About the Record
Written by Nidal Eradi
This was a long-overdue collaboration.
If you’re an artist in Montreal, there’s almost no way you don’t know Lea Keeley. She’s been part of the city’s musical fabric for years — playing everything from intimate solo sets to full big band performances, while also hosting countless jam sessions and open mics. A true local legend.
Lea reached out wanting to explore new horizons and expand her sound. She was clear about one thing: she wanted real musicians on the record. No samples. No shortcuts. Just live energy.
We put together a band made up of people we both knew, specifically for this project. The process started by dropping her initial demo into the DAW. I laid down the bass first, followed by guitars, then introduced a few chord changes she immediately connected with. That first session was entirely dedicated to shaping the sound and structure using just those elements.
Once the foundation felt right, we brought in the band and worked the arrangements meticulously. Keys, drums, horns, bass, guitars — everything found its place. It all came together naturally. One more session was enough for Lea to lay down her vocals, which she delivered quickly and effortlessly, like the true professional she is.
We were all thrilled with the result. The record sounded big, warm, and alive — fully embodying that soul-jazz, big band feeling. It felt obvious that this was how her music was always meant to sound, because it came directly from the live energy she’s devoted most of her life to.
A side note I really want to share:
When Burton and I first started producing during the pandemic, money was tight at times. One day, Lea offered to help cover an entire month of rent for our studio/apartment. We didn’t take it — but I’ll never forget the gesture.
That kind of humanity stays with you.