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Jumpstart EP

by Leslie Rich

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salterszo Leslie's latest EP is a remarkable accomplishment that deserves recognition. It's a testament to the boundless creativity that independent artists possess and the magic they can create outside the confines of mainstream music. With its captivating melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and flawless production, this EP is an indie gem that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Keep an eye on this talented artist; undoubtedly destined for great things. Favorite track: Jumpstart.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The new solo release from Leslie Rich, Jumpstart, visits the teen and pre-teen years of his childhood. Leslie had to manage a lot of emotions in those early years: his dad’s yearning wanderlust, his parents’ temporary separation, the death of both grandfathers, and navigating blossoming love. These emotions all come together in this first EP from 12 recently written tracks; it’s rare for any songwriter’s songs to be so closely bound together. And rarer yet that they proliferate from a specific era in time. Reflection may always come at a certain age. Whatever the truth behind these seemingly endless, sunshine-filled days, Leslie decided that his experience of that time and how he remembered it was as valid as anyone’s version. Any healing came from the roots of how his nine, eleven, or fifteen-year-old self navigated those memories.

    Because the songs came so fully formed early on, Leslie decided to reinvent his usual recording process. He shared the rough demos with his friend, Heavy Sixers guitarist Grant Eull, who had recently begun experimenting with analog synths and sequencers. The results were instantly enlightening, so Stephen Helvig of Helvig Productions was recruited to bring order and direction to the home recordings. In the studio, happy accidents flourished, “usual” processes were abandoned, and traditional instrumentation was kept to a minimum, outside of Leslie’s acoustic foundation. Once finished, a common thread of experimentation can be seen all the way from 1999’s Geeklove or 2001’s Written Lie. In ruminating on his roots, perhaps Leslie managed to creatively rediscover them.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Jumpstart EP via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.     ... more
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

1.
Headlights 03:01
lyrics
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OH IN THE HEADLIGHTS YOU SEE REFLECTIONS OF YOURSELF AND THE DRIPPING RAIN LIKE YEARS PASSING KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE ROAD BOY KEEP YOUR HANDS THERE RIGHT UPON THE WHEEL AND THE ROAD WILL NEVER LEAVE HAVE YOU SEEN THE PATTERNS WEAVING LOOSE THREADS THAT TIE INTO A ROPE YOU COULD JUST AS EASILY HANG BY AS PULL THE BOAT UP ONTO THE SHORE TELL ME, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR AND IN THE WHITE LINES THE STEADY BREATHING THAT REVEALS THE FLEETING BEAT OF THE HEART YOU WIELD NO FEAR OF AN UNMARKED ROAD TAKING YOU A PLACE THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS THESE ROADS ARE PART OF THE WEAVE AND IN THE CHAOS BUILDING THERE’S A PLACE YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO YOU’VE BEEN BUILDING ALL THESE YEARS BEAT THE CHEST DON’T BE AFRAID TO ROAR TELL ME, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WHAT DIRECTION ARE YOU GOING? LEFT AND RIGHT ENDLESSLY? SPINNING, SPINNING YOUR WHEELS?
2.
Jumpstart 04:12
lyrics
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I FOUND IT HARD TO BREATHE EVERY TIME YOU’D LEAVE WONDERING IF YOU’RE EVER COMING HOME I WAS JUST BEGINNING LEARNING LIFE AT THE TENDER AGE OF NINE MAYBE I WAS STILL TOO YOUNG TO KNOW BUT WITH THE BEDROOM CURTAINS CLOSED IN THE FIRST HOURS THAT YOU’RE HOME I WAS LEARNING LOVE SOMETIMES HAS LAYERS HARD TO SHARE IN AMONGST THE HAPPY TEARS THERE SURELY MUST BE HURT AND FEARS THAT SOMETIMES JUST GET TOO MUCH TO BEAR I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE STRONG BRAVE, A DYNAMO JUST AFFLICTED WITH A TUG UPON YOUR SLEEVE I WATCHED YOU JUMPSTART A BIKE AND THEN CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF OUR VAN, AND THEN I WATCHED YOU BLEED I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU THEN ALTHOUGH I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU FIXED THAT BIKE YOU’D LEAVE ME ONE MORE TIME BUT THAT MOMENT STILL REMAINS AND REPEATS INSIDE MY DREAMS YOU ALWAYS ARE A HERO IN MY EYES BUT MY SISTER HAD IT HARD OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE SCARS AND I FEEL FOR HER AND HOW SHE BORE THE RIDE ALTHOUGH I LOVE HER TONS I KNOW HER STORY IS HER OWN AND I AM ONLY HERE TO TELL YOU MINE SHE AND I WE DON’T AGREE ABOUT THE MAN YOU WERE TO ME IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH GIFTS THAT YOU BROUGHT HOME THERE WERE SMALL THINGS THAT I’D SEE ON YOUR FACE THAT I COULD READ THERE WAS A LOVE THAT WASN’T LOST, JUST ON THE ROAM
3.
Heck&Away 04:02
lyrics
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Somebody new could come along But for a while you were the only one But I’m much too young for that Holding hands is a bittersweet Way of keeping me at arms reach I’ll probably never speak to you again Love is this how it’s supposed to Work is it a rollercoaster Love seems like it’s much too hard to love Sit on a wall under the bridge Swing from the bar out on the ledge Heck and away I go again Talk about the bike I’m going to buy I get excited and then I lie Heck and away I go again
4.
Out in the Road 04:24
lyrics
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Its brighter now Now that you're gone I know somehow You'd righted a wrong I remember the dark I remember the coal I remember the smokiness Down in the hole And everyone knows and everyone sees And nobody tells me what I should believe You'd been over the water Hoping for hope And seen some things Most of us won't It terrorized you I can see that now But oh! you came back home Alive somehow We took you inside Just so you'd know That we were not shy Of love to show and the day that you died Alone in the road We found you'd left the home to the one you'd loved If I say I can do it Know that I might

