Ear Expansion with Leena Conquest

In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton has a detailed conversation with Leena Conquest about her extensive musical journey. Leena shares her early exposure to sound in Dallas, Texas, her academic background at Stanford and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and her dance training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She talks about her initial steps into the music world, including her collaborations with various orchestras in Vienna and Zagreb. Leena reflects on her influences from jazz, hip-hop, and dance music, and discusses the improvisational and intuitive nature of her work. The conversation explores her experiences of integrating voice with ensembles, channeling narratives, and the impact of her dance background on her vocal techniques. Leena also opens up about the challenges and joys of holding and conveying powerful narratives through her music, citing examples from her performances with William Parker. The episode concludes with personal anecdotes and a deeper dive into how Leena connects emotionally with the music she performs.