“Beautifully Made” – Leah Smith

“Beautifully Made”
Leah Smith
From the Beautifully Made EP (available September 8, 2009)
www.myspace.com/leahsmithmusic1

At twenty years old, Leah Smith of North Philadelphia already has eleven years of professional vocal experience. She worked with the Temple University Program for Gifted Young Musicians as a nine year old. She spent a year and a half as a vocalist in Israel Houghton’s New Breed, and is now actively pursuing a solo career.

The self-proclaimed fusion artist blends neo-soul, folk, acoustic, gospel, soul and jazz elements into her reflective songs of inspiration. On “Beautifully Made,” the title track of her debut solo EP, Leah reminds young women who struggle with self-image issues that, to paraphrase the classic t-shirt saying, “God made you…God doesn’t make junk.”

Truth is, “Beautifully Made” is beautifully made. It is a soft, uplifting piece designed to build confidence in young women (and men) who think they are not good enough, strong enough, attractive enough or fill-in-the-blank enough. She wrote it while in high school and performed it as a member of New Breed.

Leah says of her music, which in its simple complexity bears no slight resemblance to the work of India.Arie and Alicia Keys, “I want a life-giving message of truth to be presented to people…real, living hope is accessible to all.”