Meet Lesley Nicole Lewis of Daddy’s Girl Entertainment in Studio City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Nicole Lewis.

Lesley Nicole, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Committed to performing before I could master walking, I clearly remember being able to swivel my hips, snap my fingers on beat and coo along to every song I heard on the radio. Playing dress-up with my mother’s stylish clothes, I emulated the trailblazing Madonna to the iconic Diana Ross in Central Park.

Being a product of hard-working, proud, culturally rich Caribbean parentage, I was never shy or timid and would always showcase my talents for anyone eager to give me an audience. At age five, my semi-professional dance career began when I started training with a non-profit organization called Kids 2 Go; this required several hours a week of stage technique, dance and vocal lessons in preparation for several fundraisers and television appearances.

A pivotal moment was at an NAACP Awards show at which the late King of Pop Michael Jackson was being honored; our rousing performance brought the legend to his feet with a standing ovation. I attended the renowned Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where I honed my technique in Ballet, Modern and Drama, all while excelling academically.

The latter was a non-negotiable as I clearly understood the importance of education, despite my love for the ‘art’ world. It was at LaGuardia where I began sketching and painting as a form of creative release since dance was a more intense and rigorous art form. Later I earned my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology and Social Work from St. Johns University and graduated with Dean’s list honors.

I am a woman who is just as comfortable in Louboutin’s as I am in Timberlands! I’ve been blessed to work with countless A-list artists, producers, directors, performers, choreographers, and stylists. I pride my self with having passion and integrity in all the positions I have been placed in. My ‘all-around’ abilities have been able to shine through not only on the stage but also on my canvases.

My commitment to my crafts have allowed me to work with the industry’s best – Usher, Will Smith, the late Aaliyah, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, P. Diddy, Rihanna, Ciara, and countless others. In 2009, another life long dream came true Def Jam’s LA Reid, and Shakir Stewart signed my girl group “Electrik Red’, The Dream and Tricky Stewart produced a well-received debut album “How to Be a Lady: Volume 1.”

We opened up for the likes of Neyo and Lil Wayne and grew a loyal fanbase while trendsetting the ways of a new age girl group and female empowerment. I have since re-shifted my focus into artist development and management. Currently managing a 19yr old pop/rock sensation Camryn.

Due to my extensive background with the arts, I’m passing on my expertise to the young rising star. Never setting limitations on myself and I am working on positioning myself and my talents to be a future Mogul in the Entertainment Industry!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A true test to your will and determination is never giving up. No matter what people say and no matter what the ratio of success to failure is. I’ve been told “NO” on several occasions and didn’t book countless auditions, but that never stopped me from showing up to every audition until I did start to book those jobs.

I’ve dealt with the tragic loss of the icon Aaliyah while filming the legendary “Rock The Boat” video and the tragedy of that whole experience could’ve broken anyone’s spirit, but I wanted to continue and make her proud and continue to travel the world and do what we loved to do — also losing the great Shakir Stewart who believed in our dreams and signed my girl group.

Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not! But in every loss, obstacle or “NO” I developed a tougher skin, a stronger sense of confidence and a determined mindset to go after my goals and dreams even harder!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Daddy’s Girl Entertainment story. Tell us more about the business.
I currently manage a young rising pop/rock singer/songwriter Camryn. I’ve been handling everything from day to day management, to seeking out good touring opportunities, solidifying relationships with other credible songwriters and producers and growing her musical catalog while building her social media presence.

Everything that goes into breaking a new artist falls under what my job entails 24/7. The part of my job I am the most passionate about is the artist development factor. The time put into really developing artists is overlooked in the music industry now, but it makes a significant difference when the effort is put forth.

What sets me apart from most managers is the fact that I’ve been an artist myself. I understand the creative process and most of all I respect it. It balances things out when you can think business as well as creative.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that everything that happens, good or bad is what is destined to happen. I don’t really subscribe to “luck”… lol. If something doesn’t go my way I won’t say I’m unlucky or that it was bad luck… it just wasn’t meant for me or my time quite simply.

I like to consider myself blessed when good things have happened in my career, I attribute them to being blessed and because I put a lot of work in. 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: www.camrynmusic.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @lesleyer

Image Credit:
Photographer Ben Cope, Mike Quain

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.