Leila Florentino’s vocal magic is unmistakable...

... and her songwriting reveals a mind as beguiling as the voice, reflecting the realms of love and life with the jagged brilliance of a wine glass on the verge of breaking. 

Creative expression runs in Leila's blood. She comes from a family of artists; her father is an award-winning playwright, while her mother is an art curator.

In the lead role of "Kim" in "Miss Saigon," Leila starred on Broadway, performing in front of packed theaters and admiring fans. She received rave reviews (“Florentino sings compellingly.” – John Simon, New York Magazine). Now she’s pursuing a solo career as a singer-songwriter - trading the glitz for a more personal musical vision.
 
After concluding her run on Broadway, Leila decided that she wanted to be known as much for her artistry and songwriting as her voice.

It was a difficult transition to make; Leila discovered that her success was closing more doors than it opened. "So many people had preconceptions of how I should run my career and my life. Sure they would help me--but only if I did what they wanted me to do.  It was so frustrating. I felt misunderstood and exhausted.”
 
For a while, she considered giving up on music completely. Then in New York, and in Los Angeles, Leila began performing; on her own terms, first in rock bands, then alone with her guitar. Her music is stylistically quite different from the sweeping Broadway flourishes of Miss Saigon, but many of the central ideas--unrequited love, life, death, and sacrifice--are as evident as ever. The difference is that now there is much more than beauty and talent at work--it's clear that the artist has felt firsthand the emotions and hardship she has always so effectively conveyed. A new group of critics have begun recognizing her talents, and she seems to have won approval from the most important critic of all: herself.

As an artist Leila has found that beauty can be a two-edged sword, and she has pursued every way to convey the stories and sounds within her, compelling the listener to go beyond the beauty, and to behold the person within. Like a chrysalis.

Learn more about Leila Florentino at: www.leilaflorentino.com    www.myspace.com/leilaflorentino

Sit By Me
(Leila Florentino)

It used to be so sweet
I’d catch your eyes gazing at me
Through your pint of beer
There was always something smart to say
You know you could’ve gotten your way

Standing within my circle
You’re waiting for me to speak
Invitations for you to sit by me
Cause tonight
You’re drinking my drink

You used to make my day
But now you break me with everything you say
Feels like I’m going insane
What’s wrong with me
I’m as crazy as crazy can be
Drawn to a boy
Who won’t set me free

Standing within my circle
You’re waiting for me to speak
Invitations for you to sit by me
Cause tonight
I collapse in my drink

Talking to a man twice my age, I’m wine happy
And it drives him mad
And I know
Tonight it’ll be bad

Musicians:
Leila Forentino – vocals
Anne McCue – guitar
Michael Starr – guitar, national guitar
Dan Schwartz – snare drum