Leah Sinclair Has The ‘Lock & Key’ & Interview
Leah Sinclair grew up surrounded by music – though she came from a family of scientists, she always gravitated toward it. Her childhood was soundtracked by her parents’ record collection and the orchestral scores of her years as a ballet dancer. Her grandmother, a classically trained musician, was an early and lasting presence, instilling in Sinclair a deep feeling for strings that runs through every track of her debut EP Lock & Key, which is out now.
Based in New York City, Sinclair began translating a lifelong pull toward performance into something tangible: vocal lessons, open mics, and eventually her own original music. Having written songs and lyrics for years without the tools to produce them, she picked up the omnichord and started composing in her bedroom, then partnered with her friend and fellow artist Tarune to produce. The result is an EP that moves fluidly between moods, orchestral strings layered with drum and bass, synths that shimmer and drift. Inspirations for Lock & Key range from Lana Del Rey to PinkPantheress to Final Fantasy.
Lyrically, Lock & Key is a collection of things Sinclair was afraid to say out loud, about desire, confusion, the strange grief of a situationship, the weight of connection. Each song is drawn from direct personal memory: “Aries Venus” and “Something Better” emerge from the slow unraveling of a friendship turned complicated romance, while “Light” and “Lock and Key” reach further back. Together, they form a small, honest world — locked away until now. Also, check out our interview below with Leah Sinclair as she gives TGR more an insider about the music, her, and more
01. If you could describe your musical sound in just three words what would they be and
why?
This is hard! I would say eclectic, multi-faceted, and ethereal. I’ve never been someone who
could be boxed into something easily, whether it was my style, my personality, my interests etc.
I’ve always been a lot of things at once and very nuanced. I think my music reflects that too. It’s
a combination of sounds that I have heard and put in my pocket over the years and then threw
in a pot and hoped it worked. I grew up listening to a lot of classical music since I was a ballet
dancer, and my grandma played the piano and organ, so I incorporate a lot of strings and synth
organs in my music. I also listen to a lot of 90’s alt pop and trip hop, so there are influences from
that. I also love and grew up listening to a lot of modern pop, so I implement that as well. So
many other musical influences have found their way into my music, and I don’t think I’ll ever just
sound like one thing.
02. Is there a sense of “pushing back against societal norms” in your music? In tower
words, do you attempt to bring out emotions that are usually hidden away?
I definitely think that I’m pushing back against the norm. I have a lot to say, and not all of it will
be a cookie-cutter statement that may feel “safe” or “comfortable” to say, but I acknowledge that
the only way we can have real conversations is if someone’s willing to be honest. And I want to
be that person. I don’t want to put on an act or pretend to be someone or something that I’m not.
I’d rather be honest in my truth and myself.
03. What do you hope fans get out of your brand new single ‘Aries Venus’?
I hope there is a bridge of connection between us from my new song. Even if it’s just one lyric,
or one word, that they connect to. Or even if it’s just the instrumental that they feel connected to
and it makes them want to move and dance, then I feel like my job is done. It was really fun to
make so I hope the song is also fun for them to listen to!
04. This track is said to be born out of a failed situationship. More and more fans relate to
this notion every day, so was this a conscious thing during production or was it more
deeply personal for you?
It was definitely something that was deeply personal for me, rather than aiming for something
relatable. I just wanted to speak on and create a song that was personal to me and let my truth
connect with other people’s truths, rather than seeking out that connection directly. I’ve always
been conscious of that when making my music, that it’s not about what I think other people want
to hear or will relate to, but rather building that connection simply through my own unbashful
honesty and vulnerability.
05. How’d you find the inspiration for this track so quickly that you decided to write it in
just one night?
The inspiration really came to me rather than me finding it. I was honestly just thinking and
lamenting about the situation when some of the lyrics kinda started forming in my head, so I
decided to pull out my Omnichord and play around until I started hitting on something that really
felt connected. From there, the song just started unraveling and revealing itself to me.
06. What was it like working with your friend and fellow NYC based artist Tarune?
He’s absolutely incredible. He’s someone who knows how to take what’s in my head and bring it
to life. From our musical partnership, we’ve also gained a really great friendship, so whenever
we’re in the studio we just have lots of fun. He’s always teaching me things and I’ve learned so
much about my craft and even myself, working with him. I’m so grateful that he answered my
Instagram DM asking to work with him!
07. How excited are you for fans to finally hear your new EP ‘Lock and Key’? Can you tell
us a little more of what to expect from your debut EP out August 21st?
I’m bursting at the seams with excitement! I’ve been toying around with my sound so much
since I started making music, and I feel like this EP is really rooted in what my sound is. It feels
like such a combination of the genres and sounds that I like and have explored in the past, but
all fused into one thing. The EP really explores a lot of things in the world of relationships, but all
from a very different perspective.