December 9, 2024 • 9 mins
Christine Nagy recently chatted with award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga about her new holiday album 'Sounding Joy.' She explained that the project is not just about the joy of the holiday season and that she is excited to tour with Clay Aiken. Plus, she is coming back to Broadway! Find out where you can see her at leasalonga.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
iHeartRadio Broadway presents Inside Broadway, the podcast about everything theater.
It's where you hear what happens from the ticket window
to the stage door, with the stars and creative forces
that make it all come alive. Here's your host, Light
FM's Christine Meggy.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Our guest today is a Tony Award winner. She is
a Disney Princess legend, and now she has a brand
new holiday album called Sounding Joy. Leah Salanga joins us. Hi, Leah,
how are you today?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hi Christine, I'm well, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thank you so much for being here. Can you tell
us the story behind this album, because I know it's
quite a few years in the making.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We actually started recording it with the intention of releasing
it in twenty twenty. So we started vocal recording in
the Philippines with a few songs, and then there was
more talk about lockdown's and that there was this new
virus called COVID nineteen. And then in the Philippines, I
(01:06):
remember the lockdowns happened the second week of March. We
were already starting to employ disinfection measures. I mean on
the plane, we were wiping things down and masking up
and limiting person to person interactions to just the folks
in our little group rather than go out in public
(01:28):
or shopping or anything like that. And even backstage visitors
were severely limited. After maybe fifty five sixty percent of
the album was done, we had to shelf everything. So
we picked everything back up in about the springtime of
twenty twenty four, when we all decided, Okay, we have
(01:50):
the time, we have the brain space, we've got the studio,
let's just finish this puppy. Thankfully, my brother, who was
also one of the producers of the album, had all
of the unedited raw recordings from the twenty twenty sessions.
We went back into the studio. The studio itself, Hit
(02:11):
Productions in Manila had relocated to a brand new, gorgeous
facility in a whole different building. Thankfully, we were able
to preserve the integrity of the sound. That was cool,
That was great.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Well, your sound choices, yeah, are beautiful. And the title
of the album is sounding Joy And I'm sorry, did
mean to cut you off, but I'm thinking, you know,
you started in one place, probably with a certain mindset,
and then we go through the pandemic and this album
is very hopeful and very joyful, and maybe your mindset
is different at that point when you're going back to it.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I think coming out on the other side of a
global pandemic really puts a lot of things in perspective.
And the word joy, I mean, besides us paying homage
to my mom, whose nickname is joy, it is I
think learning the lessons of not taking things for granted
and really learning how to find joy. I think it's
(03:06):
something that all of us that worked on the album learned.
Many of us who worked on the album actually worked
together on various projects during the pandemic just to kind
of keep the joy going on in our lives. Daniel Edmonds,
who wrote Christmas on Broadway, we worked together on a
song called dream Again, which was really about the pandemic
(03:28):
and finding ways to still look forward to what would
happen after that was over. So all of us that
worked on the album really realized a lot of things
over the course of the pandemic that joy is really
where you can find it, however you can find it,
and what you will make of it. The title sounding
joy means a whole lot more than just the joyfulness
(03:51):
of the holiday season.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Definitely, and thank you for spreading joy because.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
It is very much job.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. Absolutely, And as I said, the album's we'll talk
about the songs, but I also wanted to talk to
you about touring with this album and getting in front
of audiences with it, and how beautiful that must feel.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It's something that I think all of us are looking
forward to. I mean certainly myself and Josh Poultz and
Larry Yeerman, who's my musical director when I tour, and
the guys in the band and my makeup artist, who
looks forward to these tours. Yeah, it's always fun to
get out in front of an audience when you have,
you know, music that you're really proud of and proud
(04:31):
to share and proud to perform live. And some of
these songs are going to be challenging vocally, but this
is when whenever I do any of these songs, you know,
I silently thank all of my voice teachers that have
in some way, shape or form formed the technique that
I use. So it's survival technique. It's going out on
tour and producing sound technique night after night in spite
(04:53):
of the you know, the challenges of multiple time zones
and air travel and hotels and sleep deprivation, and so
in spite of all those things, if I'm able to
still produce sound, then I thank every single teacher that's
taught me how to sing. Whenever audiences come into a
holiday concert, I know what I'm going to be in for,
I know what I'm going to be listening to. I
(05:14):
know the kind of music that is going to be performed,
so folks can come in with their full chest and
just enjoy themselves and not have to worry about anything.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Absolutely. What are some of the songs that are on
the album? Of course I was listening to it and
as I said, it is lovely. How did you decide, Yeah,
we've got to share some of the songs on there,
and how you chose them, and also you've got to
do it with Clay Ake, and that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think we're going to be doing pretty much the
entire album and some other beloved songs that I have
performed in Christmas performances past. There's a song that I
really loved performing that my manager brought to me, which
was by the Jonas Brothers. It was some It's kind
of a tongue twister and it was quite the challenge
(05:59):
to wrap myself around the lyrics as far as getting
them out of my mouth because it's it's quick and
it's it's hard, but it was so much fun to do.
