Interview With Elizabeth Leslie

Elizabeth Leslie (she/they) is a queer, non-binary composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer from small town Nova Scotia. In 2008, she moved to Montréal after dropping out of architecture school in Vancouver.

There she joined several Indie Rock bands as a bassist, guitarist, and drummer, and fronted an electro-pop group with French electro duo, françoise. Shortly thereafter, she started working as Chromeo’s assistant where she learned about vintage synths, the seedy music industry, drum programming, and life on tour. Since then, she has decided to go solo as an electronic producer. She’s a huge lover of remixes and dance music, which is why 2 out of her 3 EPs are Remix EPs. As a former production manager and editor on blockbuster and Oscar-nominated films, she also shoots, edits, and directs all of her music videos. Currently she is working on new music with a full length album on the horizon.

Getting to know Elizabeth

What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?

Vegan Middle Eastern food

What was the last TV series you watched on TV?

“SOPHIE: A Murder in West Cork.” I got so obsessed with the story that I watched it three times over. Also, Jules Thomas looks like my ex, so it felt strangely nostalgic.

What historical Figure would you love to see in 21st century life?

Virginia Woolf as a Social Media Influencer.

What’s your least favourite personality trait you like about yourself?

Impulsivity.

If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?

Be yourself, nobody cares!

What is your creative process like?

It tends to follow moon cycles. During full moons I experience an insane surge in creativity. It could just be that I’m more emotionally affected during this time. It’s really been a gift.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I’d love to sing on a KOMPROMAT song or collaborate with Bulgarian techno producer, Kink.

Are you finding the isolation of the pandemic conducive to your writing or is it hindering the experiences you can write about?

It’s been amazing. All I’ve done this past year is produce music and collaborate with other artists. It’s been one of the most creative periods of my life. But this will end soon.

What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?

Like a lot of musical artists, I have a day job in order to survive. I’ve been lucky, though, career-wise. I’m starting work as a production manager on an Amazon Prime TV series very soon.

What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned? Future gigs?

Yes. I’m releasing a 5 song EP in October. I’ve been working closely with Romanian producer, Andrei Mihailescu. I absolutely adore his producing and engineering work. It’s a slightly new direction but I’m really excited about it.