Brooklyn – Leo Stannard is a UK-based musical mastermind who has yet to make waves with a global audience. Though incognito…for now, this 19-year-old wunderkind is clearly slated for greatness. Armed with sonic architecture as strong as acts twice his age, this musician is destined to break out of the starting gates with tidal force.
Leo Stannard is currently unsigned, which stands as one of the great and many unanswerable questions of the universe. Surely, this won’t be the case for long. With one EP under his belt and another on deck, Stannard has cleverly baited his audience with a handful of tracks from his forthcoming endeavor. From what we’ve heard of the Notions EP so far, we’re wholly intrigued.
Stannard’s musical ability was ingrained from a young age, and dates back to his upbringing in the small village of Radgale, Leicester. Beginning with classical guitar lessons at the age of 9, this yet young artist took instruction from heavyweight musicians such as John Martyn, John Butler Trio and Ben Howard. Though taught by some majorly talented guitarists, Stannard somehow emerged with his own particular flair. The technique that Stannard brings to bear is honed, but his finished product reflects the reckless abandon of youthful experimentalism.
Stannard’s first release was the Odyssey EP, which surfaced in 2013. “Eliza” was the first cut from this budding musician’s forthcoming EP, and the song is a cannonball of sentimentality. The most recent track to surface was “Why Don’t We.” Jangly, upbeat, saucy and polished, this song is seemingly chiseled out of crystal. Peppered with emboldened horn accompaniments, it is wistful without veering too far down a sappy singer-songwriter black hole. Simply put, “Why Don’t We” is an elite preview of what’s surely shaping up to be a sterling compilation.
Shortly after the Odyssey EP’s release, Stannard debuted his work via The Mahogany Sessions. He then garnered a healthy dose of domestic attention, particularly for his evocative cover of Alt-J’s “Tessellate.” Stannard’s take on the track escalates the jam to inventive acoustic summits. The video itself captures Stannard in a woodland oasis, with a cast of musical comrades by his side and a xylophone to boot. But Stannard’s acoustic guitar work, coupled with his powerful harmonizing, is the most pivotal touch point to grace the recording.
An explosive amount of heart lies at the core of everything Stannard has offered up to date. A similar drive is apparent in Local Native’s work, if it were necessary to draw comparisons. Grounded in downbeat, acoustic melodies, both acts share a capacity to ignite recordings with unbridled passion. Drive of this caliber is near impossible to capture in a critical review. But let’s just say it’s a knockout from first listen.
A word to the wise: familiarize yourself with this artist’s work as quickly as is humanly possible. Shortly after pressing play, Stannard’s work will undoubtedly cement an immovable place in your daily playlists. Notions drops on the first of October. So until then, revel in “Why Don’t We” and keep a keen ear to the ground for news of an international tour.
Liz Rowley
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