Leah Druzinsky @ The Double Door
Leah Druzinsky is more than one of Chicago’s up and coming singer-songwriters, she is also one of the most talented female vocalists in the metropolitan area. Leah was born into music, being the granddaughter of Edward Druzinsky who used to be the principal harpist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra—it was he who first discovered that Leah had perfect pitch. Edward and the rest of Leah’s family ended up serving as a catalyst for her to imagine and eventually pursue a career in music. Throughout her life, she has kept this interest close to her heart, eventually deciding to try and craft a living out of it.
I am lucky enough to count Leah as a close friend. We went to high school together, but truly became close during a trip to Tanzania during our senior year. Even in high school, every time I heard her sing I was blown away. Her voice is filled with soul, but she also has a great ear for melody. She has been writing songs for a long time and it’s easy to hear the experience, as she barrels through blues, jazz, and pop standards. Her influences come from many different styles of music and she is proficient with many instruments. When she plays live, she is currently backed up by a full band. Having been used to seeing her perform solo, I can say that the multiple layers of instrumentation coming from her backing band have allowed Leah to demonstrate her expertise in creating a full sound.
I saw Leah play the Dirtroom at the Double Door, which was considerably smaller than Chicago's Hard Rock Cafe where I last saw her. That being said, the intimate environment led to her lyrics having a much more emotionally resonant impact on the people who were watching the show. She cycled through songs about the United States, failed lovers and much more, seemingly all things that the crowd could understand. Her themes cover a large range, and so do her musical stylings. She ended up putting on a great show, resulting in a crowd that seemed to multiply as she played her set. It has been a joy watching her mature into a full-fledged singer-songwriter with a style both bold and unique, while still remaining rooted in something relatable. In my opinion, Leah is definitely an artist to keep an eye on.
