Devin Leslie is an artist based out of Indianapolis, IN, and Love Like This is an absolute pleasure to stumble upon. This track beautifully fuses atmospheric musicality with sultry, emotional vocals, and deeply reflective lyrics. The backing track is striking, the storytelling equally attention grabbing and captivating. The vocal performance is so unusual, extremely unique and new, and genuinely compelling. Every line seems to reach into your head space and your soul.
This is what you would call brilliant song writing, and the added benefit is that behind the song, or alongside it perhaps, is this stunning piece of music – one that is creatively free, and flawlessly mixed and produced. The song is addictive, the right lines are repeated just enough times to make them really sink in, and the character expressed through Devin’s vocal performance is hugely enthralling. The whole thing is gorgeously stylish, and quite hypnotic.
“It used to be a sin to have a love like this, times have changed you know..”
Listen to it once, twice, ten times even – it doesn’t get old. It’s been a while since a track has had that effect, a certain perfect mix of elements whereby the music just has to be playing, loudly, over and over. The last few times it happened included Bon Iver’s Skinny Love and Tanita Tikaram’s Twist in My Sobriety – two completely different songs, genres, styles, yet with that same hypnotic magic, and perhaps the vocal presentation that almost whispers the meaning to you. In a strange way these songs feel like a personal gift from the artist. They really reach out and connect. Not least of all the fact that every lyric is unique and new – the concept, the idea; everything is intriguing, fresh, and hugely appealing. It feels like an honor to be one of the first to hear this.
Devin Leslie’s album of the same name Love Like This is set to be released in the latter half of 2016. His creativity, his musical ability and his writing, have been developing and morphing over the last few years, and this first release from the new project showcases just how unique and broad his creative window really is. He has defined his new sound as ‘Trap-Folk’, based upon his vast range of influences and musical preferences. It’s a release you won’t want to miss out on, this much we can promise.
Head over to Facebook to follow Devin Leslie and stay up to date. You can also find him on Twitter, Soundcloud, Tumblr, and Instagram. An immensely exciting new artist and multi-instrumentalist with a thirst for creative freedom. Exactly what we need right now. Get involved.
https://soundcloud.com/devinlesliemusic/lovelikethis
