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