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About Leah Martel

Having spent her formative years hard at work training to be a prolific writer, musician, performer, actor, dancer, activist and cycling through various superpowers via extensive maladaptive daydreaming, Leah Martel has nothing much to say for herself on paper. Against the better judgement of both family and friends she decided to go to school for music, not as a young, impressive prodigy but, as a mature (debatable) student. It was during these years of overwhelming insecurity and deepening poverty that Leah decided she would take the music she had created to be the soundtrack to this experience and release it. Let’s all welcome Leah Martel to existence.

ABOUT THE SONG: “What Doesn’t Make Me Stronger” released on January 16, 2024

Funnily enough I sat down to write this sad song at a point in my life where, from the outside, everything seemed to be going fine for the first time in a long time. I had just graduated, was in a wonderful new relationship, had started a new job in my new field of work and there was no drama. But I felt horrible. I was riddled with worry and anxiety and a sense of doom. Previous to this there had always been a reason for those feelings, I had always been going through a difficult relationship, job, living situation, etc. and I realized that, even with those troubles gone, they left a mark on me. Even with all the monsters dead a part of them lived inside of me now. I was just at the start of a mental health journey now and, for the first time, facing questions like, ‘can I actually overcome this or am I broken forever?’ I knew one thing only, I was determined to keep trying no matter what I had to face and that felt like a good thing, but also an ominous thing. Like I might just have to go through a lot more pain first before actually feeling better.  

Of all the songs I’ve recorded so far this one felt like a truly special moment in the studio. I was lucky enough to have the best pop and country guitar players I’ve ever met on this track. When we did the electric guitar and lap steel solos I got shivers. My drummer also pulled out the coolest percussion instruments, like all these different shaker pods and balls and it just added the coolest textures. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many different instruments on a song before and it really became more than I ever envisioned in the best way possible.
Leah Martel

Credits:
Leah Martel – Music and lyrics, Vocals, Photography, Graphic design
Yeri Lim – Piano
Ashwin Krishnan – Keyboard(Organ)
Alex George – Violin
Jesse Martel – Acoustic guitar
Jesse Jodouin – Electric guitar
Dexter Frank – Lap steel guitar
Cole Jodouin – Bass guitar
Brandon pellatt – Drums, Tambourine, Shakers, Percussion
Matthew Manifould – Recording engineer, Mixing engineer
Reuben Ghose – Mastering engineer
Recorded at Gordon Wragg Recording Studios

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For any more information on the artist, email pr@fromthestrait.com

Photos and Cover Art

Streaming and Social Links