A singer. A producer. A writer. Charleston native Leah Suárez is a star in the Charleston jazz scene.
A multilingual jazz vocalist, Suárez cofounded Charleston Jazz in 2005, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding and enriching the local jazz community. In addition to her music career, she currently works remotely as a communications manager for OLA of Eastern Long Island, a Latino advocacy organization based in New York.
“My day job is very intense,” she said. “My days feel like there are a lot of ups and downs — and whiplash.”
That’s why weekends are essential for Suárez to unwind.
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But with a schedule so packed, no two days ever look the same. Not even on the weekend.
“There is no typical anything,” Suárez said. “A typical Saturday for me is that it’s not typical. I usually look for something out of the ordinary to do.”
Charleston isn’t her only home. She often travels to her place in Mexico, reconnecting with her roots and finding inspiration for songs.
Suárez wasn’t always a singer. In fact, she began as a euphonium player in band class and went on to study music at George Mason University. But after undergoing surgery that left her unable to play, she found her voice.
Suárez transferred to the College of Charleston and joined the jazz voice department.
“I fell in love,” Suárez said. “That’s what I needed to be doing. I was studying piano and voice, and I just sort of changed my trajectory.”
On June 6, Suárez will take the stage at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival USA for a special performance of music called Las Americas — a celebration of music from across the Americas. She calls the project Port a Puerto, or port-to-port, weaving together sounds from Havana, Veracruz, Brazil, and beyond.
Here is a recent day in the life of Suárez.
Bright and early. I’m usually up by 5:30 a.m. It’s how my body’s wired. Usually, but not always, I try to get a vocal warm-up in before I do anything. It’s short, but it gives me a connection to my voice.
Coffee and light. I try to see the sunrise as much as I can to just unplug and relax. I’ll put my coffee on, and while that’s getting toasted, I’ll get my bag and head outside to the porch, where I can see the morning sun. Coffee comes first. Coffee is critical.
Writing away stress. Before I read any news or anything, I’ll write and journal my thoughts. I love to give myself as much writing time as I can have. It filters my everyday life, which is necessary. I’ve gotten more protective of my energy. And then I’ll have a usually late breakfast. Gaulart & Malicet Fast and French, and Huriyali are my favorite breakfast spots to go to.
Out of the house. When I leave the house, I try to find nature, the beach or the mountains or a hike, whatever I can do, and see my friends. Sullivan’s Island is my jam. But my day also depends on what I have going on during the evening. If I have a concert going on or my friends are out performing, then I’ll go out to eat.
New. On the weekends, I’ll try to find something new. I love my staples, but I also love finding somewhere new. If I’m in Mexico City, it never stops, but it’s a little more limited here.
The perfect snack. Cooking may be a stretch for me, but I’m a big sweet potato person. I’ll just make a sweet potato and add some cinnamon to it and maybe some cottage cheese. But I usually just add cinnamon and honey. I also love making salsas, and they usually last for a week.
Night, night. I usually have a gig. Once that ends and I go home, I’ll probably wind down with a mezcal. I generally have the same ritual as when I wake up. I’ll light a candle, decompress and enjoy some silence. Then I’ll wash my face, look at my schedule for the coming days and go to bed.
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