo songs, most of the recent ones being represented by Atul Churamani’s Turnkey Music And Publishing – with several more due for release in 2022 – all of which he is looking forward to showcase live for his fans, initially in India, before crossing borders.
There are probably a handful of musicians having Leslee’s wealth of musical knowledge, if at all, with whom you can discuss such incredible singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell or, in taking a tangent, even the so-called electronica era that was popularised by producer/composer Giorgio [Moroder], but Leslee’s always had his priorities in order.
With a conversation that is satiated from Leslee’s past initiatives that have led him to present his musical future, after almost two hours, the discussion winds down as it is lunch time as the king of Indipop – and, now, in a manner of saying, indie pop – Leslee Lewis, along with Kavya Jones, heads for a meal, appropriately at Burger King.
As we convey our goodbyes, Leslee shares a little known fact that he has been awarded doctorates in music by two institutes, the National Institute Of Education And Research, New Delhi, and by the National American University, based in Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. It just goes to show that with a talent like Leslee Lewis, his accolades now range from artist [and repertoire] to academics and, with another career in front of him, one of a solo performer now, the awards will continue flowing…
