Biography

Word is out on Leanne Kingwell's debut solo album, SHOW YA WHAT.

And the word is good.

Northeast In-Tune Magazine (NY) reckons it's "Powerhouse rock... Kingwell has saved rock 'n roll for women."

Billboard (USA) Senior Editor, Chuck Eddy voted :
"Top Ten album of the year."

The Village Voice (NY) says "Her rockers are righteous... her ballads fave raves."

FFRUK (UK): "Blew me away... you'll be begging for more."

Music Australia Guide (Aust) calls it "Magic... 10 out of 10".

Not bad raps for a rebellious catholic schoolgirl who started off in the early nineties, playing bass, singing and writing with cult Melbourne grunge outfit Happy Gas Stare.

"Midnight gigs in sleazy bars just seemed a better alternative for me than midnight mass," Leanne recalls. "I spent so many years playing in scuzzie pub venues that I started to believe all air smelled like beer and urinals. But, ya gotta pay ya dues, doncha?

Rock 'n Roll was not the way to get your go to heaven, tickets when I was growing up. My childhood was dedicated to sport and study. My teenage rebellion was listening to The Clash, Bowie, Sex Pistols and the like, on a 15 dollar walkman, under my blankets when my family went to bed. Maybe thats why I still have a thing for solitude and dark places."

Leanne took 3 years out to write and record SHOW YA WHAT. Why so long?

"It was a musical direction and craft thing. I'd started off in a headbanger band that morphed into a glam rock outfit and then further de-evolved into a pop act with a major record deal. So, Id had lots of experience learning what I didnt want to do anymore.

I saw The Angels gig at the Palace in 2000 and it absolutely knocked me out. I was one of a dozen girls in a room of about 1500 guys who just went off and knew the words to every song. That gig got me thinking about how to create some kick arse rock n roll that girls would dig as much as guys. My brief to myself after that night was to make, a chick record with balls.

The world is full of aspiring rock chicks who think 12 bar is a strip club and a rock lick is blowing their A and R guy. I'd missed roots rock by about half a century. I had to do a lot of homework. Learn a lot of new things, musically. Then adapt them so that they became mine."

So, has Leanne Kingwell found her true voice with SHOW YA WHAT?

"I'm happy with the album. It's not political, pretentious, too cynical or in any way downbeat. The opposite in fact. It's a good, honest, consistent, album that takes you on an energetic and emotional ride with humour and a beer and chicken wire sensibility. Play it at a barbie. Play it loud. Get drunk. Dance. Sing along. Get your head out of your arse and have a good time. Thats why God created rock 'n roll."

Keep spreading the word, Leanne.

(Bio Courtesy of Krill Records)