Somebody ~ Amanda Jean

“I was five years old when my mother pulled the car over on Dundas St East in Trenton, Ontario, in front of the old Biway. “Do that again!” she said, so I did. I sang, “Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me for the bible tells me so”.  I had been obsessed with listening to “The Bodyguard” soundtrack and in doing so, fell in love with Whitney Houston’s voice.  As a kid, I was always in my room singing for hours and hours, listening to RnB and Pop music. You could hear Stevie, Lauryn, Donny, Mariah and Boyz II Men (on repeat) booming down the hallway.’ “I knew you were serious when you asked for a microphone for your fourth birthday”.  My mother Tara Leavey (Artist and Songwriter for RCA) was always in my periphery, singing ideas into her tape recorder or warming up her voice and greatly supporting my own endeavours. I am well aware and grateful for the musical impact she has had on me.  

I have been lucky enough to find myself in the same room as some of the greatest musical creators and performers (Kevin Breit, Daniel Lanois, Mark Howard). Also, I have spent a few years singing in Dubai, UAE and Bahrain. Just recently, I was given the opportunity to sing backing vocals for Sarah McLachlan, Randy Bachman, Sam Roberts, Sass Jordan, and Colin James at the Roy Thomson Hall. Collectively, these experiences have helped me embrace and understand my musical self better.  Lately, people have been describing my music  as a fusion of RnB, Country and Jazz. I like that because when it comes to creating, the possibilities are endless and I do it because that’s who I am.  Moving forward I can’t wait to see (share and hear) my sound(s) unfold through the process that is music and I am grateful for all the opportunities that have lead me here thus far.” ~ Amanda Jean.