Odie Leigh never considered herself a musician until her roommates made a bet during the pandemic: whoever recorded a song that went viral first would win. Although she didn’t see herself as a serious contender, Leigh’s interest was piqued and she took it upon herself to post, uploading her best to TikTok and racking up views. Four years later, she’s matured into a full-fledged musician and is gearing up to release her fittingly personal, no-frills album, The Last Man. Carrier pigeon.
“I wouldn’t say there’s ever really an intention. I write songs for myself, in the moment,” she confirms when asked about the emotional aim of the set, pushing aside assumed poetics in favour of raw and unabashed honesty that flows through like the diary entries of a twenty-something feeling the full impact of love. “And I find it hard not to romanticise every man I meet,” Leigh sings on “A Good Thing”, leaning into the fleeting feelings that she says make this album a distinct time marker, while also using the opener as a sonic thread of where she’s been and where she wants to go with her music.
“I feel like ‘A Good Thing’ serves as an introduction to the rest of the album. It introduces the listener to my new sound, which goes from acoustic to that kind of late ’90s and early 2000s girl rock.” True to her word Carrier pigeon begins with Leigh’s acoustic sounds and is enhanced by the additional instrumentation of a full band, reflecting her own experience as an aspiring artist. “I made folk music because I only had a guitar. I made folk music because I never expected to be in a position where I would have access to drums, a proper studio, bass players and really good guitar players,” she confirms.
Despite the aforementioned change, there is one constant that still rings true: Leigh’s lyrical truth-telling. “All of these songs were written over the course of a relationship and they’re all very personal, very honest and very in the moment. And that’s something that my music has always been. I’ve always just expressed a very specific moment that I’m experiencing at the time and this album is no different in that respect.”
Shortly before Carrier pigeonThe artist, who has already taken part in the prestigious Newport Folk Festival, sighs and admits that her album will be released in July. “I’m really nervous and scared because I don’t know what people are going to think.” She lets her words sink in and stays on her honest path: “So it’s been difficult because I don’t want anyone to think I’m weak because I’m writing an album about a boy. I think I’ll be perceived as stronger if I’m seen as single, strong and independent.”
