The hook comes early. Chorus up front, no filler, as if she's cutting straight to the point. Leah McFetridge says the weddings and corporate gig circuit drilled that into her.
“I think performing in so many different settings taught me how important dynamics are. When you’re responsible for creating the vibe, but then also trying to keep people engaged throughout a song or a set, you learn very quickly when to pull people in and when to let a song really open up.
With Feeling Grown, the chorus hook being the first thing you hear was really important because we were more focused on creating space in the verses for the story in the lyrics. This track is the turning point in the EP emotionally and the whole thing is about feeling grounded, so the track needed to give off that feeling. I love songs that feel effortless but still take you on a trip, so a lot of the arrangement choices came from that live mindset.”
She is fussy about harmonies and which ones make the cut. Award winning songwriter and producer, Calvin Bennett keeps her honest.
“You know what, I always go a little overboard with the harmony arrangement so I’m very thankful to work with someone like Calvin Bennett who can hear all that and know exactly what needs to stay and what needs to go. Something we actually almost didn’t put in was the very final line of the song, the “Feeling Grown” which follows that ascending pentatonic riff, but I’m so so glad we did. That’s the line that replays in my head every single time I hear or see the title of the song now.”
Local Sounds asked Leah how the Perth music scene may have shaped her sound.
“I think because we're a little removed from the bigger music hubs, there's less pressure to chase whatever trend is happening at the time and more freedom to develop your own voice.
I've been lucky to be surrounded by musicians who are constantly creating, collaborating and pushing themselves so I’ve always felt supported by the friends I have here. That's definitely encouraged me to trust my instincts as a songwriter. Personally, my writing habits are usually very solitary, I love putting on my headphones and getting lost in what I’m creating but I also treasure getting to work with other people. When I collaborate, we always end up making something exciting because there are so many ideas being thrown around that I never would have tried on my own, and I love the challenge of being pushed out of my comfort zone.”
Feeling Grown has this beautiful, R&B-pop confidence defined by a specific period in Leah's life.
“The song came from a moment where I felt unusually calm and certain about who I was and where I was heading, and we wanted the production to reflect that feeling. I actually created like 5 or 6 totally different demos for this song before I landed on the final idea, I think my problem was making something that truly fit the feeling behind what I was trying to say.
Rather than building something big and dramatic, Calvin and I focused on creating a sense of space and movement. A lot of the conversations in the studio were less about adding things and more about asking whether something was actually necessary. If it didn't serve the feeling of quiet self-assurance, it didn't stay.”
The EP, Landing, lines up like chapters. Leah maps it clearly for us, which makes discovering her previous releases ("Reality Check" & "Only Sometimes") even more interesting.
“I've always thought of Landing as a story about learning to trust yourself.
"Reality Check" starts from a place of uncertainty and questioning everything. "Only Sometimes" explores those moments where confidence comes and goes, and "Feeling Grown" is the first glimpse of what happens when you stop waiting for permission to believe in yourself.
The two unreleased songs help complete that trip by looking at how I let go of relationships and expectations that no longer fit, while the other is about finding joy in the present moment and within myself instead of constantly chasing what's next. By the end of the EP, the destination isn't perfection, it's acceptance. That's really what Landing means to me.”
The WA music scene keeps punching above its weight with great music continuing to be released. Leah would love to see the scene and its artists promoted more heavily. And she has one dream collab locked in.
“Western Australia has an incredible amount of talent, and I think we're seeing more artists confidently building careers from Perth and supporting one another, which is really exciting.
At the same time, if you're working in pop and R&B, it can still feel like moving east is the natural next step if you want to access a larger network and more opportunities. I think that's a real shame because we have so many world-class artists here. A lot of my friends work as hard as they can in WA before eventually relocating, not because they want to leave, but because that's where the opportunities often lead them there. I'd love to see the industry continue investing in artists here so more people can build sustainable careers without feeling like they have to move away to take the next step.
As for collaborations, there are so many incredible artists and producers here in WA, but I literally can’t not say Jafunk. I know he’s not local, but he’s originally from Perth and the funky disco vibes are just unmatched for me! I love his work and I use his samples all the time when I’m working on new ideas. Collaborating with him would be a bit of a full-circle moment for me.”
“The next big focus for me is translating the world of the EP into an even bigger live experience.
I've spent years performing, but over the last couple of years I've been developing a live looping show that allows me to build songs in real time on stage. It's become a huge part of my identity as a performer, and I'm excited to keep expanding what's possible with it.
Beyond that, I want to keep writing as much as possible, releasing music more consistently and continue refining my sound. Landing feels like the beginning of something rather than the finish line, which is a really exciting place to be.”
Leah's live looping setup is usually a completely raw, one-person show, but she sometimes gives a "looping duo" experience that brings a live drummer into the mix. Is this what Leah McFetridge's fans expect to see more of?
“I love this question! The looping show is normally just me, which means the audience gets to see every layer being built from scratch and I find there's something really intimate and exciting about that. Adding a drummer changes the energy completely. Suddenly there's this extra level of interaction and spontaneity, and the songs feel bigger without losing the live looping element that makes the show unique. Plus I love that I get to open up my world and we get to create something new together.
I’m still working on my solo show but you can definitely expect to see more of those expanded arrangements as the project grows… maybe even with more than just a drummer… you’ll have to stay tuned to find out! There’s honestly just so many possibilities for the show, and I’m super excited to collaborate with other artists and musicians to see where it ends up.”
Leah McFetridge on Local Sounds
https://localsounds.com.au/artist/leah-mcfetridge
SoundVerge Editorial
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