We recently connected with Leila Rhodes and have shared our conversation below.

Leila , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Moving to California in the middle of the pandemic was definitely a wild risk for me but after a few struggles it ended up being more than worth it. I didn’t have a job and it was scary at first but I managed to find my way. I was in Pittsburgh where I’m from and while I love how our music scene is starting to develop it just didn’t seem like a place I could grow past a certain extent. I made the decision to leave once my lease was up in 2021 and the new doors of opportunities , friends and different experiences have made the move very worth it.

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

I am a music entrepreneur: I sing, rap, produce, and play bass and guitar for myself and other artists. I got started playing guitar when I was 14 in high school and was also interested in composition after 9 years of playing violin and while being in orchestra I learned a bit of how to score for a full orchestra which got me into music producing. The products I have on my music production store (beatstars.com/leilarhodes ) that I sell are guitar loops and sounds for other producers to sample, beats that are available to lease or own, and custom merch.

I feel a lot of what makes me different as an artist is that I use a lot of my free time trying to empower and uplift other artists as well. I like to do things like give away free beats or find shows that I can put them on the bill or give recommendations based on everything I have learned and experienced. This is definitely what I am most proud of in my artistry. I enjoy helping others in places where I wished someone would have helped me and I think community is really what art is all about.

As a brand I would like people to know how dedicated I am to being authentically myself. There have been times where I lost myself trying to conform to the expectancy of others and now that I am where I am in life I know that being authentic is truly a super power and a lost art. All of my beats and production is made by me. I’m not trying to sound like anyone else. I am always trying to better myself as a person and an artist. Music has shaped me in many ways that I am very grateful for.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Yes. I believe a lot of non creatives are mental based and not intuitive based thinkers. This leads to a lot of them believing creatives are insane haha! I know that going with my gut has saved me countless amounts of times and I would want them to know that instead of trying to lecture the creatives in your life when you see them making a decision that you wouldn’t make to instead try to see it from their perspective. I’ve also been asked from noncreatives why I feel the need to make music when there are so many others already doing it- my soul is not the same without it and I can imagine many other creatives feel the same!

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

I think society may not fully be aware of what the world would be like without creatives so a lot gets taken for granted, but mostly not being afraid to support what you may not fully resonate with. A lot of people wait until a business or creative is already deemed “successful” to support them. Finding the art that you really enjoy and remembering there is a person behind it and ensuring that you are adding some value back into their life as you know they have added to yours. I think society has to let go of being comfortable spending $1000 on amazon that goes to a business owner who is already ridiculously rich and instead find ways to give their money and resources to those who truly need and appreciate it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beatstars.com/leilarhodes
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leilarhodesmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leilarhodesmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malasia-hawthorne-475072a4/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEuVhO1-ykTRUX2qsXOt9Dw

Image Credits
Cant Fake the Funk Cover- Brooke Austin Photography