Her stage pseudonym LÉO is actually her real surname. And LÉO was given to her at quite a young age – the “culprit” of this is her grandfather on her mother’s side. She was an active and stubborn child, she could hardly manage to sit still, because of this her grandfather called her his “little lion cub.” And since he was passionate about literature (including ancient Greek and Latin texts), he began to call her “Leo” – “lion” in Latin. She was lucky to be born in a family, in a small seaside town somewhere on the coast of Normandy, where, although her parents were not “artists” in the direct sense, the atmosphere was filled with music and art. By ten years old LÉO had already tried several instruments and continued to play the piano. But only at twelve did she discover that she could use her voice, and entered the “Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine” – the Children’s Choir of the Paris Opera, where she studied academic vocals. At sixteen there was a band with friends, she worked on other people’s projects (makeup, video editing, costumes…), but never truly believed that she was capable of doing something herself. Until she met Riatto in Normandy – that’s when “LÉO” truly opened up, leading to the release of her debut EP “LEO”.
A recording of six bright songs in the soul-folk style, with charm and nostalgia for eternal classics (from Motown to dashing Brit-pop). The authorial style of the EP sounds mature, and the production is neat and not polished to a shine – the “rawness” and indie-sharpness remained. It is precisely the lightness and alluring dissonance that attracted me most in this debut, and also the grace and elegance in LÉO’s voice. I noticed the vintage vibes in a contemporary “frame.” LÉO and her team wanted to create something that would outlive fashion and remain in memory for a long time, and they succeeded.
The EP opens with the song “What You Do” – with a light rhythm and booming synthesizers. Cinematic mood, finely thought-out instrumental part: danceable, steady groove, bright vocal delivery, rich harmonies and “signature” soul-vibe. It perfectly speaks to the overall picture of the EP. It immediately grabs you – bam! – and you’ve disappeared, you’re completely in it. And further in the tracklist “Nowhere To Go” is more contemplative than “What You Do”, incredible softness of sound, demonstrates how expressively real, “live” instruments sound.
Successful on the EP I consider the track “You & Me” – a look at a warm, cozy day. It seems to me that all emotions are gathered in this track: closeness, charm, understanding that being together or alone with yourself – everything is good. Everything is arranged with surgical precision: the intimate acoustic introduction gradually unfolds into a rich melody. The appearance of the bass drum, choral parts and mandolin creates an effect of expanded space. At the same time the arrangement remains airy – instruments are in their places, and LÉO’s vocal preserves the central role.
Well, and if you’ve gathered for a picnic with your loved one and haven’t yet chosen music, then the track “Farmer’s Daughter”, in my opinion, will perfectly suit such an occasion. It attracts attention with a touching intonation in the voice and professional command of it. Soft picking of guitar strings slowly unfolds like a flower bud, to it smoothly joins a light, contemplative bass and delicate drums. The singer demonstrates impeccable phrasing and full control over the emotional component of the track – a voice rich in overtones.
With light dizziness from the first tracks we approach this single “Warm”. Soul-folk and vintage pop, reminiscent of classic melodies. In it live vibrations are especially strong – everything is performed with sincerity and a vibe that’s impossible to reproduce with samples. Acoustic guitar, tender arrangements, hypnotic vocal and this is not an exaggeration. LÉO’s voice put me into hypnosis and although in places it seems heavy, but even this looks elegant.
And so, after the hypnosis session the EP approaches the final track “Sunday Morning” – a suitable conclusion to the musical line of the release. And if Sunday morning could be translated into music – then personally for me it’s precisely this song. “Sunday Morning” – gives warmth and peace. The unhurried rhythm relaxes. No need to rush anywhere? Maybe this is even good. One can enjoy this song, and then listen to the EP again.
The EP “LEO” от LÉO is a worthy work in the contemporary music industry. Excellent vocal and instrumental performance, incredibly high recording quality. The EP “LEO” is available on all major streaming platforms. Highly recommended!
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