Your contribution will allow me take The Love EPs: Love Cells & Scary Love Monster, a project that has taken me years of heart, money and mind to more places around the world. As a singer, composer, pianist and producer who has released four studio albums, including 'Dark Joan’ recorded by Steve Albini and 'Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker' for the Italian National Radio, I have also performed in the US, Europe and Australasia. As a speaker, my recent talk at Webstock international internet conference was “A Jeweled Net: Mindfulness, Music People, Planet” and as a scholar, my Princeton Phd research is on hiplife and hip hop music producers from Accra, Ghana. Recently, I've taught at Sing Sing Maximum Security Correctional Facility for Musicambia and performed at Music Matters in Sri Lanka. My music background includes composing for orchestra, string quartet, film and TV, and singing with Luscious Jackson on MTV-VH1 and 'Late Night with David Letterman.' 

In these times where the vulnerable are othered by society, through financial inequality, neo-colonialism, discrimination, police brutality, political disillusion and climate change — it is more important than ever to experience music, a language that ties us together. As a woman of colour on the outskirts of genre and the industry, my music manages to move people and that is what keeps me going. We feel divided as a people and I want to make music that brings people together and communicates about these issues in a more healthy way. Love Cells title-track is about the human vibrational connection between all of us. I want to keep bringing that message to as many people as I can and I want you to join me, as I keep you up-to-date through photos, videos and performance.

Every contribution is going to help. In the current music climate, streaming music does not cover artist and indie label costs of recording and production, or tour costs. I need $6,000 to pay for release costs, such as CD manufacture and publicity, as well as tour costs, such as flights and accommodation. The Love EPs are coming out on Belts and Whistles www.beltsandwhistles.bandcamp.com avant collective label and tour dates keep coming: www.leilaadu.com/shows Whether or not my goal is reached, you will still receive the perks. 

For $25 you get the 'Love Cells' Care Package: a special edition CD — The Love EPs  — both Love Cells AND Scary Love Monster, along with mp3 bonus tracks, a signed dedication note and your full name acknowledged on the Love EPs web-portal: www.leilaadu.com/thelove. For $5 you will get a new Love Cells EP. There also are luxury perks, such as bespoke song covers, classical instrument compositions, Skype concerts, lessons, home concerts, or making a song with me! 

As part of the tour, we have a big release show at National Sawdust in New York City: http://natsaw.co/leila

Right now, when I go out on tour, I'll go with a special message from us to the world — Love, Connection and Equality. Your contribution will also allow me to bring my new music on issues of social justice, to a broader audience, making it much more likely that I can record and keep releasing this music in the future. In short, your contribution will allow me to expand the tour to new audiences at a time when I think that this message really matters. 

If you don’t feel you are able to contribute, you could really help by sharing this link.

Big love,

Leila