For those of you who know Lea Abecassis, you may have seen her claim to fame as a leading role in a Girl Scout Cookie commercial in 2012. For those of you who don’t, you must click on this link right now. But Lea’s talents range far more than just this adorable video. With the voice of an angel, and a deep passion for eclectic, quality music, Lea is one of the most talented singers on Tulane’s campus.
From as early as four years old, Lea was hooked on all things music. She started playing the piano and getting involved with her music school’s choirs at this age. None of her teachers or even her parents really knew about her incredible voice until she was randomly chosen for a solo in her choir’s performance of The Sound of Music. Everyone in the audience was stunned by her talent and knew she had immense potential. From that day on, she started taking weekly voice lessons and has loved singing ever since. From elementary school through high school, she was in every school talent show, performed at local cabaret clubs, and has even recorded multiples songs in a real studio—all of which can be found on Youtube!
Singing has always been such a special outlet for Lea. It has always been a passion that has come naturally to her. Because of this ease, whenever she has lessons or shows, it doesn’t feel like a stressor to her; it is just a way for her to enjoy and express herself. Her favorite styles of music to sing are R&B, jazz, and pop. When she sings she tries to focus on real, older music that contains more genuine instrumentals and voice. She feels that some of the current pop songs are so affected by technology that they sound less authentic. “There is something to be said about the music in the 70s and 80s; it just speaks to my soul,” says Abecassis. Picture this: Lea singing At Last by Etta James (her favorite song to sing) in a small jazz club in New York City, and you can truly capture her vibe as a singer.
Lea’s unique singing style and excellent taste in music make her stand out amongst other performers. Any song she sings, she truly makes it her own. It never sounds exactly the way it is sung by the original artist. In today’s Youtube-crazed society, there are thousands of people singing the same songs, so it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. But Lea is confident in her abilities to make her songs sound unique with her own personal voice.
Lea is hoping that her hobby will eventually turn into a future career. Over the years, she has switched interests and fields, but she has recently realized that she definitely wants to pursue her dream of getting into the music and entertainment industry. She has had concerns that people don’t take musicians seriously in their careers, but she sees the huge impact and importance that music has in our world and would love to spend her life devoted to this field. In her recent years, she hasn’t performed as much, but she is so excited to sing in the Crescent’s Art and Music Student Showcase to show her peers her talent and to get out of her comfort zone. Being in a city of music like New Orleans has truly shown her how much happiness music can bring to people and inspires her to have a role in bringing that happiness to her peers and her community.
Look out for Lea rocking it on stage during the Showcase. I may be a little biased, but I can honestly say that she has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. Her passionate heart and kind spirit come out whenever she performs, and I can’t wait for everyone to finally see her talents in action. Go Lea!
COVER PHOTO: Billye Weiner
