Leslie Hunt might be the first American Idol contestant to be featured on Sea of Tranquility as a solo artist. She made the Top 20 on Season 6 of the talent show and is a member of the adventurous Chicago-based prog band District 97. But Hunt also is an impressive singer-songwriter whose talent hits a new level on Ascend, the first of two fan-funded EPs she released in 2021.
From engaging straight-ahead rock (“There You Are”) to a smoldering, Wurlitzer-and-organ-anchored ballad (“Your Wind”) to a bouncy love song (“Right Here”), the seven cuts on Ascend are intensely personal and extremely likable. On some tracks, Hunt also plays acoustic guitar and piano, but her expressive voice is the star here. The EP’s companion, Descend, was released after this one and focuses on “freedom of the individual and their attempt to find a place within an increasingly complex and sometimes harsh society,” according to the releases’ distributor, Cherry Red Records.
Don’t listen to this expecting the eclecticism of District 97 or the pandering pop of American Idol. Rather, these 25 minutes showcase a singer-songwriter whose impressive evolution continues.
Track Listing:
1. Starting Over
2. There You Are
3. Your Wind
4. Wolf Cried Boy
5. Right Here
6. Down the Road
7. The Key
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