From Studio to Soul: The Making of Leoté's Live-Recorded Debut

In a music landscape dominated by digital production and house beats, Leoté's upcoming album marks a bold return to authentic, live instrumentation. Recorded with some of South Africa's finest musicians, this project began taking shape during the latter part of the COVID lockdown, bringing together exceptional talent in a unique live recording setup.

Producer Howie Combrink shares his enthusiasm about the album's distinctive approach.

"It's really exciting because we rarely get to do this",

he notes, referencing the decision to record the full band together in one room - a departure from the typical piece-by-piece recording process common in modern music production.

The album's standout track, "Good Love," showcases the magic that happens when elite musicians collaborate in real-time.

When Neil brought it in for the session and the band started playing... it sounded so great," Combrink recalls. "It's awesome to work with a collective group of people that are just so talented - the top of the pile in South Africa.

This debut album promises to inject "real music" into an industry currently dominated by amapiano and house music. By choosing to record with a full live band, Leoté and her team are creating something that stands apart from contemporary trends, offering listeners an authentic musical experience that honors traditional recording techniques while delivering fresh, compelling content.

For Leoté, this album represents more than just music – it's a labor of love twenty years in the making.

I've had opportunities to release this album earlier, but I wanted every element to be amazing. I have selected every musician playing on each track, produced and composed every song.

The project holds deep personal meaning as a dedication to her late father, and stands as a powerful statement about women's capabilities in the music industry.

This is a project from my heart to yours, to hopefully change the scope of the music industry. To show women that we can do whatever we put our minds to - we can be producers, composers, writers, singers... we can be everything we realize to be.

Stay tuned as Leoté begins dropping singles from this groundbreaking album. Follow her journey on social media and streaming platforms to experience firsthand how authentic musicianship and raw talent come together in this deeply personal collection of songs. This isn't just another album release - it's a testament to perseverance, dedication, and the power of real music made by real artists.