Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia LeBlon Noir
Hi Mia LeBlon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Oh wow. Where do I even begin? I hope my story can help others feel seen in this crazy world of ours. I am a child of immigrants. I imagine that statement alone can already paint a stereotypical picture. That stereotype, well, is pretty accurate: what was most important was getting straight A’s, becoming classically trained in an instrument, and… being obedient.
As a kid in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, I was naturally a goofball! I also naturally navigated toward anything creative. You would find me drawing, making up dances with my friends, and creating mini skits. Being a ‘good’ immigrant child, I practiced piano daily while my Papi sat behind me, ensuring I didn’t miss a note. This may have been the beginning of my need for perfection (another story for another day).
I hated piano lessons. I hated how my piano teacher would eat her wheat bread and lick her fingers while turning the page, all while critically directing me. I can still hear how she would scrape the buttered knife across the toasted surface. The only motivation to practice Chopin was to gain enough star stickers on the wall to pick a plastic prize from the old musty chest in the storage room. I realized this hate and anger stemmed from what I was experiencing at home. My mom was never the mom I saw of my friends’ moms or even moms from TGIF TV shows (IYKYK). I could never go to her if I needed consoling, nor could I ever ask for life advice. The never-relevant lectures she provided were unsolicited and lasted hours while I had to stand with my legs shoulder width apart and my hands behind my back (I would never dare cross my arms even if I was fatigued). However, I have my mom to thank for the journey to where I am today. I wrote my first song at 10 years old. It was about her, although she’d never know it.
From that moment on, I continued songwriting to keep myself sane. I played two starring roles in my life growing up—the role of a girl who would do anything to avoid her mother’s wrath and the role of the girl who let it all out in various art forms, mostly music.
Fearful, I kept playing the two parts. I kept my music-making to myself until a college friend encouraged me to perform at an open mic. I would quickly find out that my music wasn’t only saving my life, but my voice and the message I was sharing would help those in the audience listening.
Fast forward to adulthood. I flew to LA to work with The Klassiks (Joey Mora, who is still a close friend of mine) to record and release my first song. From there, I worked with Plain White T’s producers and Lucky Boys Confusion guys. I was performing at renowned Chicago venue stages I never could imagine myself on, like The Metro and Lincoln Hall opening for record label artists coming through on tour. Then came showcases at SXSW, opening for major artists at Summerfest, etc…I went on to write who knows how many songs with a songwriting collective writing for prominent artists.
But, even with those accomplishments, it was tough to break through – to make it. What does it mean to ‘make it’, though?
It’s important for me to keep music as a part of my life in a giving format whether I’m songwriting or performing. Moreover, I am proud to say I’m the Creative Director for two non-profit organizations that provide resources, mentorship, and space for those in the music industry and other creative spaces: Asian American Collective and Women in Music.
I didn’t abandon the role of ‘succeeding in the eyes of my mother’. In addition to being a Creative Director, I’ve been a leader in Product Development and UX Strategy (Research & Design), having released mobile and desktop apps and enterprise platforms. Even though it’s not my initial love, I’m proud to have launched an app to help songwriters capture splits so that they’re properly compensated, Chrome and mobile Safari extensions to redirect shoppers to purchase from small businesses, and a genAI-powered gifting assistant that you text to get recommendations from small businesses, as if you’re texting a close friend – amongst others. Having mission-focused goals, I suppose, is the tie between this multifaceted path I’m on.
If you ask any of my close friends, I think they’d say I never stop. I don’t think I ever will.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I can still feel the heaviness take over my body as I think about the assortment of trials and tribulations the universe has put in the middle of the road I’m driving on. Not to be all woo-woo, but hey, we’re in LA…In Human Design, I’m a Generator with a 3/5 profile. My stars align where I’ll always be faced with obstacles and challenges until I learn my lesson. So no, it hasn’t been smooth, as I’m sure you could draw from my story. The age-old tale of an artist, huh?
I tend to trust people quickly. I want to see the good. I must…to keep this vehicle moving forward. I’ve grown up enveloped in malevolence.
There was a moment I can share that had me re-evaluate that assumption of always assuming the ‘good in people’. I was focusing on songwriting with other writers for artists, and an artist manager heard rumblings that I wanted to get back into being an artist myself. As he stood less than a foot away from my face, he didn’t hesitate to say, “ You’re one of our best songwriters. You should stay behind the scenes and keep songwriting because— there’s no market for your face.” I wish I had let that moment fuel me to prove him wrong, but I internalized it and left my piano dusty and my vocal cords unexercised for years. Maybe I was tired. Maybe I needed a break. Maybe…I wasn’t passionate about music anymore.
The music industry is tough. The product world is risky. Surviving humanity can be excruciating. I had often let fear compel me to hit the brakes because then I wouldn’t ‘actually’ fail. I don’t want that for anyone. I want people, especially our youth, to keep going as much as their heart desires it. Give yourself the chance to find out. Failing is necessary. It tests the strength of our ambitions. You see, these bumps in the road weren’t without purpose. I mean, here I am getting interviewed to be featured in VoyageLA!
I’m still trying to learn my lessons, and I hope this encourages people to face their fears head-on.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In whatever role I’m in, professionally or personally, I believe I specialize in expanding upon the human in someone first. We aren’t robots, so we can’t expect every single person on this planet to be built the same…In my opinion, the way we approach people should be on an individualistic level.
Exploring how people absorb information, express themselves, deal with pressure, etc…is something I pay attention to more than most people. This helps me understand how to create the perfect environment and process to write with other songwriters. It allows me to properly motivate budding artists. It helps me manage teams when building a digital product. It helps me personalize the way I mentor someone.
I’m not sure I know what I’m known for. Maybe there’s a little bit of humility blocking me from vocalizing what that may be. And maybe that’s the thing that sets me apart from others. What about what I’d like to be known for…I’d like to be known for my voice, whether that comes out in song, in words like this, in advice to mentees, or through advocacy platforms — a legacy of a woman who truly sees you.
In turn, I’m most proud of being vulnerable in any situation I’m in and that I never stray from who I am or who I want to be. This allows me the privilege of continuous growth. That vulnerability is the root of all my so-called accomplishments.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Ha! I’m giggling b/c one of the reasons I didn’t have a wedding was to avoid hurting anyone I know in the inevitable outcome of needing to cut some folks out. I just couldn’t bear it and maybe there’s some underlying trauma I need to address there, but I can’t name names without naming every person I have ever come across. A sliding doors moment or the red thread theory, if you will. I truly believe that every scenario, moment, interaction, mishap, etc…leads us to where we need to be and meet the people we need to meet. There’s a purpose no matter how finite.
The people who have made absolute positive impacts on my successes know who they are, and they’re probably smiling knowing it – at least, I hope. You know who you are.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mialeblon
