Stourbridge-based acoustic singer-songwriter Rhiannon Leonard captivated me when I first heard her new EP, Ex-Lovers Mixtape. Her music is rather poppy, but I also felt there was something of an 80s flavour to the music, with elements of rock and indie also present. This makes Rhiannon’s music stand far above her peers, sounding perfect to me.
By Jane Howkins
Title track Ex-Lovers Mixtape is the first song up, opening the EP with a great burst of energy. The percussion adds a fantastic sense of rhythm to the piece, particularly when it lines up with the throbbing bassline running underneath the surface. The guitar solo that appears after the chorus adds a rock and roll quality to the music, elevating it high above the rest of the mainstream pop crowd.
Shot In The Dark is a little more down-tempo, having a slower feel about it. Rhiannon’s vocals are a lower here, but they’re no less captivating, showing an artist capable of performing in multiple ranges. The track breaks down a little before the chorus, with the piano chords sounding absolutely beautiful here, especially when combined with the swirling synths in the background.
Tease starts off even more slowly, before the amazing 80s-style synths appear, bubbling away underneath the surface. Rhiannon’s vocals are particularly stunning here, rising up on the chorus to draw the listener in straight away. The thing that struck me most about this track was the backing vocals, sounding almost like a choir at times. The layering is amazing, as there’s so much going on here!
Hard Feelings brings the tempo back up again, with a fast beat and some cool guitar lines characterising this piece so well. The rhythm is simply infectious, getting underneath your skin straight away! The vocals have a great vibe on the chorus, making it all sound incredibly catchy as a whole. There’s a bit of attitude about this track, getting straight under your skin and making you want to dance along immediately.
Crash changes things up even more, as the chorus of backing vocals appears once again, enveloping the listener with a haunting sound. The piano is the stand out moment of this song, playing pretty melodies behind Rhiannon’s vocals, helping to accentuate them even further. It’s more of a ballad than the other tracks here, closing things out nicely.
Rhiannon Leonard is a fantastic singer-songwriter, creating amazing little pop ditties that sound like nothing else available at the moment. The mix of sounds on Ex-Lovers Mixtape should appeal to those into every type of pop.
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