Music

Leah Mason’s Album ‘HEXED’ Is Both Heartbreaking and Beautiful

17 August

Leah Mason’s ‘HEXED’ will make you feel seen and understood.

Rising pop singer and songwriter Leah Mason has officially released her highly-anticipated debut album, HEXED. Alongside the album drop, the artist also unveiled the electrifying music video for the title track, “HEXED,” setting the tone for what promises to be a defining moment in her career.

Leah’s journey to this debut has been anything but ordinary. Labeled as an “undeniable talent” by People Magazine after her debut EP, Honeydew & Hennessy, she quickly became one of Nashville’s most exciting young stars. Refusing to be boxed in by her early success, she took a bold step last year, travelling all the way to Sweden to collaborate with producer Simon Jonasson on her first full-length project. After two and a half weeks of intense creativity, Leah emerged with HEXED—a collection of meticulously crafted pop tracks that show her immense growth as an artist.

HEXED is Leah’s most confident work to date. As a 24-year-old navigating the chaotic transition from adolescence to adulthood, Leah has channeled her experiences into the album’s 13 tracks, capturing the highs and lows of young adulthood with authenticity. From the intensity of first loves and heartbreaks to the nostalgia of transitional friendships and the quest for self-identity, Leah bottles up these universal emotions into songs that will resonate with listeners of all ages.

Reflecting on the emotional highs and lows that shaped the body of work, she shared, “I’ve never felt such deep heartbreak, anger, resentment, betrayal, or frustration than I have in the past year, but I’ve also never loved as deeply, felt as confident, or been as outspoken.” This emotional rollercoaster is evident throughout the album, where Leah effortlessly mixes tongue-in-cheek, angst-driven anthems with heartfelt musings on love and loss.

“It was so fun to create music that made me feel so creatively fulfilled. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I hope my album helps others feel seen, and I hope that it helps people understand me as well.”

Setting the tone for the entire album, the title track and fan favourite, HEXED, instantly grabs your attention with its catchy lyrics, “One time is a fluke / Twice is just bad luck / But three times is a pattern / And I’m sitting here like, fuck.” The song’s chorus continues to echo the theme of feeling cursed, as Leah sings, “Someone’s got a voodoo doll / Pushing pins in my eyeballs / Drew the storm cloud over my head / Swear to God I’m hexed.”

Following the powerful opener, Leah’s versatility shines through in subsequent tracks like Kissing Friends, Klepto, and YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS channeling the vibrant energy of early 2010’s pop, popularised by the likes of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Klepto stands out with its clever lyrics, “God, you are such a copycat, you’re such a kleptomaniac,” affirming Leah’s talent for witty and relatable songwriting.

But she also shows her softer side with slower ballads like Dime Bag, Everything’s Gonna be Alright and Midas Touch. On Dime Bag, Leah pours her heart out with lyrics that reflect a deep sense of vulnerability: “My eyes are red / You know I cried / You bite your lip / When you’re guilty so I / Say a breakup’s not a crime / And lie about the liquor that I drank last night. These raw and honest lines display Leah’s ability to turn her personal experiences into universally relatable music.

As the album winds down with tracks like 8 Ball and Guilty Pleasure Place, it becomes clear HEXED is a coming-of-age story set to music. Mason’s fearless exploration of her emotions and experiences makes her a fresh and exciting voice in the pop scene, but also leaves listeners eager for what she’ll do next.