Leila Jane
Leila Jane is an Alternative Pop singer-songwriter based in Dublin whose song writing takes on the spirit of her early blues influences. Imelda May believed Leila’s music had a unique sense of heart and therefore chose her to be the recipient of the ‘Imelda May Scholarship’ at BIMM Institute Dublin.
Leila has been singing and fronting her own bands for over ten years. She has played at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Glastonbury and Body & Soul.
Videos of her busking on Grafton Street are often featured on Dublin City Today’s Youtube channel.
Her most recent releases include an EP called Revolve Evolve featured her single ‘‘Wild’’ which was shortlisted to represent Ireland in last year’s Eurovision and her recent remix of ‘’Poison’’, which N Magazine described as capturing ‘’the rage of an abused angel in a realm without justice’’. Her newest single ‘’Love Will Come Rushing’’ was released on 14th February.
Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
From a young age I had keen ears for music that I liked. I used to watch ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ with my parents and at the age of 5, I instantly fell in love with the Dusty Springfield song after hearing it on the show. I asked my Dad to write out the lyrics for me, learned them and would stand on the living room table singing the song to myself, imagining that I was on a stage.
Objection (Tango) - Shakira
My very first album I got was for my 9th birthday. It was Shakira’s ‘’Laundry Service’’. I found Shakira’s voice fascinating. It was so distinct with her own visceral style. I enjoyed singing like her and learning the songs with my best friend at the time. Objection had such a great energy and I loved how pop could incorporate more traditional sounds, in this case those lovely Latin minor vibes on accordion mixed with surf rock guitar.
Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us – Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
This song inspired so much in me when I was 13. I had just gotten into Alison Krauss because she was in the sound track of the ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’ film. I would listen to this song and imagine movie scenes and it would take me to another dimension. I learned the song and sang it at one of my secondary school concerts.
Don’t Go Dancin’ Down The Darktown Strutter’s Ball – C.W. Stoneking
I was also 13 when I discovered C.W. Stoneking. I remember being summoned to the living room by my Dad, ‘’Leila! Come here!’’. ‘’What is it now?,’’ I thought to myself. ‘’Look at this guy’’, my dad said. On the TV screen was C.W. Stoneking singing Don’t Go Dancin’ Down The Darktown Strutter’s Ball on BBC 4’s Folk America at the Barbican show, hosted by Seasick Steve. My immediate thought was ‘’ok, well this guy can’t sing’’, and then, after a few more seconds it was like something in my brain clicked and I suddenly ‘’got it’’; I did an instant 360 in my mind. ‘’Oh My God, this is incredible’’… and then I was hooked. I spent most of my teens addicted to C.W. Stoneking!
Solve + Forget – Twain
This song takes me back to a period where I lived in Northampton and Twain was a major influence on my singing and song writing style. I had first come across him at the Omagh Bluegrass Festival at age 17. He was playing in a band called the Spirit Family Reunion and I followed them to every gig they played in that part of their tour. I fell in love with the fiddle player who would take lead on vocals for certain songs and I was mesmerised by his voice and open hearted delivery. His solo project ‘’Twain’’ would become an obsession of mine, heavily influencing my style over the coming years. His lyrics were so simple yet so profound and vulnerable. I was thrilled to get the chance to actually do a gig and record an EP with him in 2015! (That EP is called ‘Where Did My Love go?’ and can be found on my Bandcamp).
Grown Man – Jessica Lea Mayfield
I lived in Northampton between the ages of 17 and 19. It was during this time that I started a degree that I dropped out of. It’s ironic to me that one of my all-time favourite artists was first recommended to me by someone who would become a murky character in my life: an older man pledging to move my career to new heights while luring me in with romance and empty promises. This song helped me to realise that my perspective was valid and that I could express it through my music. I felt like she was singing about my life; she was someone I could relate to. Not only were her lyrics authentic, blunt and relatable but she also began with a bluegrass background and this album - produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys - showed how you could get creative with a song’s production.
Done - Frazey Ford
I was 22, and going to the USA for the second time. I would volunteer at a music festival in Ohio called the Nelsonville music festival. That year, I checked beforehand who was playing and Frazey Ford stuck out to me. The journey to the festival entailed a long bus ride from New York after a jet-lagged night’s sleep and when I finally arrived at the festival, Frazey Ford’s voice was the first thing I heard, wafting dreamily over the sun drenched grounds. I followed the sound and plonked myself in front of the stage and her music instantly brought me to tears. I adapted my song, ‘Dance With Me’ (initially inspired by the guy from Twain) to a soul rhythm after listening to Frazey Ford.
Salad Days - Mac Demarco
In 2019 I had a couple of dreams that I met Mac Demarco and unintentionally ended up seeing him in concert 3 times that year! And then I did meet him! (He kissed my hand and said that I have ‘’great pipes’’ after hearing me do karaoke!) I had never even considered myself a fan of his but somehow he crept into my unconscious that year. The first time I saw him was at Glastonbury and after his show I began humming my song ‘’Dark Place’’ to myself and thinking I have to get it recorded and out there soon.
Cattails – Big Thief
This song brought me such comfort during my USA travels in 2019, during which I saw both Big Thief and Mac Demarco play live! I was in a melancholic place mentally, cleaning the garden of an overbearing Workaway host in Ohio. The album this song is on seemed to cut through everything and gave my soul something to cling onto. It was after this trip that I came home to Dublin and wrote ‘’Satellite Station’’ which gleaned inspiration from big Thief’s abstract yet tangible lyrics.
Sewer Blues – Timber Timbre
This was one of those songs that came up randomly on a Spotify algorithm. I remember being in my parent’s kitchen hearing it for the first time through my Bluetooth speaker and being like ‘’wow, what is that?!: Moody, David lynch vibes, I love it!’’ Again, lyrics that are abstract yet tangible with simple powerful melodies. The imagery that both Timber Timbre and Big Thief conjure through their lyrics is insurmountable. I discovered Timber Timbre and 3 months later I wrote my song Poison!
