Toronto born, singer-songwriter 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.
Her career highlights 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 Toronto Jazz Festival, and, abroad at the legendary Bitter End Club, New York City, USA, 13th Note in Glasgow, UK, and the Vurige Tongen Festival (Fiery Tongues Poetry and Music Festival), Ruigoord, NL.
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.
The L.Y. Duo 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 in folk and pop categories. Her,song 'Jezebel,’ was a finalist in The Great American Song Competition folk category.
After an eventful year in the Netherlands, Lesley and John returned to live in their Montreal condo. In March, 2021 they released one track from their Edinburgh recording sessions. The full cycle of songs will be released after the pandemic. Themes include passion and betrayal, psychological revelations, ecology, exotic animals, exotic tunings and lately completely unexpected twists are cropping up, so stay tuned!.