BareBones Ent got the chance to catch up with our talented friend Leah Martin-Brown to talk about her new solo work. Take a walk with us as we discuss the music, winning 2023 Female Vocalist of the Year, and even dinosaurs.
BBE: I want to kick this off because I happened to see an AMA of yours when I was beginning to come up with questions. So, what is your favorite dinosaur?
LMB: You have NO IDEA how long I have waited to be asked this question… THANK YOU! I gotta say it is a tough call between T-Rex and Stegosaurus. The Liopleurodon comes in a very close second because I’m Australian and this guy is more terrifying than all of the Great Whites put together.
BBE: Do you feel you would survive a Jurassic Park situation? Why is that?
LMB: I do think I’d have a pretty solid chance of survival if JP were to become a real life situation. Firstly, because I WOULD NOT MOVE if the T-Rex was within eyesight of me. Also, I wouldn’t go out of my way to do stupid things like: running through long grass near raptor pens, standing in the middle of a field when pterodactyls were flying, going anywhere open when dinosaurs were rampaging… the usual.
BBE: It’s been a little bit since we’ve talked. How have you been?
LMB: I am so well! Back living in Los Angeles, CA for the time being and grateful to be releasing this new music.
BBE: Last year you took home our Female Vocalist Of The Year award. What was it like for you seeing your fans come out like that to support you?
LMB: I was so blown away and did not expect it at all. To be nominated at all was a huge honor but to then receive the title was truly special. I thought you were kidding when you said I won at first! haha
BBE: You have been keeping very busy this year dropping some singles on the way to the release of your debut album. When did this start to come together for you?
LMB: I have been working on this album since May 2021- so over 3 years now. It has been an incredibly long and mentally tough journey to get to this point. Things really only started coming together (in my mind) on release day for the first single ‘Boys’ in March. I think I’d gotten to the stage of believing that maybe this wasn’t going to happen at all because the process was so long. It was a HUGE milestone to hit once that first single came out and we received such an amazing response.
BBE: What is it like for you to approach a solo album compared to a band album?
LMB: The biggest difference for me is in the genre and the performance. This record hinges solely on myself and my vocal performance- the characters I play in each song. For a band record, I can pull focus over to the guitars with solos or interesting riffs, maybe a cool drum fill. That doesn’t really exist in the same way for something solo.
BBE: So far you have released, “Boys”, “Shush”, and “Hysterical Love”. What made you choose those songs as your singles?
LMB: “Boys” was a good starting point because I felt it gave everyone a taste of the different types of songs on the album. It was rock, it was pop, it had some 80s flavor but was still modern yet it didn’t put me in an artistic box. “Hysterical Love” was a natural follow up as it was more rooted in the rock vibe but also managed to be ballady with a tinge of melancholy (I’d like to think). “Shush” HAD to be third because it was UBER pop but dark. Each single has been carefully selected to draw people further into the sound and give them a well rounded view of what the album will be when it drops.
BBE: How have fans been reacting to those singles?
LMB: They have been so supportive and I have been receiving more messages and tags than I have ever seen from previous releases. They have especially loved the new pop/rock direction and the way my voice translates to a lighter genre.
BBE: How does approaching those songs creatively differ for you compared to your previous projects?
LMB: These songs definitely required a different character than I am used to portraying and a lot more focus in studio when tracking. My other, heavier work I can lose myself in the music because I have always worked in the heavier genres. Pop is a new animal for me and there were parts were I didn’t even know if my voice would work in the way it was being asked to. Definitely learning to draw out the rasp and lean into smoother sounds and being very cognisant of every syllable… it was an intense process.
BBE: What can you tell us about the upcoming album?
LMB: It is a pretty incredible collection of tunes that each hold their own as singles. It will have someone for everyone- whether they prefer the rock or the hyper pop. It is a fun album.
BBE: How has it been working with producers Mutt Lange and Tony Nilsson on this album?
LMB: Insane. I am incredibly humbled and still pinch myself every time I remember I did that! haha
BBE: Is there any they have really helped you with, especially that you may not have done previously?
LMB: They have definitely helped me grow as a vocalist and performer. I was pushed to explore parts of my range and performance that I previously did not know existed. They were the most grueling vocal sessions of my career to date and I learned so, so much.
BBE: Take us ahead a bit. What is going to be going through your head right before this album drops while you are waiting to see those first reactions to come in?
LMB: I am hoping that everyone loves listening to the record as much as I loved making it. I am definitely crossing fingers that it has the streaming success that the singles have already had.
BBE: Are you able to share if you are planning a tour to go along with the release?
LMB: I am definitely planning on getting out there and playing shows- the where and when I am not at liberty to discuss 😉
BBE: What is the best way for fans to stay up to date on this album?
LMB: I am always posting updates on my Instagram. That is usually where most of my news is posted first.
BBE: Anything else you would like to add?
LMB: Thank you for asking me about my favourite dinosaur x
