While family music acts are nothing new — think of the Jacksons, the Moffatts, the Hansons or the Haims — most are usually built around musical siblings. It’s not so often that kids play with their parents, excluding The Judds and many regularly hitting the local festival circuit. More often than not, what we hear about is that a younger generation of musicians were raised in a more free-thinking household that encouraged the kids to discover and pursue music for themselves should they wish. This may involve more or less guidance / instruction from the parent, and often the resultant music sounds nothing like that produced by the older generation.
It is a delight for us today to introduce you to the tremendously cool song ‘Ascension Heights’, which happens to be the debut single from a UK-based duo called Karamelien. Though this may be a new music project, the two members are music veterans themselves (and one of them – vocalist / songwriter Léanie Kaleido – happens to be the daughter of Top Topham, The Yardbirds’ original guitarist before being replaced by Eric Clapton due to the fact that he had not yet reached the age of majority (or finished his schooling). Topham eventually made a name for himself after signing to Mike Vernon’s Blue Horizon record label as a solo artist. As karma would have it, he even re-joined The Yardbirds several years ago for a string of appearances for their 50th anniversary tour.
‘Ascension Heights’ is a positive, groovy and chilled love-in of a song that Kaleido wrote, having been inspired by her father. The song also features a sample from Top Topham‘s track of the same name. This is a sublime slab of pop perfection whose allure extends beyond the artists’ solid performance and believability to the personal realm. This music transcends the various elements of the music and the concise way they fit together to also uplift you. One of the best singles so far in 20222, this is a true work of beauty and professionalism, taking you to your very own ascension heights.
What a beautiful and harmonious project this is – Léanie Kaleido is joined by guitarist Mark Foster, bringing her songwriting into new exciting territory. The breezy heartened video, created by Eveshka Ghost, perfectly captures the elevated spirit of this song and its creators. What a stunning song!
2021 critically acclaimed album ‘How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale’. That album, just as the new single, was recorded and produced by RIDE frontman Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound near Oxford. “Ascension Heights’ is “a really moving Father / Daughter work of beauty. A total pleasure and honour to work on… A hot tune for the hot summer for sure,” says Mark Gardener.
this song features an appearance by a special guest bassist – Mo Pleasure, formerly of Earth, Wind & Fire, whose CV also includes performances with Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, among others. With guidance from Paul Statham (Dido, Simple Minds, Kylie Minogue, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Rachel Stevens, Natalie Imbruglia) in sampling her father’s track, Kaleido performed the pre-production work on this song from home, saying this “was a great feeling and allowed me more room to experiment with hip-hop beats”.
“I met Mark Foster in my twenties through a mutual friend, when he started to play my songs live with me. My first album’s title ‘Karamelien’ was made up as an anagram of both of our names’. I also like it as an artist name, so decided to go with it as Mark and I are now back playing together again,” says Léanie Kaleido.
“We took my quirky but melodic songwriting style and introduced a more bass and beats-driven sound á la Morcheeba, Portishead, Massive Attack, etc. I’m just focusing on having fun with my songs now and drawing on my influences from both indie and hip hop, but always influenced by classic songwriters such as Elton John and Joan Armatrading”
‘Ascension Heights’ is out now and is everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Otherwise, you may download the track from an array of other platforms at https://ditto.fm/ascension-heights
CREDITS
Written by Léanie Kaleido
Léanie Kaleido – vocals, piano, keys, programming, arrangements
Guitar and intro sample (with permission from Blue Horizon Records) from Top Topham’s ‘Ascension Heights’
Mark Foster – guitars
Mo Pleasure – bass
Produced by Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound
Additional production by Joolz Dunkley
Mastered by Turan Audio
Top Topham sample permitted by Blue Horizon Records.
Video and artist photography by Eveshka Ghost
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