Listening to music as a form of therapy is something that most of us have done. To either lift the spirits, to try and make sense of a personal crisis that we are facing, or to even find a sad song that we can empathise with, music is always there. For Canberra-based Nina Leo, an indie-rock singer/songwriter, creating music has been her therapy to find the answers she has been seeking. We are thrilled today to be premiering Nina’s debut EP, Fake It.
Having suffered from extreme anxiety at an early age, Nina has created music as an essential part of her healing process. A strong advocate for mental health, her songs address anxiety, self-doubt and the challenges she has faced.
She describes her influences as ranging from 70s and 80s icons such as Joan Jett, Fleetwood Mac and Suzi Quatro, through to modern indie songwriters including Angie McMahon, Alice Phoebe Lou and Maddy Jane. Listening to this EP, you can see these influences, with her own authentic voice imbued throughout. There’s a hint of Laura Marling as well, on the closing track, “Recover”
At five tracks long, it’s beautifully varied. The common thread through the songs is the telling of the story of Nina’s growth and challenges. I love the evocative guitars on these tracks. Whether it be the grungy opener in “Spellbound”, the gloriously defiant bluesy “Break The Renegade” or the acoustic “Recover”, they all have a great depth of emotion and just the right amount of attitude.
About the EP, Nina told the AU “Fake It is a concept album that shows themes like growth, mental health and independence. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences of the positives and negatives. The EP was named after one of my tracks. I see the album like that saying ‘fake it till you make it’. So it only felt right to name it ‘Fake It’. There’s always light at the end, no matter how long it takes you to get there, and that’s the vibe I wanted to bring. “
This is an uplifting collection of songs and a grand debut from Nina Leo. Her voice and guitars are filled with emotion, the lyrics embodying strength and courage. I’m hoping we get to see these played live soon.
Fake It will be released on Friday, 10th September 2021. You can pre-save the EP HERE
In the meantime, enjoy this exclusive sneak preview from an artist from whom we hope to hear much more as the year rolls on.
You can follow Nina Leo on Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify
