LoveLeo Makes His Long-Awaited Return With His Lastest EP, “Strongest Man Alive”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
Iconic, mesmerizing, and unique are all words that describe the music industry’s favorite “IT” boy LoveLeo. As the son of film producer Alison Dickey and Academy Award-nominated actor John C. Reilly, LoveLeo (aka Leo Reilly) has seemed to keep his exceptional music talents out of the spotlight. However, the genre-bending artist finally seems ready to make his grand entrance into music stardom. As a talented model, videographer, and now music artist, the multi-faceted creator is pioneering this next generation of artists & creatives. Now, he enters our pages with his latest EP, “Strongest Man Alive”.
“Strongest Man Alive” is 9-track masterpiece that showcases LoveLeo’s songwriting prowess, captivating vocals, and his keen ear for production. I consider the electro-pop/alternative project to be his magnum opus, and it is a wonderful introduction to the artist. The EP was inspired by a self-help book called “Six Steps to Become the Strongest Man Alive”, & LoveLeo uses the EP to talk about themes of self-development & vulnerability while also adding humor to the overall feel. Sonically, the EP draws comparisons to early 2000s electro-pop reminiscent of bands like The Postal Service and Hellogoodbye. I would consider the project to be nostalgic, and it is a much-needed blast from the past. This is what Leo had to say:
"This EP is more than just music – it's a reintroduction of myself to the world," LoveLeo shares. "I've combined my love for comedy, vulnerability, and catchy tunes to create something that I hope resonates with people on multiple levels."
My favorite song was “Asking”. As the EP’s focus track, “Asking” explores themes of loneliness, uncertainty, and the desire for companionship. As someone who just lost his girlfriend to cancer, I found this song to be very relatable. This song felt more like a self-reflection of my own personal life at the moment, and it is one of the most memorable songs I have heard as of late.
Although the project was amazing all around, the social media campaign truly magnified the need for this project. LoveLeo has run a social media campaign for the EP since August. In addition, he released music videos for "Breakfast," "Big Talk," and “Asking”, and he dropped a custom, early 2000s-inspired HTML website www.strongestmanalive.net with an interactive blog, merch store, and web player. This attention to detail and commitment to creating a community out of his music is something more artists need to do. This is how you get people to listen. If you are looking for your new favorite artist, look no further than LoveLeo.
