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Wah Wah 45s are proud to present the debut album from incredibly talented song-writer and vocalist, Lea Lea. Born and bred in Hackney, East London, and the youngest child of Trinidadian / Italian descent, Lea Lea (pronounced “Lee Lee”) grew up surrounded, almost engulfed, by music. Her mother was an opera singer, her sister a professional vocalist, and her brother a drummer and keyboard player. In the her youth she became obsessed with the jungle and drum & bass sounds emitting from her brother’s bedroom (from which she was regularly ejected!) and Reprazent’s “Watching Windows” became somewhat of an anthem for her in her formative years.
Although Lea Lea was briefly taught to read music when a teenager, she is, in her own words, “more of a ‘by ear’ kind of girl”, and what ears they are, as in a very short space of time she found herself writing songs for artists at Def Jam and RCA, as well as performing on the same bills as Jay-Z, Roots Manuva and Little Dragon, as she honed her own sound. Finally, having been selected as “An Artist To Watch” by BBC Introducing, Lea Lea found the inspiration she was looking for, hooking up with renowned producer, and drummer for Bonobo and Alice Russell, Jack Baker.
Gruesome Conditions
Her collaboration with Jack, and writing partner Kim Garrett, kick started the album that you hold in your hands today. Lea and Kim travelled the USA and Mexico, and used the time to write songs, drink tequila, and immerse themselves in new discoveries and experiences, exemplified by the lead track “Wonderer”, although these were not always entirely uplifting. Their experiences of the Mexican drug war, and of the gruesome conditions many of the population are enduring, inspired the track “AK47” and also the dark, brooding feel of the album as a whole.
Lea Lea and Kim’s catchy song-writing skills, combined with Jack’s heavy, bass worrying beats, have created something quite unique. The album is full of cuts that encourage dialogue and challenge female stereotypes; it thrives on the darker side of music yet delivers with an infectious warmth, encompassing everything Lea Lea loves about music from 80s soul and rock, to today’s cutting edge electronic artists. Oh, and with a certain sense of style too – Lea Lea’s fashion sense is unique to say the least, sitting as it does (in her own words) as “somewhere between the Bride of Frankenstein and Star Trek Vulcan T’Pol” – and not only that, both her and Kim are currently working on their own fashion line as we speak! Busy girls.
Modern in style, dramatic in production – Lea Lea is our new queen of dark electronic soul.
Make sure you give her your full attention.
Reactions
“UK singer/rapper Lea Lea resists the notion that systematic racism is a thing of the past and addresses that fact in “Apartheid.” A heavy hip-hop beat backs her on the track, but in the video, she has a punk rock look and a live bass player and drummer help her lay down her message.” mtviggy.com http://www.mtviggy.com/videos/lea-lea-apartheid/
“One of the most enticing new records we’ve heard this year. Equal parts soul-infused vocals, hefty wobbling bass and dramatic monochrome stylishness, it’s hard not to be intrigued by the record.” Shout4music.com http://www.shout4music.com/features/qaa-lea-lea
“This powerful, fierce, ball-busting woman Lea Lea will blow your brains out. I’ve never been intimidated by a song before, much less an album, but here we are!” aaamusic.co.uk
“Bold musicianship, thoughtful lyricism, cool vocal skill and an emphasis on hooks…There’s an empty space in female-fronted electronica right now and Lea Lea deserves to occupy it.” Trap Magazine Page 73: http://issuu.com/trapmagazine/docs/trap_16_web
“Its unique, full of beats, heavy bass and deep Soul from the beginning right through until the end. It takes you on a hypnotic, infectious journey to the beyond.” Phoenixmusiconline.org
http://phoenixmusiconline.org/reviews/lea-lea/
“Lea Lea shows an amazing maturity of sound on her debut eponymous album.Her vocals are pitched somewhere between Neneh Cherry and Kelis, a peculiar and refreshing alternative that harks back to our recent past’s female mavericks that have almost been forgotten amongst the all conquering pop-triumvirate of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Rihanna, mixed in with a dash of Katy B and a penchant for riding a bass heavy beat with gusto. Lea Lea’s short but sweet album strides with confidence as it straddles club joints, urban flavours of the month and conscious lyrical content, delivered in an experimental, yet accessible package that pulls no punches as it looks to lay claim to an ever lucrative portion of the current matriarchal musical monopoly.” Glasswerk.co.uk
http://glasswerk.co.uk/magazine/review/10638/Lea+Lea/
