Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Leo has impressed me with their debut EP Please Leave Quietly. The five-track EP delivers the perfect combination of infectious melodies and lyrics that speak from the heart.
“It is incredibly introspective and focuses on the feelings associated with loss, abandonment, and isolation” Leo explained. “The title was chosen to serve this introspective motion with the idea of ‘I know you’re going to leave and that’s okay – I would too. But when you do, the only thing I ask is that you do it quietly.’”
Leo is exactly the kind of songwriter that I love. Their lyrics are brutally honest. They’re unafraid to lay bare their own emotions and stories of pivotal moments with other people. These lyrics don’t shy away from the hard stuff, and Leo acknowledges that when you’re young and just trying to figure stuff out, so much of it is hard stuff. There’s pain and pathos in these lyrics, but the melancholy moments are typically balanced out with Leo’s wry sense of humour. A defense mechanism, maybe. But it gives these songs such a distinctly Australian flavour. They’re so relatable that they’re instantly endearing.
These songs are also total earworms. I’ve been lucky enough to listen for a few days, and I catch myself humming the tunes at random moments. They’re so catchy, in the best possible way. It feels unfair to single out these songs because they’re all incredibly strong, so I’m just going to let you listen and decide which one’s your favourite.
Please Leave Quietly is out now. Leo and their live band will launch the EP for hometown fans at The Old Bar on April 19.
Main photo credit: Claire Giuffre