about

The new solo release from Leslie Rich, Jumpstart, visits the teen and pre-teen years of his childhood. Leslie had to manage a lot of emotions in those early years: his dad’s yearning wanderlust, his parents’ temporary separation, the death of both grandfathers, and navigating blossoming love. These emotions all come together in this first EP from 12 recently written tracks; it’s rare for any songwriter’s songs to be so closely bound together. And rarer yet that they proliferate from a specific era in time. Reflection may always come at a certain age. Whatever the truth behind these seemingly endless, sunshine-filled days, Leslie decided that his experience of that time and how he remembered it was as valid as anyone’s version. Any healing came from the roots of how his nine, eleven, or fifteen-year-old self navigated those memories.

Because the songs came so fully formed early on, Leslie decided to reinvent his usual recording process. He shared the rough demos with his friend, Heavy Sixers guitarist Grant Eull, who had recently begun experimenting with analog synths and sequencers. The results were instantly enlightening, so Stephen Helvig of Helvig Productions was recruited to bring order and direction to the home recordings. In the studio, happy accidents flourished, “usual” processes were abandoned, and traditional instrumentation was kept to a minimum, outside of Leslie’s acoustic foundation. Once finished, a common thread of experimentation can be seen all the way from 1999’s Geeklove or 2001’s Written Lie. In ruminating on his roots, perhaps Leslie managed to creatively rediscover them.

credits

released May 21, 2023

Produced by Helvig, Rich, and Eull
Recorded at Helvig Productions, MN
All instruments Leslie Rich, Stephen Helvig, and Grant Eull
Trumpet on Jumpstart by Paul Odegaard
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering

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Leslie Rich Minneapolis, Minnesota

Belfast born singer-songwriter, Leslie Rich grew up listening to a mix of punk, acoustic songwriters and traditional Celtic music. Inspired by artists like Luka Bloom and Throwing Muses, Leslie became a hard working solo performer in the bar scene. He founded the Rocket Soul Choir in 1994, mainly as an acoustic response to the heavy, guitar-driven, Irish bands cropping up at that time ... more

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