Indie pop singer-songwriter Lorena Leigh came out of 2020 with a new focus and new priorities.
“I’m reinventing and reframing my mindset about how I want to move forward with a little more focus and a lot less fear,” she said.
Leigh’s past releases include tunes that range from bright, synth-laden Christmas songs to melancholic acoustic ballads. After her March 2020 tour was canceled, she said she focused on her personal life and married her fiancé last May. The downtime also gave the songwriter time to sign with a sync agent (SoStereo) that will allow her tunes to be licensed by ad agencies. In the coming weeks, Leigh plans to record several original songs with producer Ernesto Valenzuela at Sticky Audio Labs in New York City. Those singles will trickle out to her fans over the next year, she said.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR?
"I really want to tour and do big festivals. I love playing with a live band [my full band has six people]. I’m hoping to do a full Texas tour this summer, hitting all the major Texas cities and some small towns. If it’s more economical, I’ll do solo performances with a looping pedal."
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC VENUES TO PERFORM IN OR VISIT?
"I’ve played at Main at South Side, which I love. They are so cool and open-minded. Panther Island Pavilion was amazing. I love that whole outdoors area. Growing up, I loved going to White Elephant Saloon. I love the roots of Fort Worth. I know so much has changed. I haven’t heard music at Lola’s Saloon, but I’ve heard good things about it. Dickies Arena is amazing. The whole venue’s sound is so clean and so nice. It would be amazing for full-fledged concerts."
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GRAB A BITE OR COFFEE?
"Vaquero Coffee. Their coffee is amazing. Yolk on Sundance Square. I love all Tim Love’s stuff. If I have a special occasion, Lonesome Dove is my go-to place, especially if someone wants something super Fort Worth. I also love the Woodshed Smokehouse. I’m just a big Tim Love fan. My family has gone to Reata for years. HG Sply Co. I like to go there to get a healthy bowl full of nutrients. Tu Hai, Joe T’s and Ol’ South Pancake House [are also my favorites]."
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP OR UNWIND?
"Luna Belle Resale has been doing pop-ups throughout the area and sales on Instagram @lunabelleresale. I love going anywhere near the Trinity River; it's so well built with walking and biking trails. So much has changed since growing up here. I know it is so cliche, but I love the Stockyards. I just bought a cowboy hat from Western Legacy Company, which is based in Weatherford. Little stuff like that. I love the Cowgirl Museum. I also love the Fort Worth Zoo, and I’m a fan of Four Day Weekend.
WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM PLANS IN FORT WORTH AND WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT FOR 2021?
"Our dream is to have a house in Fort Worth within walking distance to the awesome spots on the Near Southside. We would love to buy a house [and live] six months in Fort Worth and six months in Ireland, where my husband is from."
"I feel really excited about this year. A year ago, I spent a lot of time trying to keep up with the Joneses in the industry. Now, I’m just going to do my own thing and not worry about all the advice that is thrown my way. There are so many different opinions about what to do. I’m more laser-focused on what I’m doing with my music, and I’m doing it all the way."
Follow Lorena Leigh on Instagram @TheLorenaLeigh.
