LEO37 (turntables)

Born in Saskatchewan to Chinese parents, LEO37 was raised on a peculiar diet of Kingston Trio and Miles Davis records. So, obviously, he became a rapper.

LEO37, née Leo Shia, began his involvement in music with organ lessons at the age of 8, trumpet lessons at 10 and drums shortly thereafter. But, it wasn't until 1999, while watching a performance by Mix Master Mike that Leo realized he'd likely enjoy a music career more than a proverbial gig in accounting. With some help from his parents, Leo wrangled up an embarrassing pair of Gemini belt-drive turntables and soon found himself chin-deep in the ever-growing culture of turntablism. A year later, after adding artists like J Dilla, Common and Mos Def to his diverse roster of influences, Leo took up rapping and gave up his social life for his basement.

In 2001, following a successful run of sold out self-promoted shows, Leo relocated to Toronto to obtain a degree from Ryerson University's prestigious Radio & Television Arts program. By the end of his first month in the big city, however, Leo was rapping and scratching both on stage and in studio with some of Toronto's most acclaimed jazz and hip-hop artists, including Rich Brown (Mos Def, Vernon Reid) Joel Joseph (Nelly Furtado), Dafydd Hughes (Esthero, Jacksoul), Mark Rogers (the Philosopher Kings), and Soliva. Meanwhile, at Ryerson, Leo hosted the school's most popular online radio show, Noise Therapy, a mix of animated hip-hop discussions and freestyle ciphers.

May 2005 saw the release of Winter, LEO37's debut EP on PPF House (an independent label co-founded by Leo). Met with rave response, Winter sold out of its initial pressing in just under a month. Almost entirely self-produced, the 7-track opus is an eclectic mix of musical styles and digital soundscapes — soundscapes which, in spite of their success, Leo abandoned for his follow-up recording, Summer, a full-length offering released only a year after Winter.

The culmination of a year of constant trial and error, Summer presents rich, organic songs performed by a live band consisting of Canadian Jazz and R&B heavyweights, Christine Bougie (Guitar), Chris Banks (Bass), Dafydd Hughes (Keyboards) and Tim Shia (Drums). However, like Winter, Summer brags a unique fusion of different genres and eras, including the Drum 'n Bass inspired "Starships", the Reggae tinged "Goodbye", the psychedelic "Crescent Moon", and the cool Jazz of "Sometimes Things Go Wrong." The result is a diverse collection of songs, all tied together by Leo's poignant and challenging rhymes both, dark and comedic, topical and ageless.

Leo is currently working on a top secret project with fellow rapper, Al Buddy Black. It is called Wine. You will like it.

ppfhouse.com/leo37
myspace.com/leo37