Singer-songwriter and actress Leah Jane grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and is now based in Toronto. Her music draws on folk and alt-pop, with influences including Maggie Rogers, Lizzy McAlpine and Joni Mitchell. Following her 2024 debut project, Nottingham Drive, she is preparing a new album, Sugar, Butter, Elbow Grease.
Writing it helped her make sense of difficult relationships, struggles with boundaries and years spent seeking validation. Collaborator and manager Alex Biro encouraged her to put those experiences into songs.
“Writing became my therapy, my outlet, and my solace,” she says. On the title track and recent single “Girl, You’re Fine”, she considers the effort involved in looking after yourself, and the people who help you do it.
What’s the story behind SUGAR, BUTTER, ELBOW GREASE, and what did making this album allow you to explore that you hadn’t been able to before?
This album couldn’t have been made at any other time, mainly because of the place I was in in my life. I had been experiencing some pretty low days; working bad jobs and holding on to friendships and relationships that weren’t good for me. I was drinking a lot and finding myself crying alone on the walk home from the bar, just wanting to disappear. Everything around me had become quite toxic, and I realized I had to be the one to change that.
I met Alex Biro toward the tail end of that journey, and he really believed in me and pushed me to write. Writing became my therapy, my outlet, and my solace. It helped me unpack a couple of difficult years spent seeking validation, struggling with boundaries, and trying to understand what kind of life I actually wanted to build.
SUGAR, BUTTER, ELBOW GREASE allowed me to finally explore those experiences, grieve those relationships, and move forward. It also helped me understand, and forgive, the parts of myself I had carried a lot of shame around.
Starting something new can be intimidating, even when you already have an established career. How have you dealt with the pressure of putting yourself out there as a solo artist?
I have a really supportive, grounding family and a great group of friends. I also try to remind myself that I’m a human being first. I want to enjoy the process as much as possible and really take it all in.
As scary and uncertain as this industry can be, I know I have those people and that sense of perspective to lean on when I get in my own head or something doesn’t go as planned. I also have the best team ever. They encourage me and advocate for me no matter what, and we have a relationship built on genuine trust and mutual respect. Having that kind of support makes it much easier to be brave.
What do you know about being an artist now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out?
The business side of the “music business” is still a lot to wrap my head around. I’m always learning, and, like I said, I have a great team who are also fantastic, caring mentors.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how powerful social media can be in getting music to people’s ears—more ears than I ever could have imagined. I was always posting online, and I loved doing photoshoots in 2016, don’t get me wrong, but today’s algorithm is a completely different beast. If I could go back, I would tell myself to start posting the way I do now much sooner.
It has been an amazing skill to develop. It can be tiring and annoying sometimes, but it’s so worth it when it helps someone discover and connect with the music.
What’s your best advice for someone who is just starting to make their way in the music industry?
Find your people and stay open. Trust the process and remember to breathe. That’s advice I still have to give myself, too.
It’s hard, but you have to believe that things will work out, even if they don’t unfold exactly the way you imagined. Listen, stay curious, and be open to learning from the people and experiences around you.
What’s your favourite part of making music, and what’s your least favourite part?
Writing and singing are my favourite parts, the actual music side of making music. My least favourite part right now is trying to balance all the other jobs and roles a musician is expected to take on. Even then, though, I try to find the fun in it.
What are you listening to at the moment, and is there an artist you think more people should know about?
I love, love, love Rachel Chinouriri. She had me hooked with her first album, and I love her newest release too. “Broken Chair” is such a banger. I also just saw Chloe Moriondo live and she was incredible.
If SBEG were part of a playlist, what other tracks would you put alongside it?
“Far Side Banks of Jordan” by Johnny and June, “Beggin’ for Rain” by Maggie Rogers, and “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae.
How do you unwind and switch off when you’re not making music?
I love binge-watching TV. Right now, it’s Gilmore Girls, and before that it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love those nostalgic shows so much. <3
