We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful La Bek. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with La below.

Alright, La thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I first performed as a child in front of an audience –I knew I would have to continue doing just that. A calling was born. The feeling of being home on stage was so visceral, that I could not deny that joy, and I still feel that way today, whenever I walk onto a stage.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

LaBek is a recording vocalist in the world of jazz, blues and cabaret music. She is known for her sultry vocals and sophisticated style. LaBek has been performing since the age of nine. After winning a full scholarship to Cornell University, where she received an MFA, she moved to NYC. There, she pursued a performance career, starring in a number of repertory plays, working on parts in TV and on Broadway. Throughout her career, she spent many hours developing her craft, preparing, and bringing all her experience and wisdom to recording her vocal artistry. LaBek (AKA Rebecca Malka Perricone) moved to Boston, where she spent over 14 years as part of the faculty at Berklee College of Music. Hailing from a musical family, LaBek was raised on a diet of jazz, classical, world, and soul music. She quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile performer. Her life experiences have produced an artist whose powerful voice and passion for storytelling and music must be heard.

Throughout her career as a performer, director and educator, she spent many years sharing her love for the muse. In choosing songs to record and preparing recording sessions, she especially focuses on exploring arrangements that highlight the lyrics and the award-winning instrumentalists she works with. “I have always chosen and been blessed to work with musicians who bring their best creative self to our recording sessions here in Boston.” All five albums were a collaborative partnership with husband, Jack Perricone, first chairman of the Songwriting Department at Berklee College of Music. Her recordings offer new interpretations of covers and originals from masterful songwriters. She believes that in our increasingly fragmented and virtual world, artists need to help the world remember it’s heart and what it has forgotten about it’s own humanity.

LaBek is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated new album, ‘All in the Mix’, set to drop in September.
‘All in the Mix’ is a powerful blend of blues and jazz. Each song on the album delves deep into important social issues, touching on topics like climate change, feminism, and mental health awareness. “The title, ‘All In the Mix’ she says “refers to my final surrender to the wonderful mix of people, music, struggles, and joys of my life.” LaBek brings a unique perspective to each track, from the haunting vibes of the blues to the up-lifting arrangements of jazz tracks, ‘All in the Mix’ is a collection of songs that will leave a lasting impact on all who hear it.

Titles of her Albums are: “Love At Last”, “Burgundy Brew”, “What A Woman Knows”, “With You/ For You”, & “All in the Mix.”

Reviews from her last CD release:
LA BEK – “With You / For You” Exclusive Review Planet Singer

Some artists are great in one single genre, others can master every kind of music thanks to their flexibility and artistry, but very few can turn into gold everything they sing. La Bek is one of the few, and today we had the big pleasure to listen to her latest release, “With You/For You”, an authentic piece of art, full of surprises, passion, and class.

Her latest studio album “With You/For You” is a timeless collection of songs that span from Jazz to Blues and much more, where she gathered outstanding musicians to help her deliver one of the greatest releases of 2019 and 2020.
LONGE Magazine

The current Album “With You/ For You” fits right in with her impressive collection of musical work. The overall album is exceptional. Labek’s soul poured out into every track on this album.

The album is simply well produced. Labek reminded the listening/review team of Sade, giving the listener meaningful music that makes anyone keep listening. All the songs have a great message. However, the favorites are “Blues is Good for the Soul”, “Is it Love”, the first track “Merci Bon Dieu,” which is done in French with a great beat and composition. The track “Rain,” with the guitar baseline, pushes this record to the next level.

This artist is the kind of artist anyone can enjoy listening to all day. Labek’s vocals are perfect, you can clearly understand every word she is saying, it’s as if she is reading with music. The music does not overpower her exceptional vocals, it is just right and the mixing/blending brought out nothing but quality. The album is well produced with great production.

This Album is a must-have! With You/For You is a collector item. This Album is highly recommended. Labek should be a part of everyone’s music collection. The Album “With You/For You” is all platforms such as Spotify, Itunes, Youtube, Napster, Amazon and alike. Listen to the album below and see a few videos!

UPSTREAMINDIE.COM

Up-stream media…‘With You / For You’ is the fourth album release from Jazz/Adult Contemporary artist Labek. Funded by a grant from the Berklee School of Music, the album is a powerful, modern take on the jazz genre, comprising a mix of originals and covers. Drawing from a deep well of human emotions and experiences, the album touches on themes of social justice, love and loss with a refreshingly stark honesty. The album is stylistically diverse, drawing on elements of Jazz, Blues, and even Tango. The mark of a truly gifted songwriter is to take the deeply personal and make it universal, and with that, on ‘With You / For You’, Labek has succeeded.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In his NY Times article, “The Power of Art In A Political Age,” David Brooks writes “I sometimes feel I’m in a daily struggle not to become a shallower version of myself.”

I relate to this because l, too, feel strongly as artists we are constantly being pressured to monetize our work in whatever form of expression it takes. With that pressure comes the confines of constantly marketing and producing more. There is no wrongness in that exchange, but music has it’s own laws and order which we all feel, especially when a resonating note of truth is sounded.

Within an increasingly technical AI world, we as a society need to remember that only the “outlaw” (as Plato called the “Artist”), can “take you higher” into the realm where you meet with a collective feeling of love. The willingness to support the artist by being patient, going to live concerts, sitting and listening to the work with an appreciation for the struggle the artist makes to remain authentic, is so important to remember as our attention span shrinks with all the distractions that are constantly being offered in our media consumption. It is the quality of the work rather than quantity that will truly satisfy the consumer in the end.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The magic of preparing, following, and becoming one with the music, the musicians, and the present living moment we all inhabit. I love the way well-crafted songs offer us communion with the composer/ lyricist, ourselves, and each other.

Also, bringing people together to hear the music is such joy.. it brings us closer to each other! Music can unify us and bring healing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://labekmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labekmusic/
• Facebook: labekmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rebeccaperricone9365
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@labekmusic?invite=3

Image Credits

All photos are my images.