Musical medicine is the best cure for an emotional breakup. As a woman, sometimes nothing assists with coping more than good music from a badass woman. This is exactly what Leo Kidd delivers on her debut EP Marion with a blend of powerhouse vocals and charging piano chords. Each song feels full of heartbreak, but also strength and the boldness to move on.
The EP opens with a simple piano melody quickly followed by a steady beat and the theatrical vocals of Leo Kidd in “Fool Me Once”. The song tells the relatable story of learning the true colors of a former mate as the start of the chorus poses the questions, “Who do you think you are?/ What happened to the man I knew?” What makes this song great, from a storytelling standpoint, is the strength of the female character. She is not pleading, but instead asserting confidence with lines such as “Why can’t you see I’m the baddest bitch you’ll ever know.”
Unfortunately, no matter how sure of a decision one may be, sadness inevitably follows. For fans of Leo Kidd, “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone No More” may sound familiar as it was released on SoundCloud about a year ago. As the title suggests, the song plays through the personal regrets and apologies after ending a relationship. Again, the piece opens with a beautiful piano line followed by vocal pureness. Everything is calm and peaceful at first, but builds in intensity with each verse as it moves into the bridge, “if you see me up across the street/ pray to God you’ll say something/if I see you ever hold a hand/ I’ll try my damn best to understand” before closing out with a rendition of the chorus.
Time eventually passes in this love story and the characters find themselves at a crossroad. Lines such as “it’s good to see your face/it feels a little different now” and “Do you like my bleached out hair?/ Do you like my tar black clothes?” perfectly capture the awkwardness and pain of transitioning out of love. Musically, “Before I Go” is the most developed song on the EP. Leo Kidd finally shows off the range of her vocals, showcasing her beautiful lower register.
The theme of the darkness continues with “Black Queen”. The song starts out in pity with the line “she’s giving up on love again in her black dream”, and describing herself as the Black Queen who “dresses in black cause I’m always mourning.” As the bridge evolves, a strong electric guitar strums in. It’s a nice to hear the vocals over more instrumentals as the backing helps Leo Kidd’s voice build emotion.
“Black Queen” comes to such a subtle end that it seamlessly blends into the final piece, “Wynwood”. The melody is fairly simple and repetitive, but the background vocals give the tune an optimistic energy. Even though the lyrics of the song are quite dark, like most of the EP, the tone of the piece is the most uplifting, leaving broken hearts with a bit of hope and redemption.