Today we’re excited to be connecting with Leigh Akin again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.
Leigh, always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
I’m a trained opera singer, and I work as a freelance singer, theater artist and illustrator.
Back when we last spoke in 2020, I had found a way to combine all of my creative interests while living in COVID-times, by producing a cooking show cabaret on YouTube called “Leigh Sings Songs and Makes Waffles”. It’s just west it sounds like, a quirky waffle cooking show with a musical number in every one. I’m still making these videos on YouTube @leigh-ellen-akin.
Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
As a YouTube creator, I’m trying to make/upload one short waffle video to each week. It’s something I do simply because it is joyful for me, and hopefully joyful for the people who see it; art for arts sake.
As a classical singer, The holidays can be very busy, I often get a lot of work doing sacred singing for churches, and this year is no exception. It’s great because it means lots of opportunities to sing and make money, but it does mean having to sacrifice time with my family, including on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
As an illustrator I’m excited to be doing some commissioned work for holiday.
As I write this I realize I sound like I’m juggling too many creative avocations, but having variety is the only way I can stay inspired. I’m lucky to have outlets for all of my interests.
We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.
- Favorite Movie: Palm Springs
- Favorite Book: Middlesex
- Favorite TV Show: Beef
- Favorite Band or Artist: Sammy Rae and the Friends
- Sweet or Savory: Savory
- Mountains or Beach: Mountains
- Favorite Sport (to watch): Gymnastics?
- Favorite Sport (to play): Rock Climbing (does that count?)
- Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): I was forced to play soccer because my parents wanted me to do more than just sing, I guess.
- As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: A ballerina (I can’t dance 😂)
- French Fries or Onion Rings: Onion rings
- Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Who?
- Favorite Cartoon growing up: Futurama
- Favorite Childhood movie: The Parent Trap (with Lindsey Lohan)
- Favorite Breakfast Food: Quiche
What do you want people to remember about you and your brand? What are some of things that you feel are most important, unique, special, etc?
I’ll respond to this as a person who makes waffle cooking videos for YouTube.
So every week I make a new waffle recipe/video: some are sweet, some are savory, some are globally inspired, some are totally unlike anything you’ve seen before, and sometimes I sing when I make them.
Ultimately I believe food should be nourishing, simple and should delight in some way. I want all of my art to do the that. I want people to be nourished, inspired and I want it to feel universally approachable. Whether singing, illustrating or making waffle videos: I want people to be nourished, inspired and I want it to feel universally approachable.
Image Credits
John DeCarlo
Leigh Akin
