People danced up a storm to Earth Wind And Fire’s “September” in late 1978. Maurice White’s soulful vocals and the band’s blaring horns saw the song making the pop and R&B charts.
For her version, musician Liorah LEV went for a more subtle sound. It is one of six songs on her self-produced EP, “I Am LEV”, released on November 19.
“My cover is different compared to the rest of the tracks. It has an acoustic jazz vibe that showcases my alto sax skills and introduces me to audiences who might not otherwise embrace pop but have a mutual love of the music from the ‘70s. I believe, if I'm going to do a cover, I'm going to own it and make it mine and I think I have done that successfully,” she said.
A graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, LEV was born to Jamaican parents in Miami. She showcases her eclectic tastes on “I Am LEV” which includes touches of EDM, reggae and jazz.
Prior to the EP’s release, three singles were released: “Taking Over”, which is her first song; “Let Go” and the reggae-inspired “Nerve”, which features Frank Burt of Buju Banton's band on bass.
Although the EP marks her recording debut, LEV credits her years at the prestigious Berklee as perfect preparation for the recording sessions which started this year.
“A lot of the music I create starts off as melodies in my head. When I sing along to the hits on the radio or Spotify, I test out improvisations and create my own melodic responses to the tracks. That alone can inspire a fresh idea for an entirely different song,” she said. “That skill enhances my production skills. When I record or perform, I lose myself in the music, step into that space virtually, to create something more beautiful than musicianship allows. For me, the hardest part is writing the lyrics.”
Written By Howard Campbell