Just Leila releases debut record

Hailing from the Moroccan city of Casablanca, Just Leila has since been on a global journey with an artistic voyage that’s been just as adventurous. Blending together influences from jazz and French pop to the rhythmic qualities of Arabic melodies and soulful R&B rhythms, her diverse musical upbringing laid the foundation for a sound that offers something entirely new.

Fuelled by wanderlust, she sold her possessions to roam the globe with a suitcase filled not just with essentials but a treasure trove of musical instruments. Her nomadic existence found solace in the landscapes of Costa Rica, the cultural mosaic of Mexico and the pulsating energy of New York City. This global odyssey became the crucible for her artistic vision, inspiring her to create music that reflects her unique experiences.

Making her artistic entrance in 2019, she released her debut single titled “Nobody” with Mr. Morgan. Since then, she’s released seven singles over the years in the build up to her most ambitious release to date, bringing us her debut record just for me. Released today, to coincide with her birthday, this aptly titled collection represents a personal trip into an enchanting, cinematic and occasionally haunting space, crafted solely for herself. Every aspect of the EP, from writing and performing to production, is a manifestation of her own artistic output.

Opened by “bits of pieces,” soft percussive shots form a muted backdrop for Just Leila’s silky smooth vocal leads to thread a soulful scene. Joined by the gentle pulses of synth tones and subtly lively drum elements, bright brass pips inject a touch of vibrancy and colour, before the warm stabs of piano chords cut through the smokey sonic atmosphere, resulting in a laid back jam that perfectly showcases Just Leila’s originality and vocal panache.

“bébé?” sees Just Leila serve up a mellow retro pop sound with touches of jazz as she spins lyrics in French. Driven by the delicate patter of percussion and shaker, and a stripped back arrangement of plucked bass lines, piano plinks and velvet swells of brass, her bright vocal layers add playful brush-strokes to this chilled out sonic canvas.

“don’t be alarmed” starts with a hazy atmosphere of distant electric piano notes and rustling textures before Just Leila’s alluring voice enters above the clicking of drums. With a pulsing bass line and subtly haunting aesthetic, she stitches a melancholic fabric full of intricate instrumental elements and memorable alternative R&B-inspired vocal leads. Building to an enveloping finale where superb sax leads dance between her floating vocals and backing vocals, it reaches a mesmeric crescendo of layered melodies and grooving rhythm.

Other highlights on the record include songs like “desert song,” opened by the rhythmic hum of vocalisations as the soft punch of drums build up alongside Just Leila’s haunting lead lines. Crafting a moody soundscape with minimalist piano leads and a marching beat, the song delivers a brooding sound that captures the depth of her creativity and experimental spirit.

The record closes with the title track “just for me,” starting off an immersive intro that perfectly pairs the dreamy and intense as stretching vocal lines dance out Eastern-inspired lines. Sparse piano notes and hushed sonic tones add subtle backing to the vocal-focused piece that sees Just Leila delivers a spoken-word piece about her inner thoughts as an artist, providing a fascinating and intimate window into her own perspective as a truly unique artist.

Commenting on the release, she shares, “just for me is like a creative mantra of sorts, something I needed for myself in order to protect my creativity and keep it sacredly mine until I was ready to share it out. I wanted to gift myself this safe space, this blank canvas, so I could really open up.”

Listen to just for me below