So we've I've asked to include that most, if not all,
of the songs on Sounding Joy will be performed Clays
do what I think We're definitely doing it in New York.
(06:20):
We did the song in Manila in my concerts over there.
We had fun. Yeah, I'm sure I'm hoping that for
many Christmases to come we'll be able to do that.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Do it New York?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Is?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I think? I really is. It's always alive, comes to
life even more if that's possible at Christmas time?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
City is just so beautiful and you're going to be
in New York City December twentieth is your today in
New York and.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
The Town Hall, and it's a venue that I've loved
performing in over the years, so I'm glad that we're there.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And then looking ahead, you're making a return to Broadway
is it next yeay? Yeah, so tell us about that
next year.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah. In March, Stephen Sondheim's Friends, which ran in the
West End, will be making its Broadway splash at the
Samuel Friedman Theater on Broadway, And of course it'll be
Bernadette Peters and myself, plus a whole slew of stars.
Jeremy Secum, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennicook and Joanna Writing will
(07:18):
be coming from the West End production and joining us
in the Broadway production. Beth Level is joining us, and
I've had to sit on that business for a long time.
Oh my gosh. When I was first told that she
would be joined the cast, I must have yelped and
jumped around because her talent, My god, the voice coming
(07:41):
out of her. I saw her in the prom and
that was the first time I ever saw her in
a Broadway show, and I had to pick my jaw
up off the floor by the end of the show
because I could not believe what I was watching. She
was just beyond incredible. I'm so happy that you will be.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Joining us for this, I mean, it sounds amazing. So
we'll have to watch for when tickets go on sale
for that hopefully talk to you again, But for now
we want we want to pick up Sounding Joy. It's
the beautiful, beautiful holiday album. How are you spending your holiday?
Any special plans? Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, actually, heading to the Philippines to spend Christmas with
my mother and my brother and his family. After Christmas Day,
a bunch of friends are coming over to my house.
My kitchen was just newly renovated, so I try to
host as many parties as I can. So I'm having
my friends over. They're going to be doing some sort
(08:39):
of culinary showdown with salmon. So it's going to be
like Iron Chef in my kitchen and the ingredient of
the day will be salmon. So two of them have
already decided what part of that kitchen they're going to
take over. Yeah, it's going to be a blast. I
think we've all just be we're all looking forward to it.
So after the craziness, yes of Christmas, even Christmas Day,
(09:02):
maybe a day or two after that, then we'll break
in the appliances.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, just to enjoy, let them do the cooking you've
been working, exacts and rest.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
That is rest, that is exactly what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
And enjoy and thank you so much again, it's great
to meet you and talk with you. Sounding Joy is
the beautiful new holiday album from Leyah Solanga. Leah, thank
you so much for your time thank you, thanks for
having me,
iHeartRadio Broadway presents Inside Broadway, the podcast about everything theater.
It's where you hear what happens from the ticket window
to the stage door, with the stars and creative forces
that make it all come alive. Here's your host, Light
FM's Christine Meggy.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Our guest today is a Tony Award winner. She is
a Disney Princess legend, and now she has a brand
new holiday album called Sounding Joy. Leah Salanga joins us. Hi, Leah,
how are you today?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hi Christine, I'm well, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Thank you so much for being here. Can you tell
us the story behind this album, because I know it's
quite a few years in the making.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
We actually started recording it with the intention of releasing
it in twenty twenty. So we started vocal recording in
the Philippines with a few songs, and then there was
more talk about lockdown's and that there was this new
virus called COVID nineteen. And then in the Philippines, I
(01:06):
remember the lockdowns happened the second week of March. We
were already starting to employ disinfection measures. I mean on
the plane, we were wiping things down and masking up
and limiting person to person interactions to just the folks
in our little group rather than go out in public
(01:28):
or shopping or anything like that. And even backstage visitors
were severely limited. After maybe fifty five sixty percent of
the album was done, we had to shelf everything. So
we picked everything back up in about the springtime of
twenty twenty four, when we all decided, Okay, we have
(01:50):
the time, we have the brain space, we've got the studio,
let's just finish this puppy. Thankfully, my brother, who was
also one of the producers of the album, had all
of the unedited raw recordings from the twenty twenty sessions.
We went back into the studio. The studio itself, Hit
(02:11):
Productions in Manila had relocated to a brand new, gorgeous
facility in a whole different building. Thankfully, we were able
to preserve the integrity of the sound. That was cool,
That was great.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Well, your sound choices, yeah, are beautiful. And the title
of the album is sounding Joy And I'm sorry, did
mean to cut you off, but I'm thinking, you know,
you started in one place, probably with a certain mindset,
and then we go through the pandemic and this album
is very hopeful and very joyful, and maybe your mindset
is different at that point when you're going back to it.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I think coming out on the other side of a
global pandemic really puts a lot of things in perspective.
And the word joy, I mean, besides us paying homage
to my mom, whose nickname is joy, it is I
think learning the lessons of not taking things for granted
and really learning how to find joy. I think it's
(03:06):
something that all of us that worked on the album learned.
