User:Leonie Casanova/sandbox

About Leonie
Leonie Casanova, a London based singer/songwriter and actress, born in Zambia to an Italian Father and a Zambian mother.

She received her education in Swaziland, England and the USA where she studied Economics and French Literature, before going to work on Wall Street.

Leonie’s colourful and almost nomadic background has deeply influenced her approach to song-writing and what to her is the intrinsic and essential story-telling element of this process.

She is a smart and sensitive lyricist and vocalist who manages to cross genres and musical textures seemlessly with ease.

Since being discovered by Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan of Enlightenment Productions her music has become known and loved all over the world and has featured in two award winning films.

The Beginning
Leonie Casanova's incredible talent was first discovered by Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan while she was playing at a dim and quirky underground bar in London in early 2007, they were moved by what they heard.

At the end of the show Shamim and Hanan approached Leonie to ask her to write a song for their film The World Unseen. A surprised Leonie agreed, expecting never to hear anything about it again. Little did she know her song, Broken, would be used in the end credits of a soon to be award winning film.

Further Success
After the blinding success of The World Unseen and the reception Leonie's music received, Enlightenment Records was born to promote and sell the soundtrack to the next film, I Cant Think Straight, which two of Leonie's songs and a song written by Shamim Sarif and performed by Leonie featured, Little Feeling, Holy Daughter and Tell Me.

As soon as Enlightenment Records was established Shamim and Hanan wasted no time signing Leonie as their first artist and her career has been flourishing ever since.

In 2009 Leonie’s singles Broken and Little Feeling were released on Enlightenment Records.

The film/music collaboration between Leonie and the Enlightenment duo of Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan has continued with Shamim recently directing music videos for two of Leonie's songs, Little Feeling and Broken

Her Debut
Leonie has just completed writing the songs for her debut album, touring with these songs in cities worldwide, from London to Jerusalem to Mumbai has helped the songs evolve and helped Leonie evolve as a musician as well.

Enlightenment Records will releasing Leonie’s debut album in mid to late 2012.

Musical Influences
Leonie takes influence from great musicians, old and new such as Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Noisettes, Seu Jorge, Nina Simone, David Bowie, Feist, Prince, Bob Dylan, Regina Spector,Antony and the Johnsons, Ray LaMontagne, Grace Jones, Portishead, Cat Power, Cody Chesnutt, Planet Funk, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Belle and Sebastian and Miriam Makeba to name a few.

KickStarter Success
To raise the money to fund her debut album Leonie and Enlightenment Productions used KickStarter, a fund raising website for creative projects, and amazingly after only three short days she had reached her target. Allowing her and Enlightenment Records to start work on her debut album in summer 2012. However, comments on the Kickstarter by its organizers dating October 2013 have suggested the work has stalled, as Leonie is only communicating with them through her lawyer; the latest deadline has passed with no album being produced, casting doubt on the whole project.

Music
Leonie Casanova On Amazon

Leonie Casanova On Play.com

Leonie Casanova - Little Feeling

Leonie Casanova - Broken

Leonie Casanova - Tell Me

Leonie Casanova - I Wanted New York

Leonie Casanova - Broken (Live)

Leonie Casanova - I Wanted New York (Live)

Leonie Casanova - Holy Daughter (Live)

Leonie Casanova - In Your Head (Live)

Leonie Casanova Rehearsal Blog

Articles and References
Leonie Casanova on KickStarter

Leonie Casanova on Enlightenment Productions

Leonie Casanova on After Ellen

Leonie Casanova Singles Reviews

Leonie Casanova Broken Video Review