Newcastle singer-songwriter Ben Leece released his debut album, No Wonder the World is Exhausted, just over a year ago, and won many fans with his particular way of telling stories and looking at the world. Leece is an artist who is not confined by musical style or genre – rather, he applies what is best for the song. He has, however, found a warm welcome within the Australian country music community, forming strong connections with several artists, including Melbourne band Georgia State Line, who appear on his new single, ‘Paper Thin’, alongside Leece’s band, Left of the Dial.
Leece describes ‘Paper Thin’ as a love letter to the musical community that he has found himself in. It’s essentially an uplifting song, even though a certain weariness can be detected in Leece’s voice – yet that is what gives the message of the song its context, and its greater meaning, because it doesn’t feature Leece asking for support but, rather, offering it.
‘It’s been a rough year, both personally and for this greater musical community,’ Leece says. ‘”Paper Thin”‘ is an affirmation to be there for the people that have been there for me.’
It’s also an affirmation that working, creating, keeping on going can be a balm. With an album as good as his Leece would have been justified in waiting a while to release new music, but he hasn’t. ‘Paper Thin’ is an offering to his community but also to listeners, because as those who love music know, there is reassurance and comfort to be found in songs, and the best songs are those whose creators understand that.
Listen on:
Apple Music | iTunes | Spotify
Ben Leece and Left of the Dial, with Georgia State Line, are playing on the following dates:
November 8 / Australian Music Week / Cronulla NSW
November 9 / Tamworth Hotel / Tamworth NSW
November 10 / Grand Junction Hotel / Maitland NSW