Welcome to “In Harmony with,” our ongoing series where we invite those who inspire us to share their stories and the rituals that help them stay grounded.
This month, we're joined by Summer and Leslie Spiro, a fellow mother-daughter duo whose faces you might recognize throughout our site. Coming from a family of artists, their creativity spans generations, and their warmth is just as inspiring as their talent.
We talked about performing, the sacredness of family, and what they admire about each other.
Creativity runs in your family. We’d love to hear about your artistic journeys. Summer, what first drew you to acting? Leslie, how did dance and music become part of your life?
Summer: Ever since I can remember, I loved memorizing lines from movies. It felt effortless and started with The Sound of Music at three years old. Once I was in the 4th grade, I auditioned for Alice in Wonderland and a switch went off, and for the first time in my life, I felt competitive. I just knew this was something I could do. I had the hardcore “theatre bug” and tried out for every single play I could.
As I grew older, I started falling in love with film and storytelling, but what I am always chasing is a new way to express a feeling that you can’t quite put words to. With both my parents being songwriters, it always felt instinctual to pursue a creative life. I never really considered anything else. There is this Arthur Miller quote I kind of live by, that as artists, you find a sense of immortality by giving voice to the unsingable heartsong that the ordinary man may feel, but never utter.
To me, there is no greater way to spend my time and resources, than making art about what I feel and observe throughout my life.
Leslie: I was raised in a show business family. My mother was an actress, dancer, and choreographer. My father was one of the top ten best jazz drummers in the country. He played with all the jazz greats. Together, they had a music publishing company, so I grew up surrounded with artists, singers, writers, and musicians. My mom put my sister and me in ballet and jazz classes. So dance was a huge part of our lives in how we stayed fit, strong, and coordinated. We grew up with the group Seals & Crofts singing in our studio, who taught us how to harmonize and sing at a young age. My sister and I eventually went into music and were signed to Atlantic Records, A&M Records, and CBS records in Germany.
The music journey has been quite an adventure. I married a brilliant songwriter and artist, and my two daughters went into music as well. So there has never been a dull moment in our lives. Music is so wonderful and exciting to be around and to be doing in your life. But to do it as a career is very difficult, and it can take its toll emotionally as well as physically. But it’s a love affair that you can never leave behind and something that is in your blood.
You share such a close-knit family. What do you think has allowed those relationships to stay so strong over the years?
Summer: I feel that what’s kept us close is weathering storms together. Growing up with artists as parents, nothing is smooth sailing, nothing is stable or predictable, and I saw up close how talented and hard working my parents are, and still how unfair and challenging the world can be. I think it’s been us locking arms and digging in for the tough times that gave us an unbreakable bond.
Leslie: I think one reason our bond as a family has been strong is because of music. It bonds our hearts, minds, and souls together. The other reason I think is the Baha’i Faith which is centered around unity in the world, family unity, and the oneness of mankind. So being brought up with those unique and beautiful teachings, I raised my kids the same way. Being in business together, we were enmeshed in each other's lives, so when it got hectic and we had disagreements, we would try to find a higher spiritual way to approach one another, with love and respect. We would look for the points of unity and understanding and have consultation, so everyone could be heard, and I think that really helped us stay connected and close. It’s not easy, but it helped us.
People often assume performers are natural extroverts. Has that been true for each of you, or do you recharge differently than people might expect?
Summer: I am a Cancer, a first-born daughter, and so I love my alone time. It’s definitely how I recharge and let my mind process and reveal. I love laying in the grass and going on walks in nature. I love playing guitar on my couch—I find that singing helps me move through hard feelings and gets my brain to relax. If I find the right melody and lyrics, I will sing those same ones over and over and over. I do love being around people whose hearts and souls I connect with—when it’s honest and deep, that’s when it feels energizing for me.
Leslie: I think a lot of performers are introverts, but once you get them out, they come alive and become extroverts. I know I’m that way, and my family is. Being an artist or a creative can take a lot out of you because you are constantly pulling ideas out of the air or your head, so when I get to relax and want to recharge, I always go to water.
I take hot baths every night—sometimes with salts and essential oils. They always reset my mind and body. Water is so calming, it helps your muscles and tension, and refreshes your body and spirit. For health and skin rejuvenation, I love dry brushing which stimulates and helps drain the lymphatic system and revitalizes your skin. I do that before I get into the bath.
After that I love to apply my My July Serenity Now Body Butter which smells holistic, pure and heavenly. I’m very picky and sensitive when it comes to products and scents. I don’t like synthetic smells, so this has become one of my favorites. I can’t get enough.
