TRANSVOCALIZERS — LezleeAnne Rios Interview

Last month, we introduced to readers of this column, by way of a review of her latest project, Queen Of The World. Working under the stage name of Lezlee Anne, she has made a name for her herself as a singer/songwriter/roots rocker.

She has also taken time to compete in a trans pageant known as “Miss Trans New England” (formerly called the “Miss Trans Northampton” pageant). She has plans to compete again this year.

Transvocalizers and TGForum is pleased that LezleeAnne has has taken time from her schedule for the following interview.

TGForum: If you don’t mind, I’d like to get into a little of your background. I know that you were raised in Nova Scotia, and now live in Massachusetts. Do you have dual citizenship?

LezleeAnne: Yes, and yes…and no, I used to be a “landed immigrant.”

TGF: You have a BA in Political Science and Sociology from Westfield State, 1994 grad, right? Where is that?

LA: Westfield, Massachusetts.

TGF: What did you do for employment after graduation?

LA: I worked full-time in college (construction, store clerk, shipping/receiving, shoe store, group homes for handicapped). Afterward I continued working in group homes and eventually became a contractor/builder.

TGF: Get a chance to use your degree?

LA: No, nor did I want to.

TGF: Any formal music education?

LA: No, I am a self-taught natural.

TGF: How old were you when you stared dealing with your gender issues?

LA: Nine years old.

TGF: How has your family and long time friends handled it?

LA: I was already estranged from most of my family. Of the remaining, 5, I have relationships with 2. Most of that loss was the result of me taking leave of them. I lost about half of my friends, mostly on my letting go of them for not respecting my name/gender change. Prior to transformation, I was recovering from child abuse related problems where I learned thick skinned behaviors that helped me become tough enough to walk away from bad people and relationships. I figure that no matter how much it hurts over a lost relationship, I won’t be with people who don’t accept me.

TGF: When did you transition?

LA: In spring 2001 I decided to come out as quickly as time and money would allow. Because I was a “starving artist” living on the road playing 180 shows over 60,000 miles per year, my actual transition was slower than I wanted, that being “overnight.” Meanwhile I was earning pay as “Mr. Les Rios” and scared to come out to club owners for fear of losing my job. Yet I grew my hair, shaved-eventually waxed-from head to toe, accumulated new clothes and make up, came out to people, styled my hair and eyebrows ultra femme and pierced my ears. I stared wearing ladies jeans and jewelry onstage and fans commented on my changing appearance. Though I would’ve preferred to be stealth, I eventually chose to transition publicly. My main life’s goal of being a musician included being so as a woman.

TGF: Did you take a hiatus between 2006 and now?

LA: Yes and no. I was conflicted with living one foot in the closet and also needed to stay in one place long enough to commit to the necessities of a full and final transition so I stopped gigging on New Year’s Eve 2006. From 2001-2006 I had been living and touring between Nova Scotia, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. From Jan. 2007 until Sept. 2009, I did not perform. During that time I lived 100% as female, re-socialized, got gender therapy, head to to laser hair removal, moved to Manhattan, recorded the Queenie CD, went to Colorado for my operation, then moved back to my home state of Massachusetts.

The break from touring was necessary. I did not hide my previous years as a male entertainer as my basic M-to-F story is on my website. Most of the responses from past fans have been good. I officially restarted my career on Sept 5th, 2009 when I performed at the Miss Trans Northamption Pageant and consequently won 1st runner up.

TGF: Your influences are pretty much straight ahead guitar driven rock. What about your acoustic material?

LA: My acoustic influences are more varied…Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, the folk of Dylan, the folk-jazz of Joni Mitchell, folk-rock of Neil Young/CSNY, blues as played by the Gratefull Deal, and ’70s soul like Dobie Gray and Bill Withers.

TGF: Who are you listening to now?

LA: All the above and a lot of old music. New stuff: I have the new CD and am in love with Ben Harper and Relentless 7 White Lies For Dark Times. Love Audioslave, Shinedown, Gov’t Mule, a lot of R&B/Hip-Hop like R. Kelley, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem, Beyonce, Usher, and I love the awesome Keith Urban.

TGF: Let’s see if I have your Discography right: Les Rios (EP, 1998); Les Rios-Man Of Action (2001); Les Rios-Live 03 (recorded ’03, released ’04). So Queen Of The World is your debut as Lezlee-Anne?

LA: That’s all correct.

TGF: Let’s see if I got the Queenie album credits correct as well. The proper line-up is Brent Nielsen-bass, piano, percussive-stix; Mike “Squid” Gullekson-drums; “Whiskey” Williamson-drums on tracks 1 and 2, congas everywhere else. Who works with you when you do live shows?

LA: The past six months have been Penny Larson-drums, Brent Nielsen, bass. I recently got a new bass player named Erika “Space” Watson.

TGF: Any advice for musicians just starting out?

LA: Practice a lot. Make music by the only thing in your life and do not try juggling family, marriage, child-rearing as well. Realize in advance that rejections out number acceptance by at least 10 to 1, so you will need a lot of faith and/or ego strength to keep on going.

