Spotlight.
Lea Shaw
INTRODUCTION
Lea Shaw (she/her) is a classically trained Mezzosoprano, collaborative artist, and trauma aware educator. An acclaimed performer with a 'salted caramel' voice, she has performed on operatic and concert stages across the UK and Europe. A keen collaborative artist, she works regularly with living composers and artists to create new works, including Renell Shaw, Missy Mazzoli, and Sir James MacMillan. Lea is the creator of The Small Magician, a fully accessible, inclusive, trauma-aware vocal education resource maintained in partnership with Scottish Opera.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into your creative practice? What initially inspired you?
Ultimately, I think I was drawn to my practice ultimately by the desire to build community, and to create cool things with cool people. I was obsessed with Cirque du Soleil as a kid and swore I would run away and join them; I loved the insane storytelling and the costumes and the skill, and the family of each production. I guess my first “oh my god, this is it’ moments would have to be split in two: firstly seeing a Puccini opera from the standing seats in the Met, and being completely swept away by the music and the scale and the story, and secondly seeing a production of Carmen with Denyce Graves in the title role when I was in my teens, and in seeing her perform seeing that I deserved to occupy a space and have a voice within that world, too, should I wish to.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?
Belonging, folklore, the internal landscape, and the multitudes of stories and possibilities we contain.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
Oof, this is a hard question! I would have to say that ONE of my favourites would have to be my latest, ‘And When The Light Returned I, Transfigured, Awoke’. I’ve performed a lot of music written for other singers, so to collaborate with composers directly to create new pieces, and write my own music on some of my favourite themes, was equal measures challenging, exhilarating, and a homecoming. I can't wait to see what happens with this project as it grows!
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?
You MUST ask yourself what your ‘why’ is, and follow it unapologetically! Our practice - and what we call our 'career' - can look so different from contract to contract, and year to year. It's counterproductive to only measure your success compared to the expectations or achievements of others. If you’re clear on your mission, then you find yourself pursuing avenues and walking into rooms that help you to meet your own ‘why’, and feel fulfilled as you continue on your journey! Know that your voice and your artistic identity is worthy of being heard, held, and respected by the people who you work with.
What are you currently working on?
Right now I’m working on memorising music for two operas I have coming up and learning music for a third (a world premiere which I’m super excited for), and cooking up some beautiful new offerings and collaborations as part of my project The Small Magician, which opens up trauma-aware, holistic vocal education for all!
Photo Credit: Becy Stabler