Songs of vulnerability and connection...
Hailing from a small town near Ottawa, Leith Ross has cultivated a reputation for radical softness. From their debut EP 'Motherwell' to viral hits 'We’ll Never Have Sex' and 'I’d Have To Think About It,' Ross has consistently thrived in that tender space where vulnerability transforms into its own kind of strength. Their third full-length album, 'I Can See The Future,' produced by Grammy winner Rostam, expands the perspective while maintaining intimacy. Merging indie folk with alt-pop, Americana, and cinematic elements of piano and strings, it’s an album that feels both personal and expansive, rooted in individual experience yet reaching out to a broader community.
The opening track 'Grieving' sets the atmosphere. It’s deceptively cheerful, with Ross’s light voice soaring over warm acoustic sounds as they sing: “Love after I’m dead and grieve whilst I’m alive.” This paradox is characteristic of Ross; heartache wrapped in lucidity, their restraint allows each syllable to resonate. In 'Stay,' the sound shifts towards folk rock, a narrative about perseverance that avoids sentimentality in favor of quiet urgency. 'Home' stands as a gentle moment on the album, a raw examination of childhood's frailty with quiet strength. Meanwhile, 'Alone' evolves from sparse beginnings into something more substantial, playing with pace—the rise and fall of tempo creating a sense of restlessness intertwined with a longing for connection.
The highlight, 'I Love Watching You Eat Dinner,' showcases Ross’s talent for elevating the commonplace, domestic observations serving as evidence of love. The album concludes with the title track, 'I Can See The Future,' the most optimistic offering in the collection. Led by steady guitar and enhanced by Ross’s unwavering voice, it embodies the album’s core belief: that a better world is on the horizon, one that we can help create through determination and kindness. It’s a song of promise and potential, leading the record forward not with despair but with hope.
What makes the thirteen tracks of 'I Can See The Future' resonate is not only its energetic diversity but also its strong sense of conviction. Ross writes with an honesty that feels genuine, their voice—fragile yet steady—constantly reminding us of the significance behind each confession. “I have to believe there is a better world coming,” Ross has expressed regarding the album. That hope flows throughout these songs, linking personal memories to a shared future. The outcome is a record that broadens Ross’s universe while retaining the understated folk aesthetic that initially drew listeners in, a beautiful exploration of the self, loss, and the promise of what lies ahead.
It’s a vision Ross aims to extend beyond the studio. This autumn, they will take 'I Can See The Future' on tour, starting with two consecutive hometown shows at Winnipeg’s Park Theatre, before traveling across North America, with stops at venues like Brooklyn Steel and Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre. Just as the album presents intimacy expanded to a cinematic scale, the tour is set to transform Ross’s whispered confessions into shared experiences, demonstrating that their vulnerability has always fundamentally been a form of connection.
8/10
Words: Gabby Ofo
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Originating from a small town near Ottawa, Leith Ross has established a name for themselves with their unique approach to radical softness. Starting with their debut EP 'Motherwell' and continuing with viral singles,