Thread: Music helps Hunt fight through sad times

Music helps Hunt fight through sad times

By ERIC SCHELKOPF - eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES – Music is now even more important to former “American Idol” semifinalist Leslie Hunt as she copes with the recent sudden death of her younger sister, Lauren.

“I’m focusing a lot on my music,” said Hunt, 26, who grew up in St. Charles and is a 2000 graduate of St. Charles High School. “It’s like one of the main things getting me through.”

Lauren, 22, died on June 19 at a friend’s house in Chicago, the day before Hunt was supposed to get married. Lauren’s cause of death is not known, Leslie Hunt said.

Lauren was also a singer, and she sang background vocals at several of Hunt’s shows.

Hunt will perform at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 as part of the Celetastity festival at Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora.

She will open for The Ides of March, which will close the festival. Hunt has performed with the band in the past.

Following her appearance last year on “American Idol,” Hunt is now working on her debut album, “See Jane Dance,” set for release in October.

She is releasing the album on her own label, Benesklie Music.

“I’m going to see how far I can take it on my own,” said Hunt, who now lives in Chicago.

The album is being produced by music veteran Rick Chudacoff, whose credentials including working with Grammy-award winning musician Alison Krauss.

Chicago producer Christian Cullen, who has worked with such bands as Prince, Damn Yankees and Starship, is co-producing the album.

A number of experienced musicians also appear on “See Jane Dance,” including drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, who has worked with the likes of Sting, Frank Zappa and Joni Mitchell.

“He is arguably one of the best drummers alive,” Hunt said.

She described the album as “very diverse.”

“But it has an overall feel that is undeniably me,” Hunt said.

In many ways, the album is a tribute to Lauren.

“She been a big part of my life and she’s had her struggles in different ways,” Hunt said. “Five of the songs were a tribute to her already, even before she passed away. I wrote some songs to help her through, or to commiserate, or because I was mad at her. There’s a few different moods.”

Her experience on “American Idol” is not one that Hunt will soon forget.

“It’s definitely given me a leg up, as far as the exposure,” Hunt said. “It’s a very good thing, especially since I didn’t make it so far to where I would have anybody dictate my sound. It is all up to me.”

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