Lorraine Leckie

Lorraine Leckie (née Turansky), is a New York City based Canadian singer and songwriter. She performs solo and with her Brooklyn-based psychedelic rock band Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons.


Biography

Lorraine Leckie was born and raised in Whitby, Ontario, near Toronto, with her sister Brenda Turansky and brother Paul Turansky (deceased). In her early years, she was surrounded by the music of Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, but in the seventies she converted to punk rock, married Steve Leckie of The Viletones, and started her career as a makeup artist in the fashion industry. After a decade of working in Europe, she put down roots in New York City and began working with celebrity clients such as Paul McCartney, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, and Heidi Klum. It was not until the age of 37 that Leckie decided it was time for a change, picked up a guitar, and by 40 was performing all over the city. Leckie earned her title as the Lower East Side folk noir troubadour playing venues such as Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall & Mercury Lounge, often joined by her Rock band, Her Demons.[1]

Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons released their first full-length album, 'Four Cold Angels,' in 2008, a deeply rooted rock album with grungy guitar and heavy-hitting drums. 'Four Cold Angels' was rated on The Village Voice's Pazz and Jop 2008 list,[2] and the song "Ontario" was on Pazz & Jop 2009.[3] Anton Newcombe of Brian Jonestown Massacre collaborated and sang with Leckie on a cover of the Pogues’ “Dirty Old Town” for the album. The song went on to become the featured title track for the acclaimed 2011 film 'Dirty Old Town' directed by Jenner Furst. The film is an ode to the Lower East Side starring Billy LeRoy, the actor and Leckie's current husband.

A departure from her rock n' roll debut,' Leckie revealed her quiet side with a solo album, Martini Eyes, released in New York on September 29, 2010[4].

Leckie's next album, 'Rudely Interrupted' was a collaboration with Anthony Haden-Guest. Drawing inspiration from Haden-Guest's book of cartoons and verses, "In The Mean Time." Leckie brought the poetry to life, writing music for Haden-Guest's words. 'Rudely Interrupted' was released in New York on November 12, 2012 at the Mercury Lounge.[5]

In 2014, Leckie released Rebel Devil Devil Rebel, her third album and second with a full band. Critical response was positive: the Huffington Post called Leckie a "Noir folk rock goddess[6]," and No Depression characterized it as "A sonic rave-up worthy of Neil's Crazy Horse.[7]"

Leckie's next album, The Raven Smiled, was released in 2015[8], a spare collaboration with Czech violinist Pavel Cingl. Critics responded favorably: both Modern Folk and New Canadian Music compared the chemistry between the two musicians to the rapport between Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, while the blog Days of Purple and Orange called it "utterly bewitching.[9]"

In 2018, Leckie released Live at Mercury Lounge NYC, the final concert played by drummer Paul Triff, who died shortly thereafter the show. New York Music Daily ranked the album among the fifty best of the year.

Leckie's latest album, Razor Wing Butterfly, was released on June 26, 2020[10].

Discography
Year ReleasedAlbum TitleCredits
2008Four Cold AngelsLorraine Leckie (words except*, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Hugh Pool (production except **, recording, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion); George Jackson (bass guitar); Paul Triff (drums, percussion); *Ewan MacColl (words and music for "Dirty Old Town"); **Anton Newcombe (production, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica for "Dirty Old Town")
2010Martini EyesLorraine Leckie (all words, vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica); George Jackson (production, recording)
2012Rudely InterruptedLorraine Leckie (words, composition, vocals except*, guitar, piano); *Anthony Haden-Guest (original verses as published in the book "In The Mean Time", vocals on "Goodbye to All This"); George Jackson (production, bass. floor tom, guitar); Hugh Pool (guitar, lap steel, harmonica); Matt Kanelos (piano); Tracy Ann Blaser (violin); Charles Dechants (recording)
2014Rebel Devil Devil RebelLorraine Leckie (words, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Hugh Pool (production, recording, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion); Charles DeChants (bass guitar); Paul Triff (drums, percussion)
2015The Raven SmiledLorraine Leckie (words, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Pavel Cingl (production, violin)
2018Live at Mercury Lounge NYCLorraine Leckie (words, vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Hugh Pool (guitar); Charles DeChants (bass guitar); Paul Triff (drums, percussion)
2020 Razor Wing Butterfly Lorraine Leckie (words, vocals, guitars, and piano ); Hugh Pool (guitars, wurlitzer, tambourine); Charles De Chants (bass); Keith Robinson (drums, percussion), Pavel Cingl (violin)
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References
  1. "Official Website". lorraineleckie.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  2. "New York Pazz and Jop Albums". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  3. "New York Pazz and Jop Singles". Villagevoice.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  4. "Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons - Press - MARTINI EYES". lorraineleckie.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  5. "Official Press Release". lorraineleckie.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  6. Semioli, Tom; writer, ContributorTom Semioli is a; journalist; Order!, Bassist-but Not Necessarily in That (2014-12-01). "The Rebel Devil in Ms. Leckie: New York City's Noir Folk Goddess". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  7. Semioli, Tom (September 19, 2014). "This Lady in Waiting Adores You: Lorraine Leckie Debuts Video from Rebel Devil Devil Rebel". www.nodepression.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  8. "The Raven Smiled, by Lorraine Leckie and Pavel Cingl". Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  9. "Dayz of Purple". Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  10. "Razor Wing Butterfly, by Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons". Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
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