My Top Five Tracks - Sara Leanne
Flex Admin
1 hour ago
2 min read
Ask Sara Leanne who shaped her as a songwriter and you'll get an unlikely mix…
From Carole King and Joni Mitchell for the craft, to Tedeschi Trucks Band and Bros. Landreth for the grit.
It's an odd combination on paper, but spend ten minutes with her debut EP, Uprooted - out now and built around family, love, friendship and music - and it makes total sense.
Ahead of the release, Sara picks five tracks that map out exactly where her sound comes from.
I Can’t Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Heartbreaking, simple. Hits all the best notes/chords - it makes you yearn, you can’t help but feel it deep in your gut. Raw, authentic, timeless.
Midnight in Harlem - Tedeschi Trucks Band
Heard this song a few years ago and fell in love with the vibe, the musicians, everything really. It’s been a huge inspiration for me and my sound as an artist, especially the band songs - I just want everyone to play honestly and authentically, and to be a huge part of the sound as well as my vocals.
Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Fairport Convention / Eva Cassidy
Incredible songwriting that stands up on its own. I also adore singing this song - it feels so natural and understated yet you can fully let go at the same time - you can feel that it’s well written even in your own voice.
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
Written when she was 23 years old… and yet the lyrics are so incredibly mature and poetic. Every version of it - acoustic, orchestral etc. - is so beautiful and brings it to life in a new way.
Rein Me In - Sam Fender / Olivia Dean
It’s not the genre I write in, but as someone who tends to ignore the charts for fear of the music being inauthentic and all centred around that immediate dopamine hit, rather than being fuelled with love and time and artistry, these artists are (imo) everything that’s good with music today. The song makes me feel so good, and it’s amazingly written, produced and performed. The artists are stunning musicians and there’s soul in their delivery and writing. It’s accessible. Such a fan of this song and these artists.
