Words by Deyanan Sehi

Photos by @par199x

A genre that has graced the UK with its soothing melodies and emotive lyrics, R&B showcases a wealth of talent that punctuates the nation’s cultural landscape. Swirling from this pool of talent is East London’s very own LeeLee XI, who proves to be a comfortable embrace between nostalgia and contemporary R&B with her sounds tugging on the strings of nostalgia to deliver relatable tales of vulnerability. Tracks such as “Unspoken Love” and “Second Chance” serve as a testament towards her talent. In her debut interview, LeeLee XI narrates an exclusive tale which reveals who she truly is as she cements her status as an emerging artist to look out for. A story underpinned by vulnerability, hard work and motivation and most importantly, a deep, unwavering love for R&B.

Q. What’s the meaning or story behind your name, LeeLee XI?
The story of my name stems from valuing privacy in certain areas. I took a portion of my
name, doubled it and added the XI, which came from delving into the meanings of numbers.
11 is my expression number; It means that I am sensitive, intuitive, a peacemaker, and have
musical talent. I’ve grown to be open about my name and have chosen to share it with my
fan base. My name is Malika, which means queen in Arabic, and I embody that meaning
well.
Q. Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up and how that has influenced who you are
today?
I grew up in East London in a small area called Wapping, which was like its own little town
back then. My aunty Grace kept me busy with competitive athletics, the art school where I
danced, sang, and acted, and competitive gymnastics, she truly influenced the woman that I
am today. After gymnastics, I would go to my music lessons, where I received my music
grades and released my first collaborative tune at the age of 13. Growing up as a busy child
has always motivated me to work hard in life. R&B has always been instilled in me since I
was a child; my mother’s CD collection was always played in the morning. We adore artists
from Brandy to Destiny’s Child in our house. The sound of sweet R&B will always soothe my
soul.
Q. What inspired you to start making music, and how has your journey in music evolved over
time?
I’ve loved singing since primary school, even pretending to be in a girl group. After sixth
form, I realised I was too creative to pursue a corporate career; the freedom of music
pushed me to create my own. At 13 years old, a music manager advised against releasing
my own material, which only fueled my desire to release my first track at 16, “Trippin’,” which
was about boys wanting one thing from girls. Since then, my music, voice, and experiences
have all evolved. I’ve fallen in love, been heartbroken, and risen again, and all I can say is
thank God for it all; without these experiences, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today.

Q. What’s the story behind one of your favourite songs that you’ve released so far?

My favourite released song has to be ‘Unspoken Love,’ which is a soft song about pain. My
heart is too big, and I often I sacrifice things to show up for people that I care about. This
song reflects a situation of inconsideration, where a person didn’t think about how their
actions behind my back would make me feel, and that inconsideration broke me because I
would never do anything to hurt someone I care about. It always felt like I was always
considerate of others, but when was it my turn to be cared for and have my feelings taken
into account? So I decided to write a song about how I felt, channelling the 00s vibes that I
adore.
Q. What’s something about you that most people wouldn’t expect or know just from listening
to your music?
From listening to my music, people wouldn’t know I’m shy; I’m a truly tender girl; you’d think
with the way I sing, I’d use that confidence in other areas, but I’m quite silent in many
situations; I scope the scenery before acting. The little bit of anxiety holding me in certain
situations is me preventing myself from being disappointed and from growing close to the
wrong energy.
Q. What’s something about you that most people wouldn’t expect or know just from
listening to your music?
From listening to my music, people wouldn’t know I’m shy; I’m a truly tender girl; you’d think
with the way I sing, I’d use that confidence in other areas, but I’m quite silent in many
situations; I scope the scenery before acting. The little bit of anxiety holding me in certain
situations is me preventing myself from being disappointed and from growing close to the
wrong energy.

Q. R&B is a genre that often leans on vulnerability and raw emotions. Are there any
particular experiences that helped define your sound or any of your projects?
Many of my early projects were about my first relationship; a time of vulnerability time where
I gave too much of myself and lost myself in the pursuit of trying to help the person believe in
themselves, but they had given up on everything, including me. The realisation that they
were not my person and that I deserved so much more enabled me to rediscover myself
and, finally, find a love that waters my soul. I’ve written songs, both unreleased and released,
to help me grow and let go, as well as to help people who are experiencing similar things
feel heard. My soft R&B sound has also been defined thanks to inner growth.
Q. How do you stay true to yourself while navigating the demands of the music industry?
Since I was 16, I’ve only created what I felt comfortable making and felt authentic to me.
Being an independent artist at 16 was challenging, especially navigating decisions about
who to work with. After an experience, I became mindful of others’ morals, standards, and
treatments of others, so that I could maintain my barriers against those with the wrong
attitude. Working with a start-up label at the age of 18 taught me what I like and dislike about
the industry. It was difficult to stay true to my sound when they wanted me to participate in
the latest trends. A lot of pressure was put on me to try things I wasn’t necessarily comfortable with, as they didn’t match the person I was, so I had to turn those ideas down to
stay true to myself.

Q. What’s next for you in your music career? Do you have any upcoming projects or
collaborations that you’re excited about?
There’s so much I want to do next in my career; I’m just looking forward to my next few
releases, allowing myself to be more creative, becoming more vulnerable in my music and
with my supporters, performing more, and increasing my comfort on stage. I’m very proud of
a few small accomplishments, such as graduating from university with a music degree,
performing at Notting Hill Carnival, having my music reach 66 countries, and becoming more
comfortable on stage with each performance. All of this will be worth it one day, and my inner
confidence will shine through.