With a voice that is both soulful and deeply expressive, Cork native Laoise Leahy has carved out a distinctive space in Ireland’s contemporary music scene. A contemporary voice lecturer at MTU Cork School of Music, she brings an instinctive and adventurous approach to improvisation, weaving together elements of jazz, soul, folk and contemporary music to create a truly unique sound. At the heart of her work lies a fascination with connection, presence and the complexities of being human. This week, Elysia from our Box Office and Marketing Team sat down with Laoise to discuss her influences, her artistry and the stories behind her music.
2 words to describe your music?
Atmospheric, and improvisation.
You perform primarily jazz pieces, would you consider it your favourite genre?
I always warn my students about getting into jazz that once you go there, there’s no going back. I can’t describe the feeling of having a live conversation with like-minded musicians when you’re playing and exploring, the collaborative nature of it, and the improvisation of it. I have gone down other routes like using electronic pedals, I’ve worked with dancers and folk bands, but I always just want to do those things in the context of jazz where you can explore, live. It’s just magic, it really is.
You also do a lot of improvisation. Did that come naturally to you during your training or was it something you had to learn over time?
Weirdly, that’s always been there and something I always gravitated towards. Any opportunity to sing I was just a little bit fearless– though, I don’t know where that came from. I used to play in improv bands, like the funk improv one that used to run in the city when I was eighteen or nineteen, and that just sort of opened me up. It’s like a muscle you get used to flexing. There was, and is, such a brilliant scene for it in the city, with Paul (Dunlea) doing the improv jazz sessions in the Crane Lane every Monday night. I was in the house band for that first improv session about twenty years ago now, and that was such an incredible breeding ground for improvisors, and such a beautiful supportive community thing. It’s definitely always been something I’ve wanted and enjoyed.
What advice would you give to your students as an MTU lecturer if they want to make music their professional full-time career?
It is a very precarious career, and very tough. It’s one you just need to follow your heart in, experiment and not be afraid to try new things. You’ll always learn something from everything you try even if it doesn’t work out, and there’s so much gold to be taken from trying and failing forward. Now with the age of social media as well I think it’s very tough for young musicians or up-and-coming career musicians, because it’s a whole job. You have to frame things a certain way to develop your brand and market yourself like a business, and I think you should try to concentrate on your art and instrument. We all get tied up in the things we can’t do, and the more you appreciate your own strengths, the more you’ll meet like-minded people and opportunities will come your way. Know your worth too, I suppose. Develop, network, get involved. One thing always leads to another!
What local performers do you admire?
At the moment, locally, Paul and Cormac (McCarthy) are just shining stars to me. I’ve known them since I was a teenager and they were in a garage band together! I’m so proud of them, the journey they’ve taken too. They’re constantly seeking new experiences and new collaborations. They’re working at the very highest level and it’s always with integrity and heart. We should treasure them, truly, and lift them up. It’s so great to see so much success come from one small, but brave, little county.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs all the way. My dog is the love of my life!
