Premiere: Luca Wilding Delves into the Dual Nature of Memory in “Leonine,” an Ethereal Folk Song of Sorrow, Illumination, and Freedom - Atwood Magazine

      Dancing in fringe and moonlight, British singer-songwriter Luca Wilding makes a striking comeback with “Leonine,” a radiant dream-folk piece that balances grief and liberation—gently turning memory into music and loss into light, adorned with a rhinestone cowboy and a hopeful heart.

      Stream: “Leonine” – Luca Wilding

      He lets his worn Ford pickup come to a stop at a roadside motel, a small suitcase riding alongside him. Inside is not a change of attire but a stunning pink cowboy ensemble—complete with pearl snaps, fringe, embroidery, and a yellow necktie—a costume overflowing with promise and nostalgia. Along with it is an old photograph: a smiling woman's face, forever cherished despite her absence. He puts on the outfit, steps out under the night sky, and begins to dance—a man pursuing dreams not only for himself but for the love he lost.

      This is the poignant, bittersweet realm of Luca Wilding’s “Leonine”: A glowing dream-folk reverie that holds grief in one hand and freedom in the other, crafting memory into music and turning loss into brightness. The British artist transforms sorrow into movement, creating a piece that resonates with longing while also exuding warmth and liberation. Capturing the delicate, transient spark of life that endures even amid sorrow, “Leonine” is both heartbreaking and life-affirming—a reminder that while some dreams may fade, their pursuit still endows us with purpose, heart, and significance.

      In that in-between space of heartache and hope, Luca Wilding discovers his voice and ascends.

      Luca Wilding – Leonine

      He mentioned it was a solitary affair

      The kerosene flicker against his skin

      He used to dress in the driveway

      When the heat became unbearable

      As the moonlight glimmered heavily

      On his starry face

      It made change difficult

      As he read her address in the lilac rain

      Then he’d speak of

      The messages he sent

      And all that I would regret

      I suppose I was just made that way.

      Atwood Magazine is excited to present “Leonine,” the enchanting first single from British dream-folk musician Luca Wilding’s highly awaited third EP, Ocean Mother (set for release in early 2026). Launching on September 4, 2025, the track will be accompanied by a touching music video directed by Aisha Schliessler, who beautifully captures Wilding’s reflective sentiments in vivid cinematic form. “Leonine” showcases Wilding’s return with his most ambitious and impactful work yet—a bittersweet musing on friendship and loss that expands the poetic, soul-stirring essence of his previous EPs To and Book of Fate into broader, more expansive soundscapes.

      “For me, ‘Leonine’ represents the dual nature of memory—the sharp sting of loss and the peculiar, nearly overwhelming joy that arises when words start to blossom from the ashes in your mouth,” Wilding shares with Atwood Magazine. “It is about the journey of grief—initially jagged, burdensome, and hard to bear, but gradually softening, becoming more radiant.”

      He adds, “It was inspired by a close friend of mine who struggled with mental health. What began as a simple expression of heartbreak gradually evolved, as memories of his life flooded back to me. In the end, it wrote itself; it offered me a dreamlike reminiscence of the unique magic he brought into my life, for which I am deeply thankful.”

      So I said to leave us nothing

      Oh Leonine!

      All enveloped in morning

      Severing the connection;

      Then shaking the dust

      From the twine around his hands

      He mentioned he spoke to god

      In a boxcar yard

      Then wrung out his braids

      On the boulevard

      Saying time isn’t any remedy

      For an aged, wounded heart

      Oh, now we’ll never converse again.

      Wilding’s lyrics illuminate the emotional currents within “Leonine.”

      The verses are quiet and haunting, filled with delicate imagery: “He said it was a lonely thing, the kerosene flicker upon his skin... He used to dress in the drive when the heat became intense, while the heavy moonlight laughed on his starred face.” The song creates a world composed of flickers and fragments, formed from tender recollections that linger like dim memories. Yet the chorus bursts forth, invigorating and liberating: “So I said leave us nothing, oh Leonine! All bathed in morning, cutting the line...” Here, the music swells with raw emotion; the guitar lines extend widely, drums rattle and roll, and Wilding’s voice ascends with powerful intensity. In this contrast, we perceive grief’s harshness soften into brilliance.

      Starring James C. Burns as the Rhinestone Cowboy, Aisha Schliessler’s music video enhances this contrast, elaborating on the song's themes in