Leslie Mendelson has shared a performance in the “Happy New Year” studio (see / share). Initially released as a single in late 2018 by the Brooklyn-based singer / songwriter, Leslie was forced to revisit the song as a release in 2021, arguably one of the most difficult years in modern history.
“In October, I was getting live streaming requests that I was about to play at City Winery and someone asked for my song‘ Happy New Year, ’” Leslie explains. “I thought it was a little early to play a holiday song, but seeing how badly everyone wants to end this year, I decided to include it and I thought it was great to sing it that night.”
In early December, Leslie would visit Applehead Recording in Woodstock, New York, to film a studio performance of the moving piano ballad. It’s a fitting end to the year for Leslie who released her latest studio album, ‘If You Can’t Say Anything Nice …’ in April, in the middle of closing. Having to cancel tour dates with The Who and Jackie Greene, as well as their own headlines, she was relegated to supporting the album through live performances while in quarantine alone in her apartment. Brooklyn. In doing so, he soon found that a handful of songs from the album recorded with full arrangements of the band had taken on new life in this naked environment. This led her to record a solo acoustic EP, “In the Meantime”. with news on “If You Can’t Say Anything Nice …”, “Lay It All On Me” and “Speed of Light” along with two covers: “People’s Parties” by Joni Mitchell and “Head & Heart” by John Martyn. “Issued through Bandcamp in July, it would become its second version of the year.
With this latest performance of “Happy New Year,” Leslie continues to take advantage of bad situations, offering a desire for better things ahead as the calendar reaches 2021.
“I’d like to think of this‘ Happy New Year ’recording as my little gesture to open 2021 with a little hope and optimism,” Leslie concludes.