–a fusion of Guyanese and Italian roots

BORN to a Guyanese mother and an Italian father, 19-year-old Leavona Genuso is living proof to the popular adage that ‘Guyanese have a bundle of talent’.Growing up in Staten Island, New York, Leavona has only heard stories about Guyana to sate her curiosity about the place that has played such a big part in her being the person she is today.
Her mother, she said, made a special effort to “strongly intertwine her roots and culture” into her life.

“When I think about Guyana,” she said, “I feel a sense of awe because of the stories I’ve heard. I also feel pride, because I am proud of my mother’s heritage and culture.

“My mother always taught me that it was very important to remember where you came from. We never went to Guyana together, but she would always show me pictures and tell me stories about her and her sisters ‘back home’.

“My mother made sure I always loved our trips to Brooklyn around Christmastime, where she would take me to get her ingredients for her Pepperpot. She always called me into the kitchen while she was cooking her Christmas dishes. She told me that it was important to learn her dishes as well as those from my Italian side.”

SINCE A CHILD
From childhood, Leavona has always loved writing; whether it was essays or poetry, it did not matter. Often she would be the recipient of her school’s award, “Spotlight on Writing”, for essays she would have submitted.

However, Leavona always believed that she would become a doctor, as both her mother and aunt were studying to enter that field, and believed she should enter it also. During her time in middle school, Leavona’s mother left home to attend Medical School in Antigua, and Leavona would often find comfort in writing poetry.

Eleven at the time, it was not long before she discovered she had a love for singing; and eventually, the longing to write songs much like the ones she was singing along to became so great that she soon found a way to turn her countless poems into songs.

When her mother returned home from medical school to visit, one year later, and realised her daughter’s passion and talent for both writing and singing, she decided to encourage her, and booked her her first “gig” at the Apollo Theatre in Manhattan, New York, when she was just 12.

UP AND UP
Since then, Leavona said, “everything has been uphill.” As an artist, she said, she feels as if she has “a burden to share important uplifting and encouraging messages through music.” But she loves it, as she feels as if this was something she was born to do.

Asked what it is exactly that sets her apart from other young singers hoping to reach the top in the music industry, Leavona said that one of the things is that she not only sings, but writes as well. She said people often tell her that her voice just stands out because of its timbre; it just doesn’t sound like anyone else’s.

“Many times I hear singers sing and they do not move me,” she said. “I feel (that) if you are singing music, you are there as a messenger to deliver. I feel (that) when I perform, I perform and capture the audience in a unique way that many other artistes don’t.”
She also believes that artistes tend to conform, and “do what’s ‘in’ to get where they want to be. And this is why many of them are losing themselves when the real trick of the business is to be unapologetically you.

“Follow your heart,” she says. “Stay humble, and continue to sharpen your tools and better your craft. Your artistry and who you are as a person, the way you sing the one note, is unique just to you; there will never be another you.”

LACK OF SUPPORT
Another problem that many young artistes also face, she said, is the lack of support from those around them. Fortunately for her, she’s never wanted for encouragement, and so has at least been very lucky in this aspect. Admitting that there are always a fair number of persons who seem intent on trying to break her down, she claimed that these situations and people have challenged her to continue evolving as an artiste.

While the music industry can be competitive, Leavona says, she tries not to look at it that way, and instead just tries to focus on the messages she is sending out into the world.

“I believe that everyone has their own journey and race to run in this life, and I’m not focusing on being someone’s ‘idol’; I’m focused on reaching hearts and continuing to better my craft and myself as a person. If being the next best thing comes along with that, it would be a very amazing and humbling experience.”

On May 24th last, Leavona released her first album, “Steadfast”, which has 11 tracks. “It’s all about strength and resilience taking precedence over adversity,” she says.