‘The White Album’ – ‘master-peace’ romance songs that speak to you, assures maestro yet ‘newcomer’ Leslee Lewis

By Chaitanya Padukone

Intriguing as it may sound, senior iconic composer-singer Leslee Lewis’ whose The White album [global Hindi] was released on October 7, 2022, quips that he feels like a 22-year-old newcomer all over again and even like a baby toddler. In fact, his The White album unique promotional poster has him in his own flashback image as an 18-month chubby toddler.

Speaking to me exclusively, Leslee explained the logic of his album title and the unique concept. “When you think White, you tend to shed all your existing colors and transport you into a zone of tranquil peace and yet with an intense romantic undercurrent. All my six songs speak and converse with attentive listeners. There are global harmony vibes yet with the local desi connect that hits you. One of the songs goes “Aadhi Raat Whisky Aur Tu’. This time I feel it’s like my rebirth like a newcomer. Because besides being the composer-singer-lyricist I am also the ‘independent producer’ of The White album and also the videos, for the first time,” smiles Leslee who incidentally has an illustrious lineage. That’s because Leslee happens to be the son of the legendary ‘late’ Bollywood choreographer P.L. Raj, known for his dance direction in iconic movies like Junglee, Teesri Manzil, Sholay, Don {Khaike Paan song}, Bombay to Goa, Sargam and many more.

Hariharan and Leslee Lewis unveiling album cover at launch The White Album

Meanwhile buddy celeb-singer-composer Hariharan feels that “the subtle, soothing vibes in The White album are straight from the heart, The songs catch you and you take off into a different world. It’s so surreal and inspiring,” shrugs Hariharan.

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Music virtuoso-singer-performer-instrumentalist Leslee rolled into one is now looking at these seven colors of white through a prism. He is coming out with three rays of light, the White, Black, and Tirangaa albums. “While the white brings you peace, the black is the ante – your wild side, and the Tirangaa is an ode to the true desi in you,” elaborates Leslee Lewis.

The White Album launched in Tap Andheri with friends and fellow musicians attending, showing their support and congratulations for the legendary Leslee Lewis. Among the celeb-attendees were buddy Hariharan with son Akshay Hariharan, Jeetu Shankar, Kavya Jones, Sandip Soparrkar with actress-model Shanthi Priya, host Ankit Tamang, DJ Akbar Sami, Girish Wankhede, Chaitanya Padukone, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Karan Oberoi, Sherrin Varghese, and Danny M Fernandes, actor Prit Kamani, Shubham Ray, Siddharth Haldipur, Meghdeep Bose, actress-anchor Akshaya Shetty  Mukul and Sasha Dabholkar, actor Hrishikesh Pandey, Sheldon D’Silva, beat-boxer Divyansh Kacholia, and many others.

Akshay Hariharan, Leslee Lewis, Hariharan and Kavya Jones at the launch of Leslee Lewis’s The White Album at Tap, Andheri

The album cover was formally unveiled by Leslee Lewis, Hariharan, Jeetu Shankar, Vivek Prakash, and Girish Wankhede. The video for the song Tere Bina Love from the album was played, enthralling the attendees with its romantic melodies and uplifting vibes. Avers Leslee Lewis, “Each of us has a soul color, soul music we seek, depending on our mood and state of mind. These albums are mood music – some soothe you, others sear your soul, while some are a sheer celebration.”

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The music also reflects the journey of Leslee Lewis, through time, through musical genres, soul music, blues, pop, and folk – essentially compositions that effortlessly weave a tapestry of notes that envelope, enlighten, and entertain you. And mind you, that is no easy task.

Sr film journalist Chaitanya Padukone with Leslee Lewis

Agrees Leslee Lewis, “It is like baring your soul, dreaming naked in front of the arc lights wanting the world to love you and travel with you. I am beginning with the clean, optimistic, and powerful color – white,” Leslee Lewis’ offerings beginning with The White Album are appropriately named Global Hindi, as the creations in our national language boast of beats for every heart the world over. The White Album is out now on Spotify, Wynk Music, and YouTube. Check it out!

[The writer of this story-article Chaitanya Padukone is an eminent award-winning senior film journalist-author of memoirs book R D BurMania]