Leif Vollebekk. Toronto 2025.
How can I encapsulate my level of inquiry into your flow, and into your ability to have drawn each work perfectly out from nothing and into the world unscathed by form or structure? I am both surprised and not at the two emergencies that happened during your show at Massey Hall - you deep in the throes of throwing sound around - I mean what most tamest show could two people pass out at? The first you stopped the music and waved your light “emergency” and the crowd over there separated - it was resolved. Then someone else passed out ahaha I couldn’t believe it. And it’s not funny, being unwell in a large crowd is scary. It happened to me when I was underage at a Ben folds show - I lost up from down and they shone a medical light in my face - - but I was not okay until this hippie came and parted the crew of care takers and locked eyes with me. She said “ you’re okay “. And something changed. And I was. Okay. I came back to balance.
that is the same effect your music has on my soul.
I can only guess that the depths of your giving, this story driven, soulful plucking music, went down too far into a mind who had not as strong a grip on their magic. You shifted someone’s gravity. Twice… it does make me laugh.
long blue light. A songwriters musician. You make me feel safe, everytime.
He is a musician that has created work that generates more truthful work. Describing the human condition, exposing vulnerability in such poetic ways that it inspires equal expression. I’m not sure how to describe exactly this magic touch, a playful use of instruments in jazzy and gentle ways, so muted then so building, to paint a spirit aurally, explaining through sound what lies between the lines - it says what the thoughtful vocal delivery of beautiful and tactile imagery leaves to mystery. Combined, the careful playing of guitar, pianos, this symphony of sound - with the layman’s profundity of his raw and emotional exposé lyrics - it is a triumph of songwriting - a feat of the sonic storyteller. we are not worthy xoxo
A few things to check out on this artist if you aren’t familiar, are the videos https://youtu.be/LjAqGhmlPNY?si=ygpyh_b3guM3YoUO
He is as good live as the recorded versions. If not better for the humour between, and occasional background story. Breaking out in I beleive a Shania Twain cover mid performance is not off the table - just an artist you’d kick it with.
This cover of Read My Mind by the killers. I swear he wrote a whole new version yet it’s the same skeleton and words. https://youtu.be/sjsnqO44IV0?si=YTx9nA9NnyafYpQg
And if you’re a nerd and totally into this _ it’s the musicianship and communication - even with no eye contact, it’s the subtle movements, it’s the strings so expertly synchronized with a vocal hum, a chorus that seems surprising even to the band, it’s the unit, performing as a breathing whole here - Leif in the centre is a force magnetic and soft, self-assured and promising - and these songs deliver…
