Monday, 10 June 2013

Never Lose Spirit: A Q-and-A

Above: Rebecca Lenio performing at Sing Through the Rain
     For many people, music serves as a form of release, as a creative outlet, or as a career, but in this case, it serves as something else. For Scarborough native Rebecca Lenio, 18, music is her way of giving back to society one musical note at a time. Lenio began singing at age 13 and shortly after, picked up guitar. She plays a broad selection of music from pop to rock to musical-theatre, especially if it has a relatable message. "It’s actually kind of funny how my music mirrors my life a little bit, in that my goal is to do a little bit of everything in life too," says Lenio of her diverse taste in music. 



As a devoted volunteer to various charities and foundations such as the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Lenio took her work a step further and began her work with charity benefit concerts  to help raise awareness and money for different causes. As someone who believes in taking chances and chasing her dreams, Rebecca Lenio follows her motto, "never lose spirit," (fun fact: it's even tattooed on her wrist) as a reminder that she is stronger than the adversities she faces. In following this mantra, Lenio begins her charity benefit concert work.

     "My goal in my charity work and my music is really just to make a difference and inspire others to do the same. It would be such a beautiful world if everyone chased their dreams, followed their passion, and helped each other," says Lenio. 

The Rock Spot chatted with Rebecca and asked her some questions about her music and her work with charity. Here is what she said:

Q: 1. Rebecca, what motivated you to begin your work with charity benefit concerts?
A:The inspiration behind my benefit concerts is the wonderfully kind Lindsay Thomas. Lindsay was a Canadian musical theatre performer, and an amazingly generous person. She had the biggest heart, and her infectious spirit had such an impact on so many, including me. Sadly, Lindsay passed away just over three years ago after battling stage four lung cancer. While I never had the privilege of knowing Lindsay personally, I felt a connection to her as soon as I heard her story, almost as though I did know her somehow. She has been such an inspiration to me, and it’s because of her that I was inspired to make a difference in this world. Nobody should have to fight this awful disease, and my hope is that, by raising money and awareness, there will come a day when they won’t have to anymore.

Q: 2. How old were you when you began to perform at charity benefit concerts?
A: The first benefit concert I performed in was Never Lose Spirit when I was 17 years old. I’d had the idea for about a year-and-a-half before I was actually able to make it happen, but benefit concerts were just something I thought up one day. I had never been to a benefit concert before, never mind performed in one, and then suddenly I was organizing and performing in my own benefit concerts. I kind of just jumped into the deep end!

Q: 3. What was the first charity benefit concert you organized yourself? Which charity was it for?
A: The first benefit concert I organized took place on April 3, 2012. I called it Never Lose Spirit, after my life motto, and full proceeds were donated to cancer research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. I actually held the concert at my high school as part of a community initiative project I did for my 12th grade leadership class.

Q: 4. What kind of music is performed at the benefit concerts you've organized?
A: It varies from concert to concert, but I like to have a little bit of everything. Usually, it is a combination of pop, rock, and musical theatre selections, as well as original songs, but I really leave it up to the performers to choose the style of music they’d like to perform. I’m always open to new types of music. It also means that there is hopefully something that will appeal to everyone in the audience.

Q: 5. Who else have you performed with at these charity benefit concerts? 
A: I usually perform with other local indie musicians at my benefit concerts; however, I was fortunate enough to have Valerie Stanois and Alana Bridgewater perform as special guests at Never Lose Spirit. Valerie is best known for her portrayal of Oz in the Toronto production of the musical We Will Rock You, and she was also the swing in the musical Rock of Ages both in Toronto and on Broadway. Alana was also in We Will Rock You as Killer Queen, she performed as Motormouth in Hairspray at the Charlottetown Festival, and she appeared on the 2012 Juno Awards with William Shatner. I’m so grateful to have had them perform in my concert.

Q: 6. What inspired you to chose cancer-related charities to donate to at your benefit concerts?
A: Lindsay has always been the single greatest inspiration behind my benefit concerts, which is why the proceeds have always gone to cancer-related charities or organizations.
However, this past September, my friend Sabrina lost her best friend Taylor to cancer. Taylor was only 16 when she passed away, and she and Sabrina have really opened my eyes to childhood cancer. They both inspired me to raise awareness for this important cause, which is why I donated half of the proceeds from Sing Through The Rain to Clinton’s Club, a childhood cancer charity in Tennessee that was very close to Taylor’s heart.

