Leslie’s solo EP has been in the works for awhile, but mostly in her head until now. At the age of fifteen, after marinating in new wave, goth and college radio stations, she picked up a guitar, put on an R.E.M record and began emulating Peter Buck’s jangly pop rhythms and studying Maria McKee’s cowpunk infused vocals. Enlisting her twin sister, Laura, to help with the harmonies and eventually song-writing, Leslie began putting together a book of songs and playing them for anyone who would listen. One of those people turned out to be Mark Mulchahy from Miracle Legion who introduced her to Spike Priggen and Robert Vickers (from seminal Australian indie-band The Go-Betweens), and they formed the band Big Louise. The single called “Angels” was written by Leslie, ending up on a UK Rough Trade compilation alongside bands like Helium and the Spinanes.
But restless to branch out in her music career, Leslie set out on a road trip, settling in Lawrence, Kansas which had a burgeoning music scene spurred on by the rise of Seattle Grunge. She quickly formed a noisy girl-band called Shower Trick, playing local bars and Midwest showcases until she joined up with fellow indie musicians Cotten Seiler and Micheal Elliot, becoming T*Shirt. In the mid-to-late nineties, T-shirt released two records, Produced by Alex Kemp of The Godrays, The Convincer features 12 songs that exemplify the ‘90s sound that still pervades Leslie’s songwriting today, especially the songs “Just a Warning” and “Shrine.” T-shirt disbanded in 1998 and Leslie moved back to NYC working for MTV Networks and similar companies. Until the pandemic when she picked up her guitar again.
Side Missions is a blend of passionate melodies and punk rock poetry. In her debut EP Leslie draws inspiration from songbirds of another era like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, nodding to modern influences such as Eleanor Friedberger and Angel Olson. But it’s not all slide guitars, grunge and fuzzboxes. The song “Side Missions” with its acoustic guitar, off-kilter piano, and spoken-word bridge, pays homage to her alternative roots while remaining inherently listenable due to its melodic hooks. A testament to her evolution from group performances to focused music creation, "Side Missions" invites listeners on a captivating journey where alternative influences, underpinned by rock and blues, converge into a uniquely, accessible sonic experience.
How to reach: lesliesink@gmail.com
Obligatory picture of me:
