Biography
The story behind the music . . .
Singer-Songwriter, Folk-Rock
Biography
Lesley Young/Lesley Young Duo
Toronto born, singer-songwriter and performer, Lesley Young serves up a rich brew of contemporary folk-rock with a jazz twist. She melds these sounds and rhythms into a vision of passion and loveliness.
Lesley young and her longtime partner/music collaborator John McKay-Clements formed a duo in 2001. Together they've co-produced several music releases and performed on stages in Canada, USA, Netherlands, Germany, and UK. John brings rock elements into the musical collaboration, with his musical roots in folk-rock, garage, psychedelic and experimental music genres. A few of Lesley’s influences; The Beatles, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Billie Holiday, Joan Armatrading and Suzanne Vega.
Young’s career highlites include opening for top musicians such as; Don Ross (fingerstyle champion), Scottish rocker Kenny Maclean (Platinum Blonde), Grievous Angels (Juno nominated Canadian band) and Mose Scarlette (Borealis Records), performances include Toronto’s Mariposa on the Street Festival, Nuit Blanche and TD Jazz Festival, and abroad performances at the legendary Bitter End Club and the Vurige Tongen Festival (Fiery Tongues Poetry and Music Festival) of Holland.
Lesley Young and John McKay-Clements have collaborated on several single releases and co-produced a modestly successful, independent album entitled ‘Inside." The album received international recognition; "She is a master songwriter who is a craftsman with words. She delivers her messages through a voice somewhat reminiscent of Shawn Colvin - strong, beautiful, and distinctively feminine." Radio Indie, USA. ‘The title track Inside’ was picked top five finalist in three international song competitions. Her song Jezebel,’ off of the same album, was a finalist in The Great American Song Competition.
Back from a three year hiatus and 10 months in the Netherlands, the Lesley Young Duo are working on completing their latest release. Originally planned as an EP, they will be recording more tracks in the spring, to complete a full album in Montreal, where they live. It's a new collection of original songs, many recorded in Scotland, and the result of several years living in the UK. Songwriting themes include passion and betrayal, psychological revelations, ecology, exotic animals, exotic tunings and lately completely unexpected twists are cropping up, so stay tuned . . .
Biography
Lesley Young/Lesley Young Duo
Toronto born, singer-songwriter and performer, Lesley Young serves up a rich brew of contemporary folk-rock with a jazz twist. She melds these sounds and rhythms into a vision of passion and loveliness.
Lesley young and her longtime partner/music collaborator John McKay-Clements formed a duo in 2001. Together they've co-produced several music releases and performed on stages in Canada, USA, Netherlands, Germany, and UK. John brings rock elements into the musical collaboration, with his musical roots in folk-rock, garage, psychedelic and experimental music genres. A few of Lesley’s influences; The Beatles, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Billie Holiday, Joan Armatrading and Suzanne Vega.
Young’s career highlites include opening for top musicians such as; Don Ross (fingerstyle champion), Scottish rocker Kenny Maclean (Platinum Blonde), Grievous Angels (Juno nominated Canadian band) and Mose Scarlette (Borealis Records), performances include Toronto’s Mariposa on the Street Festival, Nuit Blanche and TD Jazz Festival, and abroad performances at the legendary Bitter End Club and the Vurige Tongen Festival (Fiery Tongues Poetry and Music Festival) of Holland.
Lesley Young and John McKay-Clements have collaborated on several single releases and co-produced a modestly successful, independent album entitled ‘Inside." The album received international recognition; "She is a master songwriter who is a craftsman with words. She delivers her messages through a voice somewhat reminiscent of Shawn Colvin - strong, beautiful, and distinctively feminine." Radio Indie, USA. ‘The title track Inside’ was picked top five finalist in three international song competitions. Her song Jezebel,’ off of the same album, was a finalist in The Great American Song Competition.
Back from a three year hiatus and 10 months in the Netherlands, the Lesley Young Duo are working on completing their latest release. Originally planned as an EP, they will be recording more tracks in the spring, to complete a full album in Montreal, where they live. It's a new collection of original songs, many recorded in Scotland, and the result of several years living in the UK. Songwriting themes include passion and betrayal, psychological revelations, ecology, exotic animals, exotic tunings and lately completely unexpected twists are cropping up, so stay tuned . . .