Q: 7. What's your favourite aspect of organizing and performing at charity benefit concerts?
A: I think my favourite aspect is just knowing that I am making a difference. Not only am I raising money and awareness for some very important causes, but I also hope that I am also inspiring others to do the same. It’s so easy to think that one person can’t make a difference, but we all have the potential to do so much! I just want people to realize that. I hope they look at me and think, “Well, if she can do that, maybe I can too.”

Q: 8. What's your most memorable moment during one of your charity benefit concert performances?
A: Honestly, just being able to make these concerts happen and bring people together for such deserving causes is so memorable in of itself. However, the most memorable moment was probably at Sing Through The Rain. After the concert, I was approached by a gentleman who worked at the venue. He told me how much he enjoyed the concert and what a great cause we were supporting, and he proceeded to donate $100. I was floored. It’s something that will stick with me for a long time.

Q: 9. How would you say the music you write and perform ties into your work with charities?
A: For me, writing and performing music is about expressing myself. When I write, I write about things that I feel strongly about or things that have had a substantial impact on me. Only a few of them will appear on my first album, but I have written a number of songs derived from my experiences working with different charities and nonprofit organizations. After my album is done, I’m also going to release a single and donating the proceeds to charity, although I have yet to decide which charity I will donate to.

Q: 10. At charity benefit concerts, do you usually play original music?
A: It depends on the concert and the type of atmosphere we’re going for. Sometimes I play original songs, but I primarily try to play songs that the audience will know and relate to. More often then not, I end up taking popular songs and reworking them a little to make them my own. That way the audience is familiar with the music, but it still gives me the opportunity to take creative liberties and put my own spin on it.

Q: 11. We hear that you are working on an original solo album! Who are some of your musical influences and inspirations?
A: There are so many! I guess one of my biggest inspirations is the musical theatre community here in Toronto. I first saw We Will Rock You when I was 13, and I was so inspired by everyone who was in the cast. That was what really got me interested in pursuing the arts, particularly music.
Since then, I’ve been inspired by countless musical theatre performers. I’m actually a really big fan of Scott Alan, who is a composer and lyricist who works with a lot of West End and Broadway performers. I love the way each of his songs tells a story, and the melodies are just so beautiful.
More recently, I’ve become a really big fan of Amy Jo Johnson. Most people know her from different movies and TV shows she’s been in, particularly Power Rangers and Flashpoint, but I actually really admire her music. I think she’s a great songwriter, and I find her music so relatable. I also like how she pursues music on the side because that’s how I’ve always wanted to include music in my life. I sing and write because I love it, but I don’t think I’d ever want it to be my career. That said, music will always be one of my passions, which is why I wanted to create this album and include it in my charity work.

Q: 12. What will your album be entitled and when will it be released?
A: To be honest, I’m not entirely sure yet. I’m only finished writing just over half the songs, so I think one I’ve finished writing the rest I will have a better feel for the album as a whole, and of what I want to call it.
I plan to have 9 songs on the upcoming album, but that’s subject to change. 5 of the songs from the album have already been written, and I’m hoping to get the last 4 or 5 done in the next month or two so that I can start recording in August. I hope to be able to release the album this fall.

Q: 13. Does your charity work inspire your music on the album? If so, how?
A: I think in a way it is almost the inspiration behind the whole album. My involvement in charity work and the success of my benefit concerts has really empowered me. These experiences have given me a lot more confidence in myself than I used to have, and it’s because of this newfound confidence that I have finally committed to releasing an album, which is something I’ve wanted to do since I was 15 or 16.

Q: 14. What's your personal favourite song on the album and why?
A: It changes from day to day, but currently it’s ‘Superhero’. I really enjoyed writing it, and I have a really strong personal connection to the lyrics. While I feel a connection to all my songs, I felt like this one really came from inside my heart, and I think it will always ring true for me in one sense or another.

Q: 15. Are you planning or performing at more charity benefit concerts any time soon?
A: Ultimately, yes. I’m actually taking on a bigger project at the moment. I’m in the process of starting an arts-related nonprofit organization with a strong music component to benefit people who are in the hospital or who are fighting long-term illnesses. Once the organization is incorporated, I’m hoping to do a huge kick off event that will include setting a world record and an afternoon benefit concert, among other things. My goal is to have the kick off event happen in the next year, but I’m not sure if I’ll put any other concerts on in the meantime. I’d love to for sure, but it just depends on if I have the time!

Q: 16. Any more voluntary work in your near future?
A: Absolutely! I’m actually volunteering at “Run or Walk to Conquer Cancer” at the end of the month in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, and I applied to volunteer at Sick Kids in the fall. I also started donating blood regularly this year, which isn’t volunteer work exactly, but it’s definitely a great way to give back and help others.
Above: Lenio performing at Sing Through the Rain


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