Leigh Lesho's "Akasha" album
Donation protected
Hi! I'm the lead singer and songwriter for Leigh Lesho & The Night Lights. I had such a wonderful and educational journey writing, recording, self-funding and releasing my solo debut album "444" in 2016. Since then The Night Lights have joined me and we've been playing a lot of shows in support of the album and building a community fan base. The creative juices have been overflowing since the New Year and I'm very ready to begin the process of recording and producing my second album titled "Akasha", but I need your help!
With your donations I will be able to continue sharing my work with the intention of educating others about autism and the magical gift that is the voice. Music truly can be the most healing medicine if it's created with such an intention. My son Rylan is the motivating force behind my work in music. He has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and speech is his greatest challenge. Most humans begin speaking suddenly in childhood as if they were always able to; It's something that was just granted to us, so we tend to take it for granted! But that's not the case with Rylan and many other people with Autism. He has had to work very hard for every bit of verbal communication he has. His challenge with speech has proven to be an amazing teacher for all those around him, and allows for the embracing of space when words aren't there to fill it up. It forces us to look deeper into all things and to become more patient with the world around us. Increasing space, increases time.
"Akasha" is the Sanskrit word for space/ether. It is the fifth and most subtle element that contains/holds the denser elements of earth, water, fire, and air. Sound is created from air within space and is perceived through the sense of hearing (the ears are the sense organ). Speech is directly affected by the energy that moves though the ears and is processed in the throat center.
The repetition of sounds is a very useful tool for focusing the mind and balancing the energy of the throat center. This is called "mantra" in the Sanskrit language. A very common characteristic among those with Autism is a very strong memory and the need to stimulate by repeating words, sounds, songs, or scripting lines from movies or TV. I decided to help Rylan by utilizing this unique quality. I create healing music medicine that could be played on mainstream radio but works as a modern mantra technique. Rather than produce typical "spiritual" music that appeals to a smaller population, I try and reach the masses by using a more contemporary approach with the lyrics, stylings, and sound to create a product that can be appealing to all walks of life and musical tastes.
Most people really love to sing along to familiar music, wherever and whenever it might be playing. The recording process offers me a unique opportunity to consciously focus my mind and intentions on loving, healing, positive energy, so that anyone consuming the sound vibration will receive a healing benefit. When the words are learned and repeated along like a chant, the self-healing force activates even stronger. I also aim for my music to be enjoyed by adults and children alike, so that families can share the love of sound with one another and actually go to our show together instead of finding a sitter. Music brings us together!
The money I receive will be used to pay my friend/bandmate/recording engineer Oscar Fuentes for his services at TucSound Recording Studio, as well as my other bandmates and friends who will be paid as studio musicians to record on the tracks, and professional mixing and mastering services. It will also fund a photo shoot and graphic design work for the album art, and the manufacturing and packaging of CDs. I would also like to hire a videographer to film the creative process for a behind-the-scenes look into the project, and for the production of at least one music video.
I'm hoping to raise the necessary funds by the end of the summer. Your support will mean the world to me because I care about helping others through the power of sound, and I hope to build a strong community around this work. This is the first time I've ever reached out to others for donations but I'm taking the leap of faith that only good things can come from pure intentions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
LOVE,
LL
<3<3<3<3
With your donations I will be able to continue sharing my work with the intention of educating others about autism and the magical gift that is the voice. Music truly can be the most healing medicine if it's created with such an intention. My son Rylan is the motivating force behind my work in music. He has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and speech is his greatest challenge. Most humans begin speaking suddenly in childhood as if they were always able to; It's something that was just granted to us, so we tend to take it for granted! But that's not the case with Rylan and many other people with Autism. He has had to work very hard for every bit of verbal communication he has. His challenge with speech has proven to be an amazing teacher for all those around him, and allows for the embracing of space when words aren't there to fill it up. It forces us to look deeper into all things and to become more patient with the world around us. Increasing space, increases time.
"Akasha" is the Sanskrit word for space/ether. It is the fifth and most subtle element that contains/holds the denser elements of earth, water, fire, and air. Sound is created from air within space and is perceived through the sense of hearing (the ears are the sense organ). Speech is directly affected by the energy that moves though the ears and is processed in the throat center.
The repetition of sounds is a very useful tool for focusing the mind and balancing the energy of the throat center. This is called "mantra" in the Sanskrit language. A very common characteristic among those with Autism is a very strong memory and the need to stimulate by repeating words, sounds, songs, or scripting lines from movies or TV. I decided to help Rylan by utilizing this unique quality. I create healing music medicine that could be played on mainstream radio but works as a modern mantra technique. Rather than produce typical "spiritual" music that appeals to a smaller population, I try and reach the masses by using a more contemporary approach with the lyrics, stylings, and sound to create a product that can be appealing to all walks of life and musical tastes.
Most people really love to sing along to familiar music, wherever and whenever it might be playing. The recording process offers me a unique opportunity to consciously focus my mind and intentions on loving, healing, positive energy, so that anyone consuming the sound vibration will receive a healing benefit. When the words are learned and repeated along like a chant, the self-healing force activates even stronger. I also aim for my music to be enjoyed by adults and children alike, so that families can share the love of sound with one another and actually go to our show together instead of finding a sitter. Music brings us together!
The money I receive will be used to pay my friend/bandmate/recording engineer Oscar Fuentes for his services at TucSound Recording Studio, as well as my other bandmates and friends who will be paid as studio musicians to record on the tracks, and professional mixing and mastering services. It will also fund a photo shoot and graphic design work for the album art, and the manufacturing and packaging of CDs. I would also like to hire a videographer to film the creative process for a behind-the-scenes look into the project, and for the production of at least one music video.
I'm hoping to raise the necessary funds by the end of the summer. Your support will mean the world to me because I care about helping others through the power of sound, and I hope to build a strong community around this work. This is the first time I've ever reached out to others for donations but I'm taking the leap of faith that only good things can come from pure intentions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
LOVE,
LL
<3<3<3<3
Organizer
Leigh Ann Lesho
Organizer
Tucson, AZ