I love to read from some of the writings from the Baha’i Faith and watch my favorite ASMR channels to help me relax and fall asleep. The best thing I do for myself is say some prayers before drifting off for God to keep guiding all of our steps on this planet through our journey on this earth. I lost my husband two years ago, so my life turned upside down and adjusting to life without him has been a challenge. So this has been my healing bedtime ritual to relax and recharge and to help steady and calm my nerves.
What’s one quality you admire in each other?
Summer: My mom has too many incredible qualities to just choose one! She ranks in the top percentile of compassionate people, she is devoted to God, and she laughs so hard and loud. She knows when to be wise and she knows when to have fun like a child. She contains multitudes and is like no one else. But there is one quality she has that I don’t possess that I just love. She has a way of deeply connecting to anyone. Her heart is giant and wide open, and she can make a bond with any human from any walk of life.
I tend to move quickly, always in a rush, always gotta go energy, but my mom has this way of taking her time with people and bringing out the depth in every conversation. I am always moved by her ability to make people feel safe to open up. It’s not a fake or annoyingly friendly or neighborly kind of thing—it’s way deeper than that. It’s subtle and effortless and warm. She brings out the beauty in everyone’s spirit. She see’s the best in people. She finds your special sauce and makes you feel seen. I know I’m a better human being because of this quality in her.
Leslie: There are far too many qualities I admire in my daughter. I could write books. So I will say this one amazing quality she possesses. I’m the type of person who takes a long time to do some things. I get overwhelmed easily because I want to do everything great or to the best of my ability. So I can make a big deal out of doing something small.
One of Summer’s qualities I admire and love is how resilient she is, and how she does things with ease and doesn’t make a fuss or think too hard about it—she just gets up and does the task without a bunch of procrastination even if she has the world on her plate. And if she gets knocked down, she gets back up and calmly keeps going. So many times I say to myself, “Just get it done like Sum, don’t make it a big deal. Just get it done.” She’s just like her daddy who did the same thing. They are my muses. And another thing I want to say is the love and care she gives me daily, especially since her daddy passed, always aware of letting me know how important I am to her life and she wants me there daily in every way is my greatest happiness.
Summer is pure love and radiance.
When you picture a place where you feel most like yourselves, what does it look and feel like?
Summer: To be completely transparent, after my father’s passing, and then a brutal, traumatizing break-up, I have found it more difficult to feel comfortable or “like myself” anywhere on this planet. I feel like there is a ceiling to how comfortable I can feel. I believe that is by divine design and that’s what I’m making peace with. I believe we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and as with all necessary growth, that can be very uncomfortable and painful.
What I’ve learned through going through so much loss in the last few years is that surrendering my will to God—or higher power, Source, whatever you’d like to call it—is the only time I feel like myself. When I feel that I am being guided and led by powers beyond my understanding, when I trust that there is a plan unfolding that I have nothing to do with, that’s when I feel okay, that’s when I feel good, that’s when I feel loved no matter what happens.
Leslie: I don’t know where I feel the most like myself. I’m always looking for peace and a sense of calm. So water like I said before, like baths, pools, steam showers, I love heated saunas of warmth, looking over the ocean, looking at the sky or into the stars is where I feel the most myself. Trying to figure out the unknown. What is my husband experiencing right now? What should I do next in my life? I am open to whatever it is I’m supposed to do here. To help, or serve or try to bring happiness and light wherever I am, and connect with others. Because we are all leaving this plane of existence one day and all we take with us when we leave is love and what we have done for others while we were on this earth.
Summer, your bond with your dog, Sky, is so sweet. What have animals taught you about presence, creativity, or simply paying attention?
Yes! Our dog Sky came to us after my Dad passed and it’s a long beautiful story for another time, but there is no question my Dad sent him to us for support. He has been a huge source of love and healing in our lives. He makes me laugh, he makes me play, he makes me walk, he makes me meet people, he makes me stay consistent, he holds me to my word. Caring for him has helped me get out of my own way. I never would have chosen a husky for myself, and I am so grateful I didn’t get my way because I can’t imagine life without him!
What does living in harmony mean to you?
Summer: For me, living in harmony means being at peace with what is. Letting go of wanting more, letting go of wanting different, and loving what is right in front of you.
Leslie: When I think of living in harmony, I think of everyone in the world living in peace and unity. Happy—not living in fear and financial stress. People of all colors, races and backgrounds embracing each other with love. Humans treating animals and Mother Earth with compassion and kindness and care. Protecting nature and our natural resources so we can all live in harmony and grow and develop together in a healthy environment on this God-given beautiful earth.
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Find Summer:
Instagram
Find Leslie:
Instagram
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Interviewed & Photographed by Micaela Hoo, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, My July
