Album Review: What We Say in Private by Ada Lea

Building walls of emotional exposure all throughout what we say in private, then bringing them crumbling downward with a rich and beautiful starkness, Québécois visionary-cum-songwriter Lea holds all the power. The brief - it's only just over thirty-five minutes long - yet meticulously crafted escapade tackles a lot musically while deftly exploring the inner reaches of Lea's mind. She also manages to propel and dart between the delicate and the brash.

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When her relationship ended, Alexandra Levy (Ada Lea) wrote in her journal for 180 days as a way to work through her emotions and reconnect with herself. This work became the catalyst for many of the songs on her standout debut LP what we say in private.   what we say in private is assembled like a collage: guitars roar, and are delicately picked. A warped voice memo is the heart of one song, and a glittery synth line is the heart of another. Gluing the contrasting sonic textures together is Lea who, in a hypnotically hushed voice ….

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Sometimes loss calls for a personal rediscovery. When Alexandra Levy endured a recent breakup she used various creative outlets--painting, journaling, making music--in order to recall who she was before and redefine herself in the aftermath. As a result, the Montreal singer-songwriter came up with 10 songs that embody the tumultuous cycle of pain, anxiety, patience, and acceptance that accompanies major heartache.

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It's always a comfortable thing when a songwriter is this open. It's like they've cracked open their shell and the juices are running out - and it's often those juices that set them apart from other musicians. Pretend 'what we say in private' is a coconut - break it open, and you've discovered a whole new world. Feeling like the slap in the face you've been asking and asking for, Ada Lea's debut album 'what we say in private' is initially a slick, emotive, broody marriage.

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