SAFIYA LESLIE: Musician, Producer, Engineer

Safiya Leslie is bringing new energy and a young soul to the world jazz & neo-soul scene today. Emerging from a chrysalis of positivity and consciousness, Safiya is an artist who transcends the norm by infusing her past with her future and flavoring her sounds with musical dialects hailing from jazz and her Afro-Caribbean roots. Safiya and her influential band possess jazz chops, urban attitudes, and Caribbean beauty. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she has headlined many festivals, notably: Bams Festival, Salem Jazz Festival, and Point Sebago Reggae Festival, and performed internationally in Colombia, Sint Maarten, Aruba, and Fiji.

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Safiya's exceptional entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Travel Through Music, an extraordinary venture extensively featured in renowned publications such as Forbes and The Boston Globe. With her visionary approach, Safiya inspires people to explore the world and connect with other cultures through music. Her unparalleled creativity has resulted in developing unique platforms, including subscription boxes and live show partnerships with innovative businesses like Sofar Sounds. These initiatives create unforgettable experiences for audiences while providing world musicians unprecedented exposure. Safiya's passion for promoting cultural understanding through music is extraordinary and is changing the world, one note at a time.

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In March 2023, Safiya was chosen by the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement and Boston Mayor Wu as an EXTRAordinary Woman for her commitment and dedication to her community and neighborhood. In addition to building an impressive performance resume, Safiya has been featured on Boston Cityline News and Trinidad and Tobago's Morning Synergy TV News. Whether on stage or through her travel project, Safiya and her band take you on a musical journey that will leave you wanting more.

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Extended Bio:

Safiya Leslie is a rising star in the world jazz and neo-soul scene, bringing new energy and a young soul to her music. Safiya started her musical journey at the prestigious Professional Performance Arts School in NYC, where she received classical training by the National Chorale under the direction of Vagarshak Ohanyan from 2011-2015. Later, she attended Berklee College of Music, where she earned a dual degree in Music Production & Engineering and Music Business Entrepreneurship, along with a minor in Ethnomusicology. Safiya was a founding member of Riddim Symphony, a soca band where she has opened up for the likes of Dancehall artist Konshens and Reggae artist Keznamdi.

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Safiya's exceptional entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Travel Through Music, an extraordinary venture extensively featured in renowned publications such as Forbes and The Boston Globe. With her visionary approach, Safiya inspires people to explore the world and connect with other cultures through music. Her unparalleled creativity has resulted in developing unique platforms, including subscription boxes and live show partnerships with innovative businesses like Sofar Sounds. These initiatives create unforgettable experiences for audiences while providing world musicians unprecedented exposure.

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In addition to building an impressive performance resume, Safiya has also become known for her philanthropic efforts. In 2017, after hurricanes wreaked havoc on many Caribbean islands, Safiya pledged to make every performance she was in a hurricane relief benefit. Her efforts led her to perform for the Prime Minister of Dominica and other dignitaries representing Dominica. Last year, she dedicated her show to flood relief for her mother's home country of Trinidad & Tobago, which led to performances for many dignitaries from the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevins, St. Vincent, Antigua, and Trinidad.

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Safiya's music breathes hope and awareness to a world that seems to be on the verge of the next new trauma. Her activism extends beyond music, as she uses her platform to promote cultural understanding and make a positive impact on the world. Whether on stage or through her travel project, Safiya and her band take you on a musical journey that will leave you wanting more.