Swedish singer and songwriter LÉON, otherwise known as Lotta Lindgren, dropped her self-titled debut album last year, four years after the release of her first single. In the intervening years, Lindgren spent time writing in LA, with the recording process taking place in London. The album received solid reviews and established her as an artist to watch.
Written in the aftermath of the physical and emotional demands of spending a whole year on tour more or less non-stop in support of that debut album and going through a breakup with her long-term partner, Lindgren has poured a lot of herself into her second full-length effort Apart. It was shaping up to be a deeply introspective record, and that was before the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
Produced by her friend Martin Stilling, the evolution of the record has been dramatically different to its predecessor. Recorded in Stilling’s studio a short walk from her Stockholm home, it’s an album that carries it’s emotional weight musically as well as lyrically. The overall sound and feel is one of honesty and soul-bearing from Lindgren.
Opening track and single Head And Heart On Fire is a case in point. Against gently strummed guitars, her soulful voice tells the story of a powerful first encounter, while And It Breaks My Heart soars, a heart-beating anthem about lost love that lets the listener further inside Lindgren’s experiences. In A Stranger’s Arms mixes soft fingerpicked guitars with more stunning vocals, while Chasing A Feeling rises and falls in beguiling fashion.
There’s plenty of variety on offer here, from slow-burning almost acoustic numbers such as Seventeen up to pulse-quickening anthems like Who You Lovin, but all of it constructed with Lindgren’s expert eye for storytelling, songwriting and melody. It’s a fantastic second offering from one of Sweden’s most talented musicians.
Apart tracklist:
1. Head And Heart On Fire
2. And It Breaks My Heart
3. Crazy/Stupid
4. In A Stranger’s Arms
5. Chasing A Feeling
6. Falling Apart
7. Who You Lovin
8. Seventeen
9. Tell Me
10. Die For You
11. Apart
Watch the official video for Head And Heart On Fire here.
Author: Joe Sharratt
Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.
Great post, thanks for sharing it Joe. LÉON's second album, Apart, is a captivating and deeply personal exploration of love, heartbreak, and self-reflection. Album contrasts the intense emotions Lindgren experienced during a year of relentless touring and a significant breakup. <a href="https://ckord.com/artists/aa7e97ca-fcae-489e-a0a4-fc192700357b">LÉON’s</a> soulful voice and honest lyrics shine throughout, making Apart a compelling follow-up that cements her place as a leading artist in contemporary pop.
1 Comment
