Two years after making it to the Top 11 of American Idol season 18, Grace Leer is ready to release her self-titled debut EP full of fiddles, heartbreak songs and some serious Carly Pearce meets Shania meets The Chicks style influences.
Following her stint on American Idol, Leer ended up moving to Nashville with her mom to continue working on her music. Her new EP, produced by Dan Fernadez and Jared Hampton (LanCo) is the result of her endeavours and it will act as a solid springboard to shinier things, of that there is no doubt. Leer is a great vocalist with a rich, smoky voice and the songs and videos that represent this part of her career show rich promise for what could be possible for this emerging artist.
If fun, uptempo 90s leaning Country music is your thing then look no further than EP opener, ‘Brought a Girl’. It’s a fiddle-filled Shania style romp about a party that doesn’t go in the way Leer expects. Strong vocals and entertaining, relatable storytelling are the order of the day here. Similarly, ‘Ones Before Me’, which sees Leer paying tribute to the Country legends of the past from Waylon to Willie to WSM is a simple, uncomplicated slice of Country joy.
Leer’s vocals are not unlike rising Country star Carly Pearce’s and you can hear that influence on songs like ‘The One’ and ‘Meant to Be’. The former finds Leer at the wedding of an ex in a stylish and emotive song during which she ponders about somebody always having to be the one, before the one. ‘Meant to Be’, meanwhile, is a quieter, more intimate song reminiscent of something akin to ‘Every Little Thing’ from Pearce’s debut album. A specialist in heartbreak songs, Leer decides that ‘I’ll lean on my friends and a bottle of wine’ to get through this current, difficult season. In fact, one of my favourite lines in this song, which is really relatable to anyone who has gone through a break up, is when she says, ‘A season for you, a lesson for me.’ An acoustic ballad with plaintive fiddles, ‘Meant to Be’ is one of the best songs on offer here.
If we are talking best songs on the EP, however, that accolade must surely go to ‘After 1’. This is a stylish, darker song with a nice little, dramatic pre-chorus breakdown. The explosion of the chorus that follows is both unique and original and will make you either want to get up and dance or sing along at the top of your lungs. Leer has spoken to outlets like Taste of Country about channelling something like The Chicks’ ‘Not Ready to Make Nice’ but I hear something more contemporary akin to a number one hit from Lauren Alaina or Kelsea Ballerini.Â
The EP closes with two songs that take the listener off into a slightly different sonic landscape than the songs that have gone before them. A re-imagined version of Dwight Yoakam’s ‘A Thousand Miles From Nowhere’ is both thoughtful and introspective with a slightly ephemeral, Western feel to it. More plaintive guitars and emotive vocals weave a tale of loss and heartbreak in a place where Kacey Musgraves meets Fleetwood Mac. ‘Nothing With You’, meanwhile, a duet which features Logan Mize, has a driving beat and a kind of Californian sunshine meets Joshua Tree type of vibe replete with a hint of golden hour sunset to it. The story of two people who miss each other, ‘Nothing With You’ focuses on the simple things like a head on your shoulder or having someone to do the dishes with, which makes it a relatable and impactful song.
With this self-titled EP Grace Leer is bringing two years of adventures to a close and laying down some solid foundations for the years to come. Her rich, smoky vocals are a joy to listen to and for fans of heartbreak, 90s songs and that type of Carly Pearce-esque Pop/Country sound, there is enough on here to interest you, particularly on the stronger tracks like ‘After 1’ and ‘Meant to Be’. Nashville is a ten year town and careers are established brick by brick. Grace Leer is off to a great start and we can’t wait to travel that journey alongside her.
Track list 1. Brought a Girl 2. The One 3. After 1 4. Meant to Be 5. Ones Before Me 6. A Thousand Miles From Nowhere 7. Nothing With You Release Date: 14th September Record Label: 19 Recordings Buy ‘Grace Leer’ now
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