Meet Mande’ LeRoux | Singer-Songwriter / Audio Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mande’ LeRoux and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mande’, how do you think about risk?
Risk can be defined several different ways. The book definition of risk is the possibility of loss or the chance that something will lose its value. My definition on the other hand is sacrifice. Risk is making a big sacrifice to get to where you want to go. Without making a sacrifice you’re not taking a risk. Everything and everyone will not continue this journey with you and before you can get somewhere you have to let some things go. You will never know the risk until you actually take it because it’s a fifty – fifty percent chance that things will go in your favor whether you outweigh the pros and cons.

I have taken a couple of big risks such as my security when it came to my career but because of those risks I have more time to grow and focus on my music career which has made me happier physically and spiritually.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Mande’ LeRoux (Maan-day Luh-ROO) best describes her music as eccentric pop trap. A free-spirited personality hailing from Sunnyside Houston, Texas letting her inspiration flow freely through creativity and music. In 2016, a tragedy happened within the family and music was the only outlet to her healing. After grieving her grandfather’s death a decision had to be made and this is where she enrolled herself into Mediatech Institute for Recording Arts where she learned how to engineer sound. This was the turning point where the final decision was made to pursue her passion. Singing from a young age listening to various genres her influence was heavily set in Blues, Soul, Pop, R&B and Hip Hop. Growing up listening to artists such as The Temptations, Diana Ross, Donna Summers, Aretha Franklin, Gwen Stefani, Erykah Badu, and Missy Elliot just to name a few.

While pursuing her music career; challenges appeared left and right. The biggest challenge was sacrificing my security. She quit her 9 to 5 in banking to pursue my music career and has yet to regret her decision. Not having any money saved up. She just knew that she was unhappy doing something that didn’t fulfill her. Making over 50k is nice until your happiness, dignity, and peace is in jeopardy at the expense of individuals who care nothing for you and barely know your name. Once she got to a point where she was crying every morning dreading to log on or walk in the office – she knew she had to make something shake. She doesn’t think she would be where she is now if she wouldn’t have quit that job.

Even though this journey is just beginning, learning to follow your intuition, doing research and doing what’s best for you should be concrete or else everything you worked for or stand for can be changed by someone else. Knowing it’s okay to stand by your decisions and not let anyone sway you is important – You can’t lose yourself in this game. There’ll be a lot of people wanting to mold you in the way they see fit. But, if you keep God first and ask him for direction you’ll never make the wrong decision.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Now if my bestie were here first we’ll go and grab something to eat to catch up in person. I’m always eating Frenchy’s while we on FaceTime so I gotta pull up and let her see why I be sitting in that long line; Go home, chill eat, watch a movie and take a nap. For dinner, we gone pre-game at Pappasito’s because them fajitas and them margaritas be hittin. Later that night, we’d go to Grooves, The Address, Prospect Park, Faces, 5015 and then of course Dreams for some late night chicken. If we looking to be more chill then maybe the Local Seat, Twenty24, or Cru. I’ve only been a few places to club at because I prefer to stay indoors or explore the outdoors. So with me loving animals and nature or course my bestie does also; we’ll designate a few days to go Berry picking, take a safari at the Bayou Wildlife Zoo, and go to the Hermann Park to feed the ducks or to the Arbitrium. Of course everyone wants to go to the Galleria so we’d have to spend a day there or half a day – I’m not big on malls; I’d rather shop online. Then we’re off to gather some spiritual healing on the hunt for some herbs from the Our Little Red One Stop or the Magick Cauldron. I smoke a bit of gaja but I like to put some rose petals or some lavender for some tranquility; or sometimes I take a few whole roses and dry those out and puffin those a bit. The friends I have are always down to ride to try something new and crazy when the idea comes across. Fun is the objective so most the time its wherever the wind takes us.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank Jehovah God, my mom, my Godmother, my dear friend Yeti, then my pals at Mediatech Institute, and my producers TrillPhilbeats and Klarc Naes. They believe in me so much to where I have no choice but to believe in myself. Not that I do not believe in myself but we all run into stumbling blocks that leave little doubts of sorrow behind. They constantly remind me to be the best I can be, to know more than the average artist, and that practice makes perfect. When you have folks behind you it doesnt make your journey easy but it makes it enjoyable and homey. And, I truly thank them from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me and giving me that motivational push because its very easy to throw your hands up and be done.

Website: https://linktr.ee/MandeLeRoux

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandelerouxmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MandeLeRoux

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MandeLeRouxMusic

Youtube: https://youtu.be/WYzGhDJBbGk

Image Credits
Photography: Virtron Visuals (@Virtronvisuals) ; Stylist: The Styling Firm (@thestylingfirm17)