Recommended Tracks: “Your Boyfriend Sucks,” “8 Ball,” “Guilty Pleasure Place”
Artists You Might Like: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams
Part of growing up is thinking that you’re going about it all wrong. The older you get, the more questions you have or the more you wonder if you’re on the right path – all because you are learning more about yourself and the world around you. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but it can definitely leave you feeling a little confused and maybe even a little lost at times. On HEXED, the debut album from Leah Mason, we hear how Leah navigated her transition from adolescence to adulthood and the confused or angry or upsetting feelings she had during that time. She might have felt like every move she made was a trap, or a part of some type of hex, but after hearing her take on so many different life experiences, we learn that maybe Leah wasn’t so cursed after all.
It is interesting to hear Leah’s take on different types of topics on this album, starting with relationships. She tells us how she really feels about a breakup on “Dime Bag,” a twinkling pop piano ballad that sounds supportive and empathetic one minute but resentful and cynical the next. We hear Leah speed up and slow down with the vocals as she sings, “Don’t worry / I’ll be alright / Don’t want you to worry” and “I say a breakup’s not a crime / And hope that I can heal in time / But fuck the reason that you left / And every perfect thing you said,” letting her conflicted emotions take over. Her emotions change on “Insomnia,” however, which follows. With this pop track, she is grateful for the love she has found. She reveals, “You’re my thought killer” and “I swear that I would’ve stayed a lost cause,” expressing how grateful she is to have this person in her life. Still, on “Midas Touch,” she feels as if she has a special gift of leading guys toward their soulmates. It’s a moody pop track with soft instrumentation and downcast lyrics that make it not too upbeat but also not too heavy. In her feelings, Leah shares, “Feels like I’m pulling on a wishbone / He gets the better half though / I’m just the stepping stone,” and realizes, “I’ll lead him to the rest of his life and I’ll / End up back where I was.” In the end, she wishes that she could be the right person for someone instead of passing off the possibility to the next girl.
With these songs, we can tell that Leah has dealt with some complicated situations, prompting her to share a bit of advice. Throughout HEXED, there are songs like “Kissing Friends” and “Your Boyfriend Sucks,” which tackle sticky situationships. On “Your Boyfriend Sucks,” for instance, Leah needs her friend to know that her boyfriend is the worst and that she could do better. It’s a girl power anthem, complete with lines such as, “I’m just being honest, yeah, your boyfriend sucks / Defends himself because he only cheated once / Hard to bite my tongue, yeah, when you call that love / Because once / Should be enough.” There’s also “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” a tender ballad that will lift you up when you’re feeling down. We get a more vulnerable side from Leah as she tells us, “I know that everything’s / Gonna be alright,” her delicate vocals doing their best to give her the strength to persevere. She knows that she has what it takes to come out on the other side, and we hear this idea manifest on “1st Prize Money.” It’s a determined and motivated synth-pop track that brings a bit of fun to the album, exploring the “famous” lifestyle that Leah will have when she makes it big. While others might not realize all she has to offer right now, she believes in herself. One day, they’ll be sorry, especially when they see her name across billboards and magazine covers.
One of the more thrilling aspects of the album is hearing Leah speak her truth, which results in a few vindictive songs like “Klepto,” “8 Ball,” and “Guilty Pleasure Place.” With “Klepto,” Leah tries to shut down a friend who is stealing her life. As she gives us details about this person who is buying the same clothes she has, getting her haircut, and going after guys she likes, the anxiety she feels is mirrored in the fast-paced energy of the track. Over these beats, she shares, “You! / Petty little thief from your hair down to my shoes / Steal my friends and use me as your muse,” her sassy tone implying that she is ready for this to end. On “8 Ball,” Leah decides to let the universe put an end to her drama instead of doing it herself. There’s more bite to this track than the others on HEXED, due to her wicked lyrics and tell-it-like-it-is attitude. The devilish pop of the track then morphs into innocent indie pop on “Guilty Pleasure Place,” evident in the complacent pop melodies and harmless guitar strums. It starts out safe enough, as Leah sings, “I’ve been meditating / Reading books mental health-related / To lower my BPM / To try to keep my anger in check,” but then she continues, “But sometimes / I let my mind slip / I take a quick trip down fantasy lane / To my guilty pleasure place / And I put some Nair in your shampoo / Replace your toothpaste with super glue / Sneak some poison in your perfume.” In the end, it caters to those who have a dark side but refrain from exposing it to others.
Two of Leah’s goals for HEXED are for it to recognize others out there who can relate and for it to help people get to know her better. After listening to the album, Leah has definitely achieved these goals. She doesn’t just deliver songs here that dive into the same problems one after the other. Rather, Leah tells us about what it’s like to be in love, to fall out of love, to watch others be in love, to feel petty, to live out fantasies – each track is unique. By exploring a wide variety of emotions and life experiences, she is reaching out to listeners who have similar thoughts and feelings. We also learn more about the things that make Leah cry or speak up, for instance, letting her fans see more of her personality. Overall, HEXED is a sweeping coming-of-age project that will convince listeners to lean into that feeling of being cursed – who knows, you might just find yourself in the process.
You can listen to HEXED on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
Keep up with Leah Mason: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Linktree
