Folk-pop artist Allison Leah’s “The Weight of My Heart” has been two-years in the making. Mustard has observed that musicians, and humans in general, love to tell stories. These stories can be told in the form of music, poetry, and various other mediums. Leah’s “The Weight of My Heart” is a collection of six songs inspired by Leah’s.
The first track “What I’m Missing” is an upbeat pop anthem that reminds humans to live in the moment. Often things within human society, that happened in the past, are looked at with shaded glasses. Some of these moments are wonderful, sure. But they are not everything, they are not the present. These flashbacks are defined as “nostalgia.” Humans love television shows, movies, and music that remind them of their childhood. Understandably. But there are great things happening within the moment and Leah’s “What I’m Missing” allows listeners to appreciate what they have now.
Following “What I’m Missing” comes “24 years down” is an honest and authentic telling of what it is like being in your 20s. Being a human is an incredibly difficult task and Leah understands that. “In your 20s you really have no idea what or where you belong” my human employee told me when we spoke about this single. “Some of us are still kids, some of us have kids, and I’m somewhere in the middle.” Leah says towards the end of the song. This confession, along with the song itself, will have the listener pondering. Whether they are still in their 20s or they are not. Humans are social creatures and develop friendships and social circles based around their interests, hobbies, and beliefs. For someone in their 20s determining what is the most important can be a struggle and weigh on someone.
The third single “sorry for myself” diverts the direction of the EP. While still authentically Leah, sorry for myself provides an extra edge that the first two songs subdue. It reminds Mustard of condiments that like to roam around the supermarket post-operational hours looking of what food products they may be on. Rather than staying put on their shelf, Leah’s “sorry for myself” is empowering. Leah’s admiration and support of Taylor Swift can be heard on sorry for myself. In fact, you may even mistake it for a Taylor Swift song. This though does not take away from the listener’s experience of who Allison Leah is. Humans are influenced and inspired all the time.
“I gave u my number” switches back the rhythm of the EP with a whimsical and catchy pop song. The chorus of “I gave you my number / hoping that you’ll wonder / what I talk about is 3 AM” will be stuck in your human brain for the foreseeable future. While singing along, you, like the human who she hopes to be more than friends with, will make you wonder what Leah talks about 3 AM. Ultimately, the song is about starting new relationships which can be anxiety-inducing and overwhelming. Feeling comfortable enough to exchange numbers though is a great sign in the human world.
The second to last track “constellations” is soothing and ethereal. Leah’s vocals on constellations shine and provide warmth and comfort like a Lavender bath with your favorite candles lit. Mustard recommends you close your eyes while listening to track and picture those constellations. The imagery and emotion of constellations is powerful as Leah sings “Maybe I’ll sing out to the constellations and that will bring you home to me.” Who does Leah hope to bring home? Mustard is curious. Is it apart of herself? A family member? A friend of hers growing up? Whoever it may be constellations will have all humans looking up at the night stars.
Closing the EP is “better off numb.” Leah makes a statement: “its easy to get hurt when you feel so hard / now I’m less attached to the weight of my heart / its getting colder / every day I grow older.” For any human who overthinks situations, Mustard believes you will be able to relate to this. Growing up as a small condiment Mustard used to do what exactly describes: overthink, be over-dramatic, and try to disconnect from whatever the situation was. Towards the end of “better off numb” Leah says “take a step outside / who do you want to see when you close your eyes?”
Humans have this remarkable ability to analyze themselves, almost to a fault, due to not only their own perceptions of themselves but because of societies expectations. If humans do one thing wrong (or wrong in their eyes) it could bring their hold world down. This can cause mental and physical pain. Anxiety. Depression. Allison Leah’s “the weight of my heart” describes and brings the listener through the human experience. Whether it is feeling sorry for yourself, starting a new relationship, or trying to live in the moment – these are no easy feat for even the most confident or well-adjusted human.
Mustard cannot experience these things yet as they are a condiment. Despite Mustard’s lack of human emotions, the weight of my heart made mustard feel. It is important that humans listen to each other and truly to try understand what they feel. Empathy is what we should have. Mustard believes that just because Allison Leah has 24 years down that her experience should not be discarded. It should be embraced.
No matter how old you are, “the weight of my heart” is an album that humans should find themselves relating too. Leah is a pop artist to keep your eyes and ears on.
The weight of my heart is available on all streaming platforms.
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