“Channeling the warped, multi-cultural pop of M.I.A. and the darkly dancehall vocal inflections ofWarrior Queen, Hackney-born Lea Lea is looking set to be one of 2013′s great musical surprises. Her forthcoming debut album Lea Lea – released Oct 7 on Wah Wah 45s – is an overwhelming sensory trip, replete with booty-rattling beats, slithering synths and, above all else, Lea’s authoritative vocals; trust us when we say that this girl knows how to command a room.” Planetnotion.com
http://www.planetnotion.com/2013/09/04/introducing-lea-lea/
http://www.shout4music.com/tv/s4m-tv-lea-lea-apartheid
“Londoner Lea Lea (pronounced Lee Lee) has a great soul voice which could earn her radio play and chart success. But she’s also got a conscience, a desire to speak out politically, and a love of dark beats, which is why AK47 will not be on daytime radio. A song about drug wars and damaged lives in Mexico, AK47, with a video featuring flash shots of corpses, is a perfect way into a woman who should be a rival to MIA for great music with a message. A debut album is coming, but the single is out now.” Supajam.com (UK)
http://www.supajam.com/news/story/New-Music-Lea-Lea
http://www.shout4music.com/tv/s4m-tv-lea-lea-apartheid
“Thriving on the darker side of music with an intoxicating charm” Fame Magazine (UK)
LEA LEA: “THRIVING ON THE DARKER SIDE OF MUSIC WITH INTOXICATING CHARM”
“delivers an infectious warmth” Glasswerk Magazine (UK)
http://glasswerk.co.uk/magazine/article/18926/Introducing+Lea+Lea/
“Expect Lea Lea’s name to catch some momentum in the coming months” Earmilk.com (UK)
“With the already highly impressive track “Apartheid” out, Lea Lea now drops a well shot video for the single. The clip depicts many crucial and important symbols such as diamonds with blood dripping from Lea Lea’s hands as she crushes them. In 2013 we finally have an artist willing to use her voice to speak on critical social topics. We love this girl!” Colorising.com
“Lea Lea’s self-titled debut album packs a punch. A female vocalist with strong attitude and clear sentiments, which she expresses both articulately and artistically.” http://thefourohfive.com/review/article/lea-lea-lea-lea
http://popculturez.com/lea-lea-black-or-white/
http://kickoutthejam.net/2013/08/29/video-lea-lea-apartheid/
“A kind of modern soul. So amazing! The outstanding tracks are: Dry, Black or White, One in Three and Silence.” Cesare Cera (Irma / Black Mighty Wax, Italy)
“Whereas artists are either too bland or too ambiguous with their work, Lea Lea seems to reach that perfect middle ground by introducing some familiar sounds that are able to hook the listener in while contributing some new ideas to the current state of the scene. Almost immediately after you hit play, you’ll notice that the East London songstress lacks the self-pidgeonholing qualities, instead opting for a buffet of styles that show her intent to experiment without being to ambitious in her endeavours” Earmilk.com
“Although Lea Lea was briefly taught to read music when a teenager, she is, in her own words, “more of a ‘by ear’ kind of girl”, and what ears they are, as in a very short space of time she found herself writing songs for artists at Def Jam and RCA, as well as performing on the same bills as Jay-Z, Roots Manuva and Little Dragon, as she honed her own sound. Finally, having been selected as “An Artist To Watch” by BBC Introducing, Lea Lea found the inspiration she was looking for, hooking up with renowned producer, and drummer for Bonobo and Alice Russell, Jack Baker.” Nerdyframes.org
http://www.nerdyframes.org/lea-lea-wonderer/#sthash.hYMq0oLl.dpuf”
“WOW! a very rare 5/5 – Faultless – This is the music you wished was on the radio!” Pimpernel Jones (Herma Puma, First Word, UK)
“An interesting, deep and diverse debut from Lea Lea. The tracks “Silence” and “The Road” are my chosen favourite tracks and will be featuring on my radio show.” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Top work guys! Pleased to see this coming out – some standout tracks on here. Wonderer is probably my favourite.” DJ Gilla (First Word, UK)
“What a fantastic record! Absolutely love the beats and it’s got loads of character.” DJ Duck (Big Chill Bar, UK)
“Great voice, unique songwriter with Apartheid (of course) and The Road the immediate stand outs.” Johnny Cush (Shoreditch Radio, UK)
“Once again, a big “thank you!” for the latest promo-link! The album debut from LEA LEA is great! Sweet and dark sound, all tunes are massive productions. – full support!” Sven Thomschke / ‘Dr.Best’ www.radio-z.net (Germany)
“Love the album and the remixes. Another unique UK vocal talent. Wicked production too.” Mickey Duke (Code South, Brighton, UK)
“Proper release … me like !!! 8/10.” Markus Milz (Further In Fusion, Germany)
Frank McQueeny (Amazing Radio) Album of the Month
Shout 4 Music Album of the week
- Paul Lester (Amazing Radio),
- Mistajam (BBC 1Xtra),
- Beats (Amazing Radio), http://www.mixcloud.com/dadysay/,
- Jason Pulaski (KUCI 88.9FM, USA),
- Frank McWeeny (Amazing Radio);
- Nick Gray (Emancipation Show, UK)
