Leeann Skoda, a providential combination of old and new

Leeann Skoda is a singer, songwriter and guitarist that has a way with putting her own style on old-time country music. She has been recording since 2014. Skoda’s voice has a classic country timbre; warm and vibrant with just a hint of country twang. Even though Skoda’s songwriting is based in traditional roots country, she still has the ability to sound modern and touch on feelings in current day subjects, that we can all relate to and enjoy.

About the Album

Call Me Back Home is her third album, she knows how to write fantastic songs straddling many genres while still staying true to her roots. The album has ten songs, all the tunes are written by Skoda except: “Up Above My Head” (traditional), “Wasted” written by Leeann Skoda and Dale Nicholls, “On The Slide” written by Chris Schlarb  and “Seven Bridges Road” written by Steve Young. The band on the album is: Danny Frankel – drums, percussion, Philip Glenn – violin, mandolin, acoustic and electric pianos, Joel Martin – pedal steel guitar, Anthony Shadduck – double bass, electric bass and Leeann Skoda – vocals, acoustic guitar with guest, Jessie Payo – vocals on “Up Above My Head,” Chris Schlarb – electric guitar on “Seven Bridges Road,” and acoustic guitar on “On the Slide.” Call Me Back Home is produced and mixed by Chris Schlarb.

Our Favorite Song

Our favorite track is “Two Things.” The tune sounds classic but is also contemporary in ways that bring it into today’s sounds. First, the lyrics, Skoda has a way of writing lyrics that have the depth of old-country standards, but somehow has enough of today’s flair to make them fresh. Secondly, the instrumentation and playing is classic, the crying pedal steel, the tremolo picking sounds of the mandolin and the steady pulse of the strummed acoustic guitar, but the way each is played is not traditional fare. Skoda’s singing is smooth, relaxed and articulate in both rhythm and pronunciation, with a hint of modernism.

In Conclusion

Call Me Back Home has songs with crafty melodies and lyrics, and Skoda shows that she knows the heritage of great country artists who came before, but she also knows how to put her own heart and soul in the music. Yielding a providential combination. Call Me Back Home is an exceptional album and  it is clear that Skoda has created her own signatures sound, while standing firmly rooted in the tradition.