Wishlist
Gig Seeker Pro

Wishlist

Rocky Point, New York, United States | SELF

Rocky Point, New York, United States | SELF
Band Pop Rock

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Time Out With…Breakout band Wishlist"

Time Out With…Breakout band Wishlist

(http://www.americancheerleader.com/2010/01/time-out-with-breakout-band-wishlist)

January 5th, 2010 by Brittany Geragotelis – Comments (2)
Band Name: Wishlist

Band Members Names: Lenée Passiglia (22), Jesse Passiglia (20), Desirée Coleman (19), Donté Coleman (14)

Best Known For: Our original style of music: a great mix of pop/rock/authentic.

Home Town: Rocky Point, NY

Website: www.wishlistofficial.com



Lenée on the cover of AC!

**After appearing as AC’s December 2008 Cheerleader of the Month and Cheerleader of the Year, Lenée Passiglia threw herself into working with her band (consisting of her brother and two cousins). Using the scholarship money she received from winning COY, she and her band, Wishlist, were able to pay for studio time and the creation of their band’s demo. Read on for more on this rising star…and feel free to support a fellow cheerleader on her rise to the top!




AC: Now, Lenée, you were AC’s Dec 2008 Cheerleader of the Month, and you were named Cheerleader of the Year by our readers. What was that experience like?

Lenée: Honestly, I’m still in shock that I was not only on the cover of AC, but also chosen as COY! It’s been unreal living that dream. I never thought I’d be COY, but it happened. I want the same success for Wishlist.




AC: Tell us about Wishlist. How’d you get started?

Lenée: This project has been in the works forever. Ever since we were little kids, the four of us would put on shows for our family and make all kinds of music. Now that we’re older, we’re serious about making it a career. Most importantly, our band is about family.

Desirée: Passion for music has been a common thread in each of our lives separately, but it took until we started writing and playing together to realize how our talents intertwined to weave the very fibers of our group.

Donté: Wishlist is made up of not only my family members, but three of my best friends. We write, play and do pretty much everything together as a group.




AC: How did you come up with the name?

Lenée: The name was the most difficult part! We started out calling ourselves “4:13,” as in the Bible verse, “All things through Christ.” We all live by that saying. Then we tried “Us Four,” because it’s always been the four of us. But for some reason, these two names just didn’t fit. Our producer, George, sent us pages of possibilities. In the middle of a lengthy e-mail, we saw the name “Wishlist.” There wasn’t any particular reason or meaning behind the name at first, but it just kind of stuck.

Desirée: Wishlist may not have been our first choice, but it was certainly our favorite. Wishlist stands for making our dreams come true.




AC: Can you tell us the process you’ve gone through to become recording artists? Where are you at now, and what’s your next move?

Lenée: We started by focusing on creating a solid image for our band. The four of us practice every day individually and as a band a few times a week. Our professional demo and press kit are finished, so right now we’re pitching the band.

Jesse: The process is tough and very challenging. But we’re trying to get ourselves noticed, and hopefully signed. We just released our first single in November, along with a music video.






Donté, Lenée, Desirée & Jesse are Wishlist!

AC: What was the inspiration behind your first single?

Lenée: Our first single is called “The One That Got Away.” It’s a song about losing someone, and it being your fault. We didn’t want this to be your average breakup song, where you got dumped and you’re upset about it. It’s a song about you being the one who made the mistake and ended a good thing.

Desirée: The song comes straight from personal experience. When writing the lyrics, Lenée and I were focused on being completely honest in how we’ve dealt in similar circumstances.




AC: Getting into the recording industry can be tough. How have you dealt with the ups and downs of following this dream?

Jesse: There’s a lot of rejection in this industry. We sent our song “Too Far” to the producers of the Twilight saga, New Moon, and didn’t hear back. It was disappointing, but we know it’s part of the business.

Desirée: There are two sides to everything. We can either allow rejections to hinder our success, or use it as leverage to become stronger as individuals and as a band.




AC: How has music impacted your life?

Lenée: When I’m dealing with an experience, whatever it might be, I take comfort in the fact that I can find a release through music. When I’m passionate about something enough to write a song about it, and I hear the finished product, it makes me think, “Wow, I created that. That’s my story.” I love that rush.

Jesse: Whenever I’m frustrated or have something on my mind, I play around on my drums. It’s definitely a destressor for me.

Desirée: For me, singing is a way of life. It sets my soul free.

Donté: Playing guitar has really shaped me into my own person. It’s taught me creativity, individuality and an overall ability to follow my dreams and express myself.




AC: Wishlist is a family affair. Does it ever get tough working with family? Do you ever argue about your music?

Desirée: We may argue about outfits, choreography or who’s Grandma’s favorite, but the one thing we agree on unconditionally is our music.

Donté: We all have different tastes in music outside of Wishlist, but when we come together all of our styles and influences combine to create our sound. The genre we fit into suits us.




AC: Why do you think our readers will like your music?

Lenée: We want to let our fans know that we’ve been through what they’ve been through and we know what the highs and lows of living can feel like.

Desirée: We’re just like them! Lenée and I are both cheerleaders and have so much in common with the readers, so they’ll be able to relate to our songs.






All in the family

AC: What do you guys do in your spare time?

Lenée: I’m a competitive cheerleader, so that’s a huge part of my life. I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t have cheer. I also enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music, watching movies and writing.

Jesse: I’m usually studying and hanging out with my girlfriend. I love playing sports and going to the gym. Shopping is something we all love to do, as well.