Many of us who worked on the album actually worked
together on various projects during the pandemic just to kind
of keep the joy going on in our lives. Daniel Edmonds,
who wrote Christmas on Broadway, we worked together on a
song called dream Again, which was really about the pandemic
(03:28):
and finding ways to still look forward to what would
happen after that was over. So all of us that
worked on the album really realized a lot of things
over the course of the pandemic that joy is really
where you can find it, however you can find it,
and what you will make of it. The title sounding
joy means a whole lot more than just the joyfulness
(03:51):
of the holiday season.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Definitely, and thank you for spreading joy because.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
It is very much job.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. Absolutely, And as I said, the album's we'll talk
about the songs, but I also wanted to talk to
you about touring with this album and getting in front
of audiences with it, and how beautiful that must feel.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It's something that I think all of us are looking
forward to. I mean certainly myself and Josh Poultz and
Larry Yeerman, who's my musical director when I tour, and
the guys in the band and my makeup artist, who
looks forward to these tours. Yeah, it's always fun to
get out in front of an audience when you have,
you know, music that you're really proud of and proud
(04:31):
to share and proud to perform live. And some of
these songs are going to be challenging vocally, but this
is when whenever I do any of these songs, you know,
I silently thank all of my voice teachers that have
in some way, shape or form formed the technique that
I use. So it's survival technique. It's going out on
tour and producing sound technique night after night in spite
(04:53):
of the you know, the challenges of multiple time zones
and air travel and hotels and sleep deprivation, and so
in spite of all those things, if I'm able to
still produce sound, then I thank every single teacher that's
taught me how to sing. Whenever audiences come into a
holiday concert, I know what I'm going to be in for,
I know what I'm going to be listening to. I
(05:14):
know the kind of music that is going to be performed,
so folks can come in with their full chest and
just enjoy themselves and not have to worry about anything.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Absolutely. What are some of the songs that are on
the album? Of course I was listening to it and
as I said, it is lovely. How did you decide, Yeah,
we've got to share some of the songs on there,
and how you chose them, and also you've got to
do it with Clay Ake, and that's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think we're going to be doing pretty much the
entire album and some other beloved songs that I have
performed in Christmas performances past. There's a song that I
really loved performing that my manager brought to me, which
was by the Jonas Brothers. It was some It's kind
of a tongue twister and it was quite the challenge
(05:59):
to wrap myself around the lyrics as far as getting
them out of my mouth because it's it's quick and
it's it's hard, but it was so much fun to do.
So we've I've asked to include that most, if not all,
of the songs on Sounding Joy will be performed Clays
do what I think We're definitely doing it in New York.
(06:20):
We did the song in Manila in my concerts over there.
We had fun. Yeah, I'm sure I'm hoping that for
many Christmases to come we'll be able to do that.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Do it New York?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Is?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I think? I really is. It's always alive, comes to
life even more if that's possible at Christmas time?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
City is just so beautiful and you're going to be
in New York City December twentieth is your today in
New York and.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
The Town Hall, and it's a venue that I've loved
performing in over the years, so I'm glad that we're there.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And then looking ahead, you're making a return to Broadway
is it next yeay? Yeah, so tell us about that
next year.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah. In March, Stephen Sondheim's Friends, which ran in the
West End, will be making its Broadway splash at the
Samuel Friedman Theater on Broadway, And of course it'll be
Bernadette Peters and myself, plus a whole slew of stars.
Jeremy Secum, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennicook and Joanna Writing will
(07:18):
be coming from the West End production and joining us
in the Broadway production. Beth Level is joining us, and
I've had to sit on that business for a long time.
Oh my gosh. When I was first told that she
would be joined the cast, I must have yelped and
jumped around because her talent, My god, the voice coming
(07:41):
out of her. I saw her in the prom and
that was the first time I ever saw her in
a Broadway show, and I had to pick my jaw
up off the floor by the end of the show
because I could not believe what I was watching. She
was just beyond incredible. I'm so happy that you will be.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Joining us for this, I mean, it sounds amazing. So
we'll have to watch for when tickets go on sale
for that hopefully talk to you again, But for now
we want we want to pick up Sounding Joy. It's
the beautiful, beautiful holiday album. How are you spending your holiday?
Any special plans? Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, actually, heading to the Philippines to spend Christmas with
my mother and my brother and his family. After Christmas Day,
a bunch of friends are coming over to my house.
My kitchen was just newly renovated, so I try to
host as many parties as I can. So I'm having
my friends over. They're going to be doing some sort
(08:39):
of culinary showdown with salmon. So it's going to be
like Iron Chef in my kitchen and the ingredient of
the day will be salmon. So two of them have
already decided what part of that kitchen they're going to
take over. Yeah, it's going to be a blast. I
think we've all just be we're all looking forward to it.
So after the craziness, yes of Christmas, even Christmas Day,
(09:02):
maybe a day or two after that, then we'll break
in the appliances.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, just to enjoy, let them do the cooking you've
been working, exacts and rest.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
That is rest, that is exactly what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
And enjoy and thank you so much again, it's great
to meet you and talk with you. Sounding Joy is
the beautiful new holiday album from Leyah Solanga. Leah, thank
you so much for your time thank you, thanks for
having me,
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