Leighton Meester is best known for her role as “Gossip Girl” protagonist Blair Waldorf, but her passion for music has existed since childhood.
The 26-year-old’s major vocal debut was in Cobra Starship’s hit Good Girls Go Bad. In 2009, Meester signed with Universal Records, and her first single, “Somebody to Love,” features vocals from R&B artist Robin Thicke. Meester’s role in the 2011 film “Country Strong” showcased her talented vocal abilities with songs like “Summer Girl.”
Meester’s debut album has yet to be released, but in a recent interview with Straight.com, she said, “Hopefully, we can put it out sometime this year. I wanted my album to come out at the right time so that I could promote it and tour. It’s been hard because shooting a TV show is probably the most gruelling schedule you can have.”
And Meester would know: apart from filming “Gossip Girl,” the Fort Worth, Texas native also stars in this summer’s “That’s My Boy” as SNL funny guy Andy Samberg’s fiancée.
Meester’s solo music is going to be less like her club-dance song “Your Love’s a Drug” and more like her songs from “Country Strong,” with velvety vocal harmonies, blues-influenced instrumentals, and soulful lyrics. As Meester told MTV in 2010, “I’ve just been having fun and writing from my heart, so hopefully I’ll be able to let some people hear it soon.”
The upcoming west coast tour isn’t the first time Meester and Check in the Dark have collaborated. Last spring, Meester and the Los Angeles-based Americana quartet played a few shows in L.A. and NYC to rousing applause.
Enjoy Leighton Meester and Check in the Dark‘s music on Thursday, May 31st, at the Hawthorne Theatre. Singer-songwriter Dana Williams will open the show. Tickets are on sale now. Cascade Tickets is also running a contest to win a pair of tickets for the show.