Donté: I like to play golf and lacrosse with my friends.




AC: Lenée, how has cheer helped you in your budding music career. Do you plan on continuing with cheer?

Lenée: This is my last year cheering at Hofstra University and we’re going down to UCA Nationals in January to defend our 2009 championship title. I definitely plan to be involved with cheer after this year, whether it be coaching, cheering for an open team or incorporating it into Wishlist somehow!




AC: If you weren’t musicians, what would you do career-wise?

Lenée: I’m getting my degree in elementary education and English creative writing. I’d love to be a second grade teacher and even write a book one day.

Jesse: I’m going to school for small business entrepreneurship. If I wasn’t pursuing Wishlist, I’d be working with my dad and eventually taking over the family business (a retail shoe and repair store in Long Island, NY).

Desirée: If I weren’t pursuing music, I’d continue college with my communications major in plans of becoming a motivational speaker.

Donté: I’d want to golf on the PGA Tour.




AC: Best advice you ever got?

Lenée: “Dreams become reality if you just believe.”

Jesse: “Pray, hope and don’t worry!”

Desirée: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself.”

Donté: “No one said it would be easy, just worth it.”






Coming to a radio station near you!

AC: Can you give me a fun fact about each of you?

Lenée: I don’t go anywhere without my eyelash curler or my iPod. When I’m nervous or anxious, I have to have both!

Jesse: I’m a sneaker shopaholic.

Desirée: I have a million nicknames, but my favorite is one I adopted from my varsity cheerleading team. They used to call me Bambi!

Donté: I can do a round-off back handspring. Does that make me worthy of COY, Lenée?




Advice from Lenée

1. Challenge yourself. Your best is never your best. You can always do better!

2. Be determined to reach every goal you set for yourself, and set the bar high.

3. Have confidence in yourself. Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something.

4. Have faith. A little bit of faith goes a long way.

5. Surround yourself with people who support and believe in you. It’ll help you believe in yourself that much more.




Tips from Jesse

1. Don’t settle for anything less than perfection.

2. If you commit to something, always follow through.

3. Practice, practice, practice.

4. Take care of your body and don’t do anything to jeopardize your goals.

5. Don’t tell yourself that any dream is too far-fetched; you can have whatever you want!




Hints from Desireé

1. Believe in yourself. You have the power to attain whatever you set your mind to.

2. Never say never. Be optimistic and your good attitude will pay off!

3. Embrace your talents and expand your limits. Every time I tried a new stunt in cheer, I’d get a boost of confidence knowing that I worked past my fear to hit it. And I never had to say, “I can’t.”

4. Persevere. There may be let-downs, losses or rejection, but let them teach you to be a fighter!

5. Dare to dream bigger. Don’t let the odds keep you from doing what you’re meant to do.




Clues from Donté

Do what you love, that way it never seems like work. - American Cheerleader Magazine


Discography

"The One That Got Away" - 1st single already released but being re-cut & re-mixed for radio. "Downside Up" EP soon to be released to include "The One That Got Away" and the following tracks: "With Sorry", "Too Far", "Downside Up", "Good For Now", "Incomplete" & "Running Away"

Photos

Bio

Wishlist is a band that's keeping it all in the family. Siblings, Lenée and Jesse Passiglia pool talents with cousins Desirée and Donté Coleman to produce an energetic pop rock sound mixing the pristine qualities of popular modern music with the mature sensibilities of classic bands like Led Zeppelin. In spite of their youth, Lenée, 21, and Desirée, 18, draw from the many ups and downs of life to inspire all-embracing, honest songwriting. Their heartfelt lyrics and spirited songs are sure to take Wishlist to the vanguard of pop culture.

With a front cover and three-page exposé in the December 2008 issue of American Cheerleader magazine, Wishlist's own Lenée "L.A." Passiglia is creating quite a buzz. In the article, Lenée is compared to country music singer Taylor Swift for having pursued her love of the spotlight with great perseverance and talent. She has claimed three National titles at UCA’s College National Cheerleading Championships, was named All American in 2007, and clinched American Cheerleader's 2008 Cheerleader of the Year. Lenée credits the success to maintaining "her three D's: Determination, Drive, and Dedication."

L.A.’s article quotes her as being a “21 year old bombshell,” who “is loaded with talent and a fearless personality,” but such an exciting personality could not be fully harnessed or appreciated without the soulful musical interpretations of cousin Desirée. The twosome has combined talents that compliment and reinforce their individual accomplishments. Never at a loss for words, Des is currently engaged as a public speaker and communications major at the University of Central Florida and is boldly making her presence known. Jesse, 19, the band's drummer extraordinaire, and Donté, 14, dynamic guitarist and multi-faceted musician, complete the foursome.

Both boys discovered a love for pounding on the cans in the early hours of life. Though it seemed natural from day one, their talent was taken to another level by the training of classic rock drummer, Bobby Rondinelli (Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, The Scorpions, and Rainbow), further cultivating what is an intrinsic, heartfelt groove.

The heart and soul of Wishlist is clearly the bond between its members. Feeding off one another’s creative energy comes naturally when working with producer on the rise, George Alden, whose work with Nsync, Pink, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, and Queen Latifah has only intensified what is an eclectic savoir-faire. Pulling from the band’s deep spiritual conviction, positive outlook, and youthful resonance, George’s commitment to crafting an original pop rock sound distinguishes Wishlist from any other band of its kind.