My story so far…
I grew up in Aurora, Colorado with 3 older sisters….all singing and getting on each other’s nerves. I bought my first guitar when I was 14 and began to put my half-crazed poetry to music. I moved out to Los Angeles when I was 18. I began school at Musicians Institute in Hollywood in the fall of 1999 and I was married that following March to my soul mate (seriously)…I was 19. He’s also a musician, but we didn’t meet at Musicians Institute, we met at church. I was privileged to record an EP, "Melting in Hazel" with extremely gifted musicians who were all attending the school…a most memorable time.
In 2001 our first child was born. Later that year I was fortunate enough to meet Robin and Keven Brennan among other wonderful friends and music connections. I met Tushar Parte online (he’s in India)…he contacted me interested in writing and recording a song together…I heard some of his work and was impressed and I’ve always loved Indian music, so I was thrilled! He sent me the tracks that he recorded on his end and I recorded my vocals at West Lake Audio. I recorded my debut album ‘Time is Never Wasted’ in 2005 at Robin and Keven's studio, f. Boo. It was so magical how it all came together, it was fate.
2006 was a crazy year that brought me much unexpected pain and spiritual growth… my parents separated and my son was diagnosed with autism among the many trials. I wrote more songs that year than ever in my life. And also in 2006, I was approached by Mr. Black for his collaboration project, 'Apples of Eve'...a compilation of female artists with Mr. Black....our song is called 'Return To Catastrophe'.
I loved working with Keven on ‘Time is Never Wasted’ and he approached me with the idea to produce two of my songs ‘Rainy Day’ and ‘Calloused Heart’ and they were recorded when I was 4 months pregnant with twins, those two songs and those two babies were born in 2007.
In August of 2008, my kids stayed with Dad, Grandma and Grandpa for 2 ½ weeks while I went to India and recorded an entire album with Tushar Parte. It still feels like a dream that I was there, I’ve never gone anywhere outside of the US and I went to the complete opposite side of the planet! I loved it. I loved the people, the culture, the food and the over-all experience of being there and recording an amazing album with a group of some of the most gifted musicians I have ever met! We recorded live in the studio, it was magic. I’d jump at the chance to visit India again. This album has yet to be released, they are working hard on post production right now. I’m trying really hard to be patient, but I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!!!
So, that brings us up to the present day ….I recently signed to indie label f.Boo headed by Robin and Keven Brennan. I’m so excited!!!!!!! We are in full production right now for our first album together with Keven and Nate Wood producing it and they are both brilliant! I am blessed.
Well, that’s the story of my life so far. To be continued….
Players on 'Some Rhyme, Some Reason' (upcoming, not yet released)
vocals: Janeen Leah
rhythm guitars: Tushar Parte, Janeen Leah
lead guitars: Tushar Parte
bass: Domnic Fernandes
drums: Hamza Kazi
piano, trombone: Noam Vazana
all other instrumentation: Tushar Parte
- recorded at Swara Lata Studio in Mumbai, India by Chinmai Harshe
- all songs written by Tushar Parte and Janeen Leah, except 'Begin', 'I Can't Help It', 'I'll Be Fine' and 'Leave the Light On' by Janeen Leah
- all songs produced by Tushar Parte and Janeen Leah
Players on 'Time is Never Wasted' - 2005 JL Pixie Records, ASCAP
vocals: Janeen Leah
rhythm guitars: Janeen Leah, David Espinoza, Joerg Stoffel
lead guitars: Michael Burke, David Espinoza, Kai Stuffel, Richard Price
bass: Brian McGinty, Cristian Hernandez, Peter Kearns, Marc Bernal
percussion: Peter Kearns, Alan Arana
drums: Brent Wheeler, Paul Marangoni, Kevin Scott, Peter Kearns
synths and piano: Peter Kearns
sax: Keven Brennan
- recorded at West Lake Audio, Los Angeles by Aaron Walk; Musicians Institute, Hollywood by Jeremy Oswin; f. Boo Studio, Burbank by Keven Brennan; exept 'The Sea You've Cried' in Christchurch, New Zealand by Peter Kearns
- all songs written by Janeen Leah, except 'I Melt into You' by Janeen Leah and Kai Stuffel
- all songs produced by Janeen Leah, except 'The Sea You've Cried' by Peter Kearns
Players on bonus track 'Wine of Conciousness' tablas and tambourine: Trigun Anna Joshi five string bass: Domnic Fernandes
backing indian female vocals, tampura drone: Suchita Parte
all guitars, resonator slides, shakers and male vocal alaap: Tushar Parte
- recorded at Trinity and Swara Lata Studio in Mumbai, India by Shantanu and Chinmai Harshe, exept vocals at West Lake Audio, Los Angeles
- written by Tushar Parte and Janeen Leah
- produced by Tushar Parte
- all songs mastered at f. Boo Studio by Keven Brennan
Players on 'Melting in Hazel' EP - 1999 JL Pixie Records, ASCAP (out of print)
vocals: Janeen Leah
guitars: Kai Stuffel, David Espinoza
bass: Cristian Hernandez
drums: Brent Wheeler
synths: Jeremy Oswin
piano: Tommy Reeves
- recorded and mastered at Musicians Institute, Hollywood by Jeremy Oswin
- all songs written by Janeen Leah, except 'Maybe This Time' and 'I Melt into You' by Janeen Leah and Kai Stuffel; 'Giving Everything to You' by Janeen Leah and David Espinoza
- produced by Janeen Leah and Jeremy Oswin, except 'Those Eyes' by Tommy Reeves