There’s Always Sunshine After The Rain

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Frustration is anger creeping towards an outlet. For the past 18 months, billions of people worldwide have missed out on personal milestones, promotions, security and more. Doing everything right and losing what you worked for is a hard pill to swallow. You can hear the frustration in Kalliope’s voice when speaking on how Australia’s strict lockdowns harmed their momentum. For Just A Leo, Sick Of All The Rain is more than a debut EP. It’s a funnel end outlet to express their frustration.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”Very.” The group said in unison when speaking on their hardships to reach this point.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A central theme of the EP is the idea that you have control over certain aspects of your life and can make them better. The journey from Zenith Moon to Just A Leo debut project was treacherous. Despite getting devoured by an industry that chews up and spits out talent like a child tricked into eating their vegetables can weigh heavy on the mind. To stop and lick your wounds would be reasonable at first but irresponsible soon after. In the music industry, you have to keep running when everything aches. Thinking of what’s to come while running towards your dreams hurts. It’s not any different than when Jeff Hardy faced The Undertaker in a Table Ladders and Chairs match for the world championship. Agonizing with each step on the ladder for the gold, to be a household name.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]But what if your success is dependent on creating a new identity? To act as if your prior existence would go unnoticed by both the human eye and the algorithm? They have adopted a new name and sound but expose the same faces, which carries a sense of familiarity that will dictate their upcoming success. What happens if you add a global pandemic into the mix?[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9qSTTb06E”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During those three months of normalcy, the group went straight to work. The group immediately started shooting live performances for each song in one sitting and planning and shooting upcoming music videos. Thanks to a loophole that allowed workers to travel if their job calls for it, Jarrah, the band sound engineer, went to each member’s home to record elements for the project separately. The always optimistic quartet didn’t let their circumstances shape their outcome. A situation littered with potholes was finely stitched with silver linings that went unnoticed.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The drums, whose presence hovers over throughout the project like a thunderstorm, were churned out like a package from an amazon warehouse in one day. Matt, the band’s guitarist, recorded his version apart from the group. Jarrah added in the keys and the synths as he saw fit once all of the musical elements came in. Soon after, the vocals were laid down over a single weekend. Looking back at the experience, Kalliope explains how that time together helped her decide how exactly she wanted her voice to sound.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”It gave us more time to figure out what we wanted,” Kalliope said. “Helped me understand the intricacies of our songs. Something I probably wouldn’t have noticed.”[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If everything leading up to release felt unorthodox, that’s because it was. The landscape changed, forcing Just A Leo to adapt, while bruised from their horrid 2020. The group understood that quality music would be essential to their rise, but what’s the right way to market it? It’s too easy to get lost in the shuffle with the saturation of music today, so how can we stand out? That’s where the live rendition comes in. At first glance, their lack of visual content on their social media pages is surprising to me. Fans engage with their eyes first and their ears second, and not catering enough is risky in itself.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”27125″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once the messaging of their marketing went through, it was time to discuss the music itself. Sick Of All The Rain covers a wide range of emotions and personal triumphs for a group riddled with obstacles. The mixing of each instrument reflects the personality of the individual. The drums carried themselves as the showman. Electric snares that boom with the power of Zeus, with the snares lingering like thunder. The strings are subtle, filling out the gaps from the power of the drums with a softer touch. The keys and synths are a bit more aggressive, playing the role of an offscreen manipulator. Kalliope’s voice brings it all together with bass and grace.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When asked about the inspiration behind the title track, Kalliope opens up about the day that started with hate. She peered through her window and lamented the rain for ruining her morning.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”I even looked at the sun and said ‘fuck you, rain,’” Kalliope said.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From there, things got political. She bemoaned the selfishness of their neighbors and the fake medical experts. The idea that people are willing to die for their country but won’t put on a mask for their neighbor befuddles her. Two years ago, Australians displayed unity during the Black Summer Bushfires. Now it’s a nation divided due to their mask and lockdown mandates. Add on a record-breaking earthquake, large anti-vax demonstrations during the same time people were getting vaccinated, and the anger exploded. Their current situation is weighing on them mentally.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For those 15 minutes, the frustration became palpable. I felt it in every sigh, every expletive, every inflection change signaled a sickness of it all. It’s a relatable feeling. Doing everything right so things return to normal, yet normalcy never arrives. Just A Leo is grateful that their biggest problem is getting their music out and not being about to shoot videos. Moments of vulnerability show when you have no control of the forces outside of your home.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”27270″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]But that’s how music swoops in and takes off our feet. After the last stroke of her pain, Kalliope looked at the rain once again. There was no more anger, no more malice towards the thing she couldn’t control. It was acceptance of what her situation is and the ways to succeed despite it.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This entire journey to get to this point was stressful. Signed and dropped by a label in the same year, with Just A Leo having to rebrand their public image and marketing that change on their own. Creating a cohesive project during a global pandemic, unable to work together in a studio. The cost of their slow drip ideology of releasing content. Unclear whether their single will even make it on a Spotify playlist. So much unknown ahead of them, but Just A Leo relishes the challenge. Ideas are prevalent, but action is critical. Their second EP is currently being mixed, and a third one is in its beginning stages. They understand they need to do more, and the second EP will look at what they can change for the better.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When closing the interview, I asked Just A Leo what their most significant takeaway from this journey is and what they want listeners to take away from this interview and the project. Improvement once again popped up. To be a better musician, be a better friend, a better person, a better romantic partner, and be willing to take the journey that’s in front of you. But also, how much the band appreciates the fans for staying with through this journey. As they continue to find their footing, the support from fans keeps them balanced between all the stumbles.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”We appreciate the shit out of you,” Matthew said. “You’re the fucking best.”[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I guess, in the end, the rain was alright.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://open.spotify.com/album/3bnZNjXOakOWSbjfGVeyIf?si=RA3H3MxXQsWIsXRVtb_Isg[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]