Interview: Leighton Meester Talks “Heartstrings”, Running Her Own Label, and the Road Less Traveled

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) –

Leighton Meester.

As a critically acclaimed actress, Leighton Meester spent her life pursuing high-profile, challenging roles. All the while, a different, less pronounced talent of hers strived to emerge.

Meester, as it turns out, had always carried a flame for music and 2014 has proven to be her watershed moment. After years of struggle, Meester’s debut album Heartstrings marks a new direction for her as an artist – the direction she’s always wanted. It’s an atmospheric, soulful record, wrapped in acoustic guitars, organs and introspective lyrics.

Meester spoke with us about Heartstrings from her home in California.

“I’m really pleased with it. I’ve been putting it together for quite a while, so now that the time finally came for me to let it live, I was thrilled to show the world what I’d created.”

On Heartstrings, Meester the person is as much on display as Meester the artist – a far cry from her initial efforts in 2009.  But that’s hardly of Meester’s doing. Like so many of her peers, Meester’s initial introduction to music happened on her label’s (Universal/Republic) terms.

“The other things I’ve done – they just feel so distant. They weren’t kept in mind whatsoever when making Heartstrings. Those songs weren’t reflective of me, or my experiences. But I recognize that sometimes you have to go through stuff like that to discover what it is you really want.”

Those singles – 2009’s “Somebody to Love” with Robin Thicke and 2011’s “Your Love is a Drug” – were marketing-driven, synth-pop songs meant to launch Meester as a club-single producing, MTV-friendly hit machine. Meester created Heartstrings on her terms, fully aware that she could not have accomplished this on her old label.

“How success is defined within your field as an actor or musician is really about your own, personal definition of the word.”

“I told them that the projects I was working on there just weren’t right for me and the separation was completely amicable. That label does what it does really well, but it just wasn’t the kind of music I wanted to make.”

Meester was more interested in the singer/songwriter path, having realized that external forces were leading her down the same path as hundreds of other pop stars.

“[Universal Republic] is the kind of place that has a more vested interest in the financial side of things – and as someone just starting out, I didn’t feel like they were interested in representing me as an artist.”

Hotly Wanting is Meester’s own label, started with the help of indie label Vagrant Records.

“The purpose of [working with Vagrant] was that I could rely on them for the things I can’t do – like distribution and marketing – and focus on the creative side. I’d never had that kind of independence. Everyone there is incredibly supportive and they have so many artists that I’m a huge fan of.”

During that process, Meester crossed paths with iconic producer, Jeff Trott. Trott’s storied career brought him to the boards to compose and produce for a slew of artists – many of whom were huge creative influences on Meester.

“I met with Jeff in late 2012 and started working with him in late 2013. We met because our managers had talked and thought we’d be a great fit – and we totally were!”

Trott’s resume includes work with Aimee Mann, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Martha Wainright, Robert Randolph and many more. That list was more than enough to convince Meester.

On Leighton Meester’s debut album, Heartstrings, she worked with iconic producer Jeff Trott, and released it on her own label Hotly Wanting.

“When I heard his name and the artists he’d worked with, I knew he was a producer who could bring the project to where it needed to be. He’s done it all before – he’s incredibly talented and brought the best out of so many artists – Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, it’s unbelievable. He’s also just so grounded. He does this because he loves music, not because of his ego.”

Meester believes that you can hear her own emotions and soul on Heartstrings and the connection her and Trott forged while in the studio made much of that possible.

“I think that the great part about him is how he mastered the feeling behind the songs I wrote. We were very compatible in the studio and discovered sounds and emotional textures together. He just had the right sense to elevate the songs from where they started. I wrote everything on an acoustic guitar. It was his idea to make the sound more atmospheric, which I think helped the songs really grow to their capacity.”

Recently, Meester wrapped up a stint as Curly’s wife opposite James Franco in a Broadway production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Meester remarked about the transition from Broadway stage to concert stage.

“It’s the same out-of-body experience, but they’re two totally different things. Where I’ll be completely comfortable on one, it’ll be more of a learning curve on the other.  As an actor, it’s one thing to practice beforehand and get into the character’s state of mind before I come on stage, but as a musician, I feel a lot more vulnerable out there. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s just kind of part of the art form.“

Meester’s career as an actress has been about constant, new heights. And while prominence and profit are how some define success – either as a musician or actor – that’s not how Meester sees it.

“How success is defined within your field as an actor or musician is really about your own, personal definition of the word. Is it within you or is it part of some outer realm? As an actor, I define success on having a variety of challenging roles and the connection I’m able to make with it.“

Meester currently has several films in various stages of production. All of the projects Meester’s taken on would be well outside the comfort zone of numerous actresses her age.

“As a musician, I’m just starting out. So for me, being able to reach people and being able to be in a live setting and play these songs that mean so much to me, seeing people are experience and enjoying them is the big payoff.”

As far as Meester’s future goes, she’s willing to roll with it.

“I have no control over it how things are going to go and I’m fine with that. 6 months ago, I just wanted to finishing this record and release it. Now it’s about touring it and letting people hear the songs live. Once that’s done, hopefully I can dothe whole thing all over again.”