We Speak Music

leo.’s ‘december blues’ – A Winter’s Tale Told in Melody

Published

2 years ago

November 19, 2024

Winter can be both a season of beauty and longing, and singer-songwriter leo. captures this duality perfectly in his latest single, december blues. Released today, the track is a stirring ballad steeped in acoustic intimacy, indie charm, and vintage holiday aesthetics. It’s a song that invites listeners to embrace the complexities of winter through the lens of love and connection.

Inspired by his move from Portugal to the UK, leo. brings a deeply personal touch to the song. “The winters in Portugal were never harsh,” he shares, “but here in the UK, I encountered the true ‘December blues.’ This track became my way of expressing how love can transform that coldness into warmth.” His duet with Chevy adds a layer of emotional depth, turning the song into a dialogue of solace and shared experience.

The song’s production is nothing short of mesmerizing. Alistair Kerley’s lush string arrangements and Nico Widdowson’s jazz piano evoke a bygone era, paying homage to the rich musical traditions of the 1940s and 50s. Producer Ed Allen, known for his ability to merge classic and modern elements, polishes December Blues into a piece that is both nostalgic and contemporary.

leo. continues to build an impressive résumé. His single despair has surpassed 43 million streams, and his recent EP earned recognition in Clash magazine. With rave reviews from Backseat Mafia and Earmilk, leo.’s rise in the indie singer-songwriter world feels inevitable. december blues is a testament to his ability to consistently create music that resonates deeply.

Poignant, evocative, and beautifully crafted, december blues is a track that will undoubtedly find its place in winter playlists everywhere. leo. invites us to find warmth in love and music, even when the days are at their coldest.

We Speak Music

Christian Balvig releases gorgeous new album ‘Find And You Will Seek’ in collaboration with Ensemble Hermes.

Published

28 minutes ago

June 2, 2026

Don Reed

Acclaimed composer and arranger Christian Balvig is known for his work with an array of artists and bands like Jade, Efterklang, Lowly, When Saints Go Machine and Mew, as well as his work with some of the most acclaimed orchestras like Royal Northern Sinfonia (BBC Proms), The Royal Danish Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, London Contemporary Orchestra, The Danish Radio Broadcast Orchestra and The Norwegian Wind Ensemble.

The cinematic sound on his new album might echo Balvig’s work in the world of film and TV music. Scoring the 2025 Oscar shortlisted short movie ‘Eternal Father’ and the Danish hit series ‘Cry Wolf’ (Ulven Kommer), which has been shown on television in more than 30 countries around the globe, including Channel 4 in the UK. He was also nominated for a Harpa award for ‘Best score’ last year at the Berlinale for ‘The Son and the Moon (Min Arv Bor I Dig)’.

Balvig’s new album, ‘Find And You Will Seek’, backed by Danish string group Ensemble Hermes, grew organically out of this background of experiences and is music that appeals to listeners seeking original, immersive music with space for reflection and contemplation.

‘Find And You Will Seek’ is a collection of chamber works that explore the combination of piano and strings in new ways. Recent single ‘The BirdSuite II – Praesentia’ is part of a 3-part Suite running throughout the record, written and performed on a custom made “Keybird” piano, which is an una-corda (one string pr note) piano that gives a more subtle and intimate sound. On top of it is a lush and emotional string ensemble arrangement with Ensemble Hermes in multiple layers fluctuating in and out of the keybird piano.

Balvig’s second single from the record is ‘What Happened To The World’, an ultra transparent neo-classical inspired piece, with slow melodic structures, a simple chord progression and emotional performance starting with a floating viola solo. It is written from the feeling that the world sometimes goes backwards, and you feel left on the platform wanting to take the train in a different direction.

From film music inspired pieces to experimental chamber music over piano concerto inspired movements, to more neo-classical productions with almost orchestral sounding dubs of strings, ‘Find And You Will Seek’ flows with emotions and lush sound worlds, always with a tangible organic texture.

Find Christian Balvig and Ensemble Hermes on tour in Denmark:

27.5 Ansgars Kirke (Odense)

28.5 Folkegaarden Festival (Aalborg)

29.5 Gnisten (Ry)

30.5 Musikhuset (Aarhus)

1.6 Basement (Copenhagen)