TGF: I”m always interested in why singer/songwriter musicians choose to cover other artist’s tunes. You cover Use Me by Bill Withers. Care to comment on this?

LA: The first LP I ever owned had Lean On Me by Bill Withers on it, which is when I fell in love with him. His song on the Grover Washington LP Just The Two Of Us melts me. I chose Use Me because I dig the song for its funky drums and cool guitar/bass lines.

TGF: You were 1st runner-up in the first ever Miss Trans Northampton Pageant. I really have to ask why you chose to participate.

LA: When I was in my teens and 20s, I secretly admired pretty girls, models, iconic sex symbols and Miss America pageant queens. I wanted to be like them for the simple reason of just being beautiful. As a closeted tranny, I never thought there would be an actual event for me to partake in. When I heard about the pageant, I threw myself wholeheartedly at it and am proud of myself. There are people who take issue with pageants, claiming that they objectify and thus devalue women which perpetuates our patriarchal society. There have also been claims that pageants are a popularity contest or they are racist. I won’t disagree with any of this, as my knowledge of pageants is limited…I think the contestants participate because they want to, just for themselves. Like me, they probably don’t mind being objectified or sexualized. Objectification is a natural human occurrence. Besides…I love to dress up, wear make-up, look sexy, strut my stuff, and I love it when the boys cat call.

TGF: I take it you’ve active in your local trans community? Are you also politically active?

LA: Got involved in the regional trans community (NH, VT, CT, MA), registered to vote and then got involved with trans political lobbying in Mass. for the “Trans Rights Bill.”

TGF: If you had one thing to say to the trans community as a whole, what would it be?

LA: I see some factionalism and backbiting where I am. To that I say: lose the attitude and either work together or go away. It is ironic that some Trans people can, on one hand, yearn for community, acceptance, equal rights/protection under the law, but then turn around and give each other distance, judgment, and snottiness. Acting like this not only keeps us apart but also gives outsiders a reason to point and say that we are messed us. So I say to trans people everywhere, let’s focus on the common goals rather than our differences.

Another thing I see and don’t like that I want to mention: I know some trans people who walk around wearing the victim mentality on their sleeves and come off to me as “the world owes me something.” It’s as if they “feel” like they’re constantly being discriminated against just for being trans. I think what happens is that the defensive vibe they put out not only turns others off, but also invites negative attention which then perpetuates their victim status. Two things I say to them: get professional help to change your internal attitude , and as for feeling inordinately discriminated against, try to see how relatively good we have it in this country compared to a few years ago, and compared to so many people in other countries. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way toward winning over people to your cause.

TGF: Final thoughts?

LA: The more we get our act together as individuals, the more the rest of our world will accept us. This means possibly years of professional help; learning about fashion so as to be age/gender appropriate and socially acceptable rather than outlandishly attracting negative attention; being more kind and gentle to each other.

Finally, I think that trying to be a cohesive and vocal sub-group of the bigger GLBT community is more likely to advance our concerns than bickering with them and/or trying to do it on our own.

LezleeAnne’s CDs are available through her site.

ALSO THIS MONTH

Last month, I made brief mention of Christina Aguilera’s new project, Bionic. Well, I finally received an advance copy, and I have to say it’s an interesting project. Not being overly familiar with Ms. Aguilera, I didn’t know what to expect at first.

With 18 tracks, it’s a long album, coming in at just under an hour. She follows the current trend of using several producers and musical collaborators throughout the project, and you’ll have to check the album insert for that information. Musically, Bionic seems to be split into dance material and non-dance material almost evenly.

Bionic, the title track, is the album’s opener, followed by Not Myself Tonight, which was the first single. the other dance tunes are Elastic Love, Desnudate, Glam, Prima Donna, My Girls (featuring Peaches), and the closing song, Vanity.

Glam and Prima Donna would be excellent drag queen performance numbers. For those of you who attend drag show regularly, expect to hear these tunes soon.

The rest of Bionic thankfully focuses more on Aguilera’s vocal prowess than on techno dance material. The track that I personally feel shows off her voice best is Sex For Breakfast, which is an R&B flavored slow groove.

One tune that was an unexpected find, I Hate Boys, is very reminiscent of the ’50s-’60s era girl group sound.

I Am is laid back, with an almost classical music background. Strings are also found in Life Me Up. All I Need and You Lost Me are piano driven ballads, which are the moments when Aguilera’s voice seems to shine the best.

This brings up an interesting point. On the third track, Woohoo and on Vanity, Aguilera raps. Other than as a marketing ploy…why does someone with her talent need to resort to this? Christiana Aguilera doesn’t need to do anything but find great songs she can wrap her charming yet powerful voice around. Ignoring the rap, there’s still several reasons to get this album-good dance material, even better slower material, and some excellent drag queen moments. Learn more on her website.

Also received a copy of new artist Alexis Jordan’s first single, Happiness, from her debut project. this is another collection of remixes, but the tune itself is excellent dance material. Check out her website and also MySpace)

Category: Music