Grammy-winning artist and beloved The Heights actress Leslie Grace understands that good things take time. On May 1, she released her first album in more than a decade, AMOR, QUIÉN ERES?, a striking bilingual project with tracks in both English and Spanish that reflects on the lofty topic of the meaning of love.
The album’s title track also dates back 12 years, written based on a poem Leslie wrote on the same day in 2014. Its title translates to “love, who are you?,” a question pointed in many directions, with sometimes conflicting answers. Its 14 tracks are a deeply introspective and personal study of love, from the first hints of attraction and into the relationship through intimacy, conflict, openness and personal growth. She’s also at the top of her game, showcasing her evolution as a Latin pop artist with a dash of R&B and personal touches that allude to her Dominican roots. We had the pleasure of speaking to Leslie to learn all about the new album and what she’s all about. Read our full interview with her as our Woman Crush Wednesday below.
(Photo credit: Melissa Isabel Quiñonez)
Name: Leslie Grace Martinez
Hometown: Bronx, New York, Yonkers, New York and Davie, Florida
Birthday: January 7
Zodiac sign: Capricorn Sun, Aries Moon, Gemini Rising
Fun Facts:
1. Leslie released her first album in over a decade, AMOR, QUIÉN ERES?, last month.
Leslie Grace: This album is my little case study on love and its many faces. I wrote the album title track when I was 19 with a good friend and incredible singer-songwriter Chris Hierro. The song started off as a poem I’d written that morning called “Love, who are you?” and we translated it to become the song it is today. All these years later, that question became the central theme to the album because I felt it was existential enough to embody all the themes I wanted to explore in love and in myself on this album. Contradiction, faith, doubt, heartbreak, self love, reflection. It also begged the question of who I am musically. This being my sophomore album after so many years, I felt it was appropriate that the collection of sounds that are heard on this album be sounds that have influenced me throughout all my life.
2. Her favorite song on the album changes every day.
Leslie: I have a new favorite track everyday. All 14 songs are my babies, and I love them all for different reasons that are all really deep. But right now, my favorite is “Tu Supite!”
3. Her weirdest fidgety habit traces back to childhood.
Leslie: Sometimes when I’m stressed I hold my left thumb in my fist, like unknowingly. When I catch myself doing it, I realize it’s usually in social settings, and it’s kind of a marker for me that I’m holding tension in my body. I have a theory that it all started when I started school as a kid, and I was still sucking my thumb and “apparently” I promised my mom I would stop sucking my thumb when I started school. The way I did it was by tucking my thumb into my fist and squeezing really tight to hold myself back from doing it. Hahahaha! They say the body holds the score.
4. She’s been a night owl most of her life.
Leslie: Though as I get older, I’m slowly in transition to be an early bird. I like being up when the world is sleeping. It feels like I’m ahead of the game! I’m also big on naps if I can squeeze them in so that usually leads to a late night work session!
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5. The last song she had stuck in her head (at the time of this interview) was “Trying Times” by James Blake.
Leslie: Love that man!
6. She says her Capricorn zodiac sign describes her pretty accurately.
Leslie: I’m pretty headstrong, determined and like to have a calm approach to getting things done. I’m not always as pragmatic as one would expect a Capricorn to be but that’s when my Aries rising takes over!
7. When she’s feeling discouraged, she knows exactly who to turn to for a pick-me-up.
Leslie: I go hang with friends and family at a park or a beach. Deep talks in nature is the remedy for me.
8. While she considers her taste in nail polish “boring,” we consider her favorite colors to be iconic.
Leslie: I am so boring. All the classic colors like bubble bath and ballet slippers—they all get the most love from me. I just love my nails matching whatever I choose to wear!
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9. Her sister, Annexie, makes her laugh more than anyone else.
Leslie: She’s just the best storyteller I know.
10. She recently binge-watched Barry on HBO Max for the third time.
Leslie: Bill Hader is a genius. Love that whole cast!
11. Her favorite scent in the world is the smell of her abuela’s habichuelas (a Dominican bean dish).
12. Leslie says that to understand her, you need to know that she’s “the biggest dork on the planet.”
Leslie: I have a funny bone that mostly only people closest to me know about. I hope that throughout my career whether it’s through the roles I choose to play or how I share my music, I can share more of that side of me. Iykyk!
For even more on the artists who inspire us, click HERE to learn all about Scottish soul singer Brooke Combe.
