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Songstress and pianist Chloë Leighton has certainly been attracting a lot of attention as of late; the Sydney, Australia native and Los Angeles-based chanteuse has been consistently turning the heads of media, industry representatives and fans the world over with her sultry vocals, enchanting melodies and lyrics that paint a soul-drenched portrait of love, life, and the vast array of emotions that it all entails.

Chloë’s musical journey begins as a small child in Paris, France, where her father, a jazz pianist, nurtured her penchant for singing by taking her with him to piano bars where the two would duet timeless jazz numbers. Throughout her formative years and up until today, Chloë’s journey continued as her gifts flourished while experiencing and absorbing the multitude of culture afforded her when residing in Paris, Seattle, followed by a return to her birthplace of Sydney, and currently Los Angeles. Ever the multi-instrumentalist and a full-fledged student of music, Chloë made the piano’s acquaintance at the age of 6, followed by lessons in guitar at 14 and cello at 17.

Fast-forward to present day, at age 23, Chloë utilizes her talents, experience and cultural background to composing and performing a solid repertoire, in both English and French; drawing from the influences of Billie Holliday, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, John Legend and of modern day influences Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and Norah Jones. Coupled with her musical resume, Chloë takes all of these elements and transforms them into her unique brand of soulful, dynamic and captivating jazz/pop, each song accentuated by a voice that diffuses a classic grace and beauty at its core.

A romantic at heart, it is only fitting that a fair number of Chloë’s songs broach the topic of love, evident in tracks “If You Only Knew”, “Sicklove” and fan favorite “Chocolate Cake”, a song opening with a story of eating chocolate cake for breakfast after a breakup. The lyrics of the song depict the ensuing heartbreak and frustration while cleverly similizing the dessert in which she indulges with the intense emotion and rationalization of the failed relationship (I've had chocolate cake for breakfast / the last two days / And I'm wondering what I'm gonna do / when it runs out / and all I'm left with is a belly ache /…. / And I'm wondering what I'm gonna do / when you run out / and all I'm left with is a heart ache / All I'm left with is an empty plate).

The track perfectly demonstrates her boundless vocal range and intrinsic pianistic abilities; the music beautifully arranged to depict the heart wrenching sorrow of the subject at hand.

However, Chloë’s songs are not limited to matters of the heart; her repertoire also consists of songs that are composed with an honest, witty and even jocular writing style, employed in songs such as “Paper Doll”, “Glimpses”and “Better Than Me”, an upbeat pop number about our tendencies to compare our talents and qualities to that of others and simply accepting our individual uniqueness, which features, as in many of her songs, smart and delightfully tongue in cheek lyrics to which we can all relate (Well they push and they pull me / Trying to make me be what they want to see / And I kindly oblige / While I carefully measure the size of my thighs).

It is not surprising that Chloë continues to garner the accolades that she does; a jazz/pop sensation in the making, the sky is the limit and Chloë Leighton is rising fast and full force.

"SICKLOVE" Live

"RIVER" (cover) Live

"PAPER DOLL" Live

Chloe Leighton hits Number 1
on Myspace Jazz Charts!

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