Hanne Leland's 'Stay'

Hanne Leland is a vocally angelic music artist, bringing epic musical landscapes in the form her brand new, atmospheric single “Stay,” where from the very beginning, with its’ catchy, opening synth melody that showcases producer Jim Eliot’s unique sound, as previously heard on Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Can Happen” and Hanne’s timid voice which kicks off Verse 1 with the lyrics “you were born a fighter, I was always fragile, and there is so much in this world I don’t understand,” you know from the calm, haunting, infectious effect of the piano playing the famous E-flat, B, G-flat, D-flat minor chord structure, that this song will build up to a strong, emotional ballad, reminiscent of powerhouse vocal performances such as Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper,” and Leland’s “Stay” does not let this assumption down one bit. If you listen even more closely to the emotion in her voice, you are immediately thrown back to one-hit wonder singers like Lene Marlin, with her smash hit “Unforgiveable Sinner,” only Hanne’s newest effort takes you on a much impactful journey, straight to a cold, winter’s night by the sea, as if the singer is looking out into the ocean for her long lost love as she sings “I know the water’s wild, pulls you under like a reptile and I’m always holding my breath for you” in Verse 2.

The sweet, simple sentiment, yet desperation of the message “I just want you to stay” shines through in her delicate tone, while an epic, Electro beat drops in, and a choir of backing vocals containing as much reverb and delay in order to create a mainstream Gaelic sound, in the vein of Enya, compliments the lead vocal nicely. It’s fair to say that Hanne Leland could easily become the next Synth-Pop princess with this solid track, which will for sure stay in peoples’ minds after the first listen. Since working with top music producers Jim Eliot (Ellie Goulding), and Brian West (Sia), as well as “Stay,” Hanne Leland has also released tracks like the Dance-filled “Carry On,” the breathtaking “You Don’t Own Me,” the R&B-esque ballad “Hungover You,” and ROUGH ONLINE’s favourite, the female-empowered “Queen,” ensuring that the singer’s anticipated debut album is going to have a positive response from all popular music lovers.