Samantha Leon - s/t (2017)

OFFICAL: http://www.samanthaleonmusic.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaleonmusic/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/samleon_music

Video Teaser: https://youtu.be/v5I3R_SURcg

Written by Aaron Ellis, posted by blog admin

New York City resident and native Samantha Leon has released a debut EP, financed by fans through a Kickstarter campaign, which sets the stage for a bright future to come. The present is equally bright. This self-titled seven song release covers a wide range of stylistic bases without ever showing off the occasional unsteady footing we often associate with new artists. These song feel and sound well lived in without ever coming off like they are either labored or studied efforts and much of the acclaim for this should fall on Leon’s songwriting, her vocal style, and the superb accompaniment she receives from her musical collaborators. Her avowed influences, ranging from Cat Stevens through Adele, come through strongly here but they are all shaped by her range at redefining those influences through the prism of her own personality. This is as impressive as first efforts come.  

“Bright Yellow Shoes (No Turbulence Mix)” sets the stage for this EP very well. The design of the release reveals itself over time and this is what keys it off, but this is a fine standalone track as well. Those who think, going in, that they will get a strictly singer/songwriter affair with an emphasis on lyrical content will be in for a pleasant surprise when they hear the excellence of the guitar and drumming, in particular, on this EP. The musical arrangement becomes a little more involved with the second song, an improbably titled ditty called “High (You Only Love Me When You’re Fuc*ed Up) and the guitar is once again a stand out, but the lyrical content is quite exemplary despite the eye catching title. Those expecting a comedic element to this may or may not be disappointed, but it’s likely to elicit a weary chuckle from those who have endured similar experiences. The drumming is also quite strong once again and her compositional sense is obviously well honed. The predominantly acoustic track “Perfect” shows Leon is no stranger to surprising her audience as it gradually moves from a moderately paced tune to a more uptempo number near the song’s end and the inclusion of hip hop performer Danny Matos raises the excellence of the track to another level.

“Hello, Goodbye” has a lot of musical delicacy thanks to a smattering of guitar and a beautiful arranged piano track. Leon’s vocal reaches lovely ethereal heights here and she takes her time with the lyric to maximize its impact. The EP’s true final track, “Bright Yellow Shoes (Full Band Version)”, expands greatly on the arrangement of the first song and never sounds like a half-hearted elaboration. The addition of strings to this is a pleasant touch that complements her voice. The last track on the release “Glad/Sober” features another turn into hip hop territory with a guest shot from Shako. It results in a crackling live performance recorded at The Delancey in New York City. This song never feels tacked on and, instead, more like a sweet morsel tossed in to show the extent of her diversity and the fearlessness of her musical approach. She’s a great fit in the modern scene, but Leon has talents that transcend the era and she can look forward to immense successes to come.