Meet April Leslie | Musician, Music Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with April Leslie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi April, what matters most to you?
Authenticity. When I was touring in my early 20’s dancing & playing my clarinet in front of thousands of people each night, I’ll never forget the words of advice our lead choreographer/dancer, Jim Moore gave us. He told us that people are not stupid & they will recognize if you are performing from your heart with authenticity or just going through the motions putting minimal effort into your art. I performed the same show over 300 times in a year & definitely was not always “feeling it”. However, I knew in my heart that this was something I loved to do & share with others. This helped pull me out focusing on small irritants & remember the bigger picture of hopefully making at least one person smile because they enjoyed the performance. You never know how your performance might positively effect someone & we as artist are very lucky that we have that opportunity. I feel it’s a humbling responsibility we should take seriously.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After being in this industry almost my entire life, I think the think that feels the most fulfilling & makes me proud is the support between musicians. Occasionally you come across that person with the big ego who cares only about themselves, but that is honestly few & far between. I really love to show support & love to other females in the industry. Ego & competition only soils the authenticity (what I spoke of before) of music.

I’m very excited to be a part of the Sully Band and our debut album, “Let’s Straighten It Out” which drops March 17th. I play bari sax & bass clarinet on the album. We recorded the album at the historic Henson Recording Studios in March & it includes some classic & lesser-known soul & R&B songs with our own Sully Band twist…. don’t be surprised if you hear a little reggae twist here & there. We are having an album release party at The Belly UP in Solona Beach on March 17th, 7pm. Hope to see you there!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ha… me & my bestie are a little weird, but we love to try out new diners when we get together. My newly discovered favorite is the Gillespie Field Cafe. It’s located right on the tarmac at the Gillespie Field Airport so you can watch the little planes land & take off as you enjoy classic American diner food. They really have the best pancakes! It also looks like the decor has not been updated in at least 30 years, which I personally think adds to the charm.

After splurging on delicious diner food, I would probably take her on a hike at Mission Trails (all things balanced! lol). There are SO many great hiking trails available from beginner to advanced.

Even though I personally am not into gambling I really love taking the trip to Sycuan Casino. It’s a beautiful resort where you can enjoy good food & live music. They have a gorgeous pool & cabanas you can relax in with your favorite cocktail. Day passes are typically available without a room reservation.

Of course, we would have to do a scenic walk in La Jolla from the Cove to the historic coast walk trail. The sealions, seals & seabirds are so fun to see but be aware that they stink (a rare perk of mask-wearing!).

Living in San Diego, we are so close to Mexico & I absolutely love crossing the border to Ensenada & Valle de Guadalupe to enjoy the many lovely wineries & beach views. Cuatro Cuartros provides a stunning mountaintop ocean view with tasty food & drinks. We would probably stay the night at Hotel Santerra. A quaint, boutique hotel with a very authentic, cozy feel & the best homemade breakfast!

If there’s any time left state-side, we would probably take the paddle boards out to Point Loma then head over to the Liberty Public Market for a yummy treat from around the world.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m very thankful for the role that band played for me as a junior high & high school student. It was the place where I felt that I “found my people”. I think that school would have been much more difficult for me if there was no music program as I was not a super athlete or scholar. As a music educator now, I can still see how important band is for some students who really struggle fitting in other areas. I see many shy or awkward kids come alive during class & I see the sense of community they build with each other as they prepare for shows or concerts. Hearing threats of music being taken out of school for budget reasons really concerns me as I think of how different my life might have turned out if band was not such an integral part of my life.

Website: www.sullyband.com

Instagram: april.leslie1

Facebook: april.leslie1

Youtube: The Sully Band https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdR4Rv5gxp1Xei8uzzP1u2A/featured

Other: The Sully Band on Spotify. Check out our new CD! https://open.spotify.com/artist/5AlTmU7ksSCynwuOc7RdG9?si=rIWT1AULSCymtzejZn_8WQ

Image Credits
Steve Sherman