Leah Turner - 'Take The Keys'

Californian country singer-songwriter Leah Turner signed to Columbia Nashville in July 2013 and has recently released her debut single Take The Keys. The track is already on iTunes in the US and internationally and will release to American country radio on 7th October. As well as signing for Columbia Records in July, Leah has also signed with Morris Artists Management whose clients include Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride and Jake Owen.

Leah lists her earliest music taste as artists from Paul Overstreet, Chris Ledoux, George Strait and Loretta Lynn to Trisha Yearwood, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson and she began writing songs when she was six years old. After getting the chance to sing in front of Kenny Loggins, he suggested she move to LA where she was able to work with celebrated producer Humberto Gatica. Five years later she says of the move to Nashville that "I stopped trying to pull out my roots, and started to water them".

Take The Keys has a rocky feel helped by the instrumentalisation. It is relatively simple in that the majority is acoustic guitar, electric guitar and drums but the light, staccato playing helps create a summery, party atmosphere. Leah has a great gritty feel to her voice that really suits the song. At about 2:26 in, the instrumentalisation strips back for a few seconds to shine the focus onto Leah's powerful vocals and the rest of the instrumentalisation returning is heralded by an impressive note from Leah and is altered with an extra dynamic from different backing vocals from Leah.

The lyrics also help the atmosphere that the instrumentalisation has created. With lines such as "so hold my hand and let the good years roll in the green light of the stereo" and "getting high on life and low on troubles bringing us down" Leah conjures an image of fun summer days and long summer nights. The track also shows Leah's skill as a writer - she co-penned Take The Keys with Cary Barlowe and  Jesse Frasure.

Leah is currently on a tour of US country radio promoting Take The Keys but I hope she finds time to tour soon, I would love to see her live! I think Take The Keys is a brilliant song and promises that Leah will release a great debut album (which is currently in the works). I would definitely sayshe is one to watch and would certainly recommend purchasing Take The Keys.