Interview with Rihelle Leone – “Genre Fluid” Artist Interviewer: How would you describe yourself as an artist? Rihelle: Honestly, I’ve always struggled to choose just one lane. Music is a language, and I believe it would be wrong of me to limit myself to only one dialect of it. Every emotion, every mood, every rhythm deserves its own voice. That’s why I call myself genre fluid. I write everything from radio-clean to parental advisory, and I move between pop, R&B, jazz, rock, rap, and EDM depending on the story I’m telling. Interviewer: You’ve mentioned before that you write all of your own lyrics. Has that always been important to you? Rihelle: Always. Writing has been with me my whole life. I started singing in church when I was young, and as I got older I performed as a soloist in several show choirs. I’ve done backup vocals for jazz bands and even had the chance to sing with the Conan O’Brien band. Music has always been part of my life in some form. Interviewer: But your career took a difficult turn at one point. Rihelle: Yeah, unfortunately. I had an accident that left me very weak and ill for a long time. The steroid medications I was put on damaged my voice. For someone who spent her life singing, that was devastating. It’s something I’m still navigating. Interviewer: You’ve also been open about occasionally using AI-assisted vocals. That’s a controversial topic in music right now. Why did you decide to be transparent about it? Rihelle: Because honesty matters to me. I write all my lyrics myself. I always have. But when your voice isn’t what it used to be, you face a tough reality. As a former singer trying to be taken seriously, using AI can feel like career suicide. People flag you, dismiss you, or assume you’re not a real artist anymore. But the truth is, sometimes I’m trying to sell a song, and the goal is to present the best possible version of it. If my voice can’t physically deliver that anymore, AI can help demonstrate what the song is meant to sound like. It’s not about pretending to be something I’m not. It’s about giving the music a chance to be heard. I still write every word. The ideas, the melodies, the stories — those are mine. Interviewer: Tell us a little about your background. Rihelle: I’m a 43-year-old entertainer, writer, singer, actress, and DAW producer from Long Island, New York. I’ve spent years performing, dancing, singing, writing, and improvising. For a long time I was just on the outskirts of the industry, moving quietly alongside my late uncle, John “Cooker” LoPresti, who was a well-known bassist. Those experiences gave me a lot of perspective on the music world. Interviewer: Your catalog seems to cover a lot of ground. Rihelle: That’s where the “genre fluid” thing really comes from. My writing moves from pop to rap to rock to jazz to EDM depending on what the story needs. I’ve been writing for years, but I’ve only recently started sharing my music publicly. Interviewer: What made you decide to start putting your work out now? Rihelle: Life. I had to get a regular 9-to-5 job for a long time. My kids are grown now and living their own lives, and I finally have the space to focus on what I love again. I’m not chasing fame. I never wanted that. I just love the language of music. Interviewer: So what’s the goal now? Rihelle: Honestly, I’d love to work in sync licensing. Film, television, games — that’s where I think my writing really belongs. I have an arsenal of songs ready to go if the right opportunity ever comes along. More than anything, I want to help bring real music back — music that connects with people and helps artists express themselves honestly. Music is the only language in the world that everyone understands. It can move people in ways that words alone can’t. That’s what fascinates me about it. I’m just grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way and the people who shared their love of music with me. For the first time in a long time, I’m finally comfortable allowing myself to be heard.

• BeatmakerPop—0
• Songwriter—19960
• BeatmakerR&B / Soul—0
• BeatmakerBlues—0
• BeatmakerRock—0
• BeatmakerHip-Hop / Rap—0