On the title track of her debut release, the Don't Fall Asleep EP, an eerie treated voice was juxtaposed against corrupted funk. Her debut album was recorded in her bedroom and issued on Rephlex Records in 1998. Drawing on techno, funk, soul, electronica, hip-hop and classical, Like Weather was created in the same arbitrary way that most people buy and listen to music - that is, with little sense of genre boundaries. At one point, the album was actually rumoured to be a lost Prince recording. The album Like Weather is a widely respected milestone and defines a period of London urban music.
A single, 'Feeling', suggested a dysfunctional All Saints. Other tracks drew on the grandeur of Andrea Parker, the shiftiness of Tricky, the sonic perversity of the Aphex Twin and the anal, painstaking attention to sound of hip-hop. 'All the tracks are quite intense, really,' admits Leila of her recordings, 'I take what I do seriously. I try to make moving music.' Luca Santucci, Donna Paul and Leila's sister Roya supplied vocals on the album.
As if to accentuate her sonic perversity, Leila issued (to friends and journalists) a cover of 'Heaven On Their Minds' from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar backed by a corrupted version of 'Won't You Be My Baby' - ... a track from Like Weather that had been mooted as a potential hit single. The track was not, however, given a full release because of potential copyright problems.
At the beginning of 1999, Leila relocated to XL Records. On 'Sodastream', her inaugural single for the label, she confirmed her reputation as 'part sonic terrorist, part harmonic evangelist' by disrupting a pop song with dysfunctional noise and distortion. Her debut album for the label, Courtesy Of Choice, was another highly eclectic collection that further established Leila as one of the most inventive artists on the contemporary music scene.
Her third album, “Blood Looms and Blooms”, was released on July 7, and was preceded by two EPs, “Deflect” featuring Martina Topley-Bird, and “Mettle”, featuring Luca Santucci. The full album features collaborations with both Martina and Luca, as well as Terry Hall, sister Roya Arab, and various others. The album is heralded to be 'one of 2008's best leftfield albums'.
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Leila Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got plenty work to do
Release this ball and chain
Got a picture in my mind
Of how I want to be
With the passing of time
For five days it's a strain
Robotic is how I feel
I long to break away long to be free
If I could do it my way
No more would I be blue
I'd do what I choose
If I could live my reality
No typing of letters making cups of tea
I'll leave it all behind
Getting tired of this way
Got plenty work to do
Release this ball and chain
Got a picture in my mind
Of how I want to be
With the passing of time
My ideal would be creative as can be
To sing yeah that is me
Just as I dreamed as a little girl
In my own big world
Where do I start, listen to my heart
The lyrics to Leila's song "Work" tell the story of a person who is feeling trapped and unfulfilled by their job. The first verse expresses a desire to break free from the mundane routine of work, and the second verse paints a picture of the daily struggle of a robotic existence. The chorus repeats the desire for freedom and a chance to pursue one's own dreams.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of a dream career, as the singer longs for a more creative and fulfilling job, one that would allow them to sing and express themselves. The line "Where do I start, listen to my heart" sums up the singer's longing for a change, and the uncertainty of how to make that change happen.
Overall, the song speaks to a common human experience of feeling stuck in a job, and the desire for something more meaningful and fulfilling. The lyrics offer a message of hope, suggesting that change is possible with perseverance and a willingness to listen to one's own heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Getting tired of this way
I am growing weary of the current situation
Got plenty work to do
I have a lot of tasks to complete
Release this ball and chain
I want to be freed from my current limitations
Got a picture in my mind
I have a clear vision of what I want
Of how I want to be
This vision is how I want to exist
With the passing of time
As time goes on, this desire grows stronger
For five days it's a strain
Enduring a routine is challenging for five days a week
Monday to friday even in the rain
This routine includes working even in adverse weather conditions
Robotic is how I feel
This routine makes me feel like a machine
I long to break away long to be free
I desire to escape and be liberated
If I could do it my way
If I could work according to my preference
No more would I be blue
This change would eliminate my sadness
I'd do what I choose
I would have control over my actions
If I could live my reality
If I could make my vision a reality
No typing of letters making cups of tea
This change would eliminate boring tasks such as typing and making tea
I'll leave it all behind
I desire to abandon these tedious responsibilities
My ideal would be creative as can be
My ideal scenario would allow me to be as creative as possible
To sing yeah that is me
Singing is an activity that truly represents me
Just as I dreamed as a little girl
This is a childhood dream of mine
In my own big world
In a world tailored to my desires
Where do I start, listen to my heart
I am unsure of how to make this happen, but I will start by following my intuition
Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.