LEON FREAR – WILD RICE
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE
The past half-half year has been an absolute whirlwind for Chicago-based songwriter Leon Frear. In that time, he has released three singles and a clever animated video to critical acclaim. The latest standalone offering was the song “A Morning House”, which is an expression of mixed emotions covering the spectrum of regret, opportunities lost and the hope that remains at the end of the day.
His first release under this moniker, this represents a new start since relocating from his home town of Chapel, North Carolina, which is apparent in the second single, “A Town Called Chapel”. Looking back through the rear-view window, Frear himself describes this song as “a poison pen love letter to an historically musical time and place, ruined plans and lost relationships”.
Preceding all of that is Frear’s “Secret Second Moon”, a punchy upbeat offering that will have you in the swing of things (at least for the duration of this song) in no time.
Finally the time has come to release his debut album Wild Rice, and we have the privilege of introducing the world to this potent collection of ten tracks. Frear has a way of telling stories that draw you in, bringing to the surface a multitude of common points, memories and feelings that resonate with the listener. Time and time again throughout this album, the thought arises – “Hey, I’ve been there too” or “That’s what I felt like”. Reflecting on decades of relationship drama, Leon Frear lives to tell a resounding tell through gifted songwriting and clever story-telling.
Informed by his own experience, Frear’s music speaks of love, lust, broken promises, miscommunication, and incinerated bridges. Laced with hints of sadness and regret, anger and remorse, the lyrics are tempered with sardonic wit that leaves the listener wondering if Frear doesn’t secretly savor feeling bad. If there’s an opportunity to mock an uncaring universe, this is an opportunity Frear doesn’t let go to waste.
Dubbing his brand of post-alternative music “vocabulary rock”, Frear aims to shift the emphasis away from the man and towards the music and lyrics, while inviting the listener to commiserate together through this exploration of grief, depression and sadness.
“I try to put less emphasis on sticking to one type of music and more emphasis on crafting songs with strong lyrics. So I’m really just trying to write in a way that the music compliments the lyrical meaning. And I think that can make pinning down my musical style a little more difficult. Broadly speaking, I cut my teeth on the post-punk guitar records of the late 90s and early aughts and I think those influences still come through in the way I write music,” says Leon Frear.
“Musically, I grew up listening to a lot of punk and indie bands. And the biggest influences for me are people I can admire for the way they behave and the way they treat people. Vanessa from Pylon, punk icons like Roger Miller and Patti Smith. Or bands who have had honorable careers like Fugazi or REM. These are the artists who I strive the most to be like.”
On March 1, the Wild Rice album will be released on vinyl and will be available digitally from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Leon Frear
Recorded by Leon Frear in his Chicago home studio
Mastering by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Studios
Vocals and instruments performed by Leon, except
Faye Whitt – backup vocals on ‘Murder of Crows’
Front cover collage by Faye Whitt
Artist photos by Jeremy Glickstein
Also enjoy this fun animated video for “Secret Second Moon”, created by French artist Ronald Grandpey:
Leon Frear
Wild Rice
(Independent)
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Artist Links
Photo Credits: Jeremy Glickstein
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