Pop-country singer-songwriter Leah Belle Faser has a new single out, and you’re going to want to check it out! With upbeat riffs and a catchy chorus, “Second-Hand Store” is Leah’s undeniable reminder to us to recognize our worth.
“It’s a song about the feeling of not wanting to take someone back after they’ve judged you as unworthy next to the newer, shinier thing,” says Leah. She assures that while she actually loves thrift shopping and vintage clothing, the song is about not wanting to be the second choice in someone’s eyes because of materialistic things.
With Burberry and Tiffany, you’ll have your epiphany / But worn-in boots and faded cords feel better than what she can afford / Gucci, Prada, and all the rest, always looking her Sunday best / You can’t buy what you’re looking for, but I ain’t gonna be your second-hand store.
“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing,” says Leah. She remembers being around nine years old singing Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” in front of a crowd, with her brother behind her on the piano, and feeling the rush of performing. “It was awesome! It sparked a fire inside that never really went out, performing in front of people. It gave me the courage to keep going. Early performances were very important in my development as a musician and an artist.”
She has been collaborating with her brother, Hoke, for years, and even has him singing backup vocals on three of the songs from her EP, Crossing Hermi’s Bridge, released in October 2020. “The songs were written in a transitional period in my life when I was making a decision to change schools and making a leap of faith to leave the friends I’d known for so long and the teachers that I loved for a fresh, new experience.”
Leah plays acoustic guitar on the album and just got an electric guitar she’s excited to start playing and incorporating into her music. “When writing songs, sometimes I get inspiration from the instrument as well,” she says. “I’ll hear an electric guitar lick that I like, and it inspires me and sparks a feeling inside of me that makes me want to write a song about that feeling.”
Balancing school and her music career has taught Leah a lot about time management. “I do my schoolwork, and then I always make time for music because it’s what I love,” she says. “It’s easy for me to make that commitment and play gigs and give up going out Friday or Saturday nights to do what I love. I have very supportive friends who understand that I have to take those steps now in order to get to the next level. In the end, it’s worth it for sure!”
The 16-year-old high school student just got her long-awaited driver’s license last year: “Best thing ever! I was so excited to get it so I could drive around and listen to music. It’s like my favorite thing to do,” she says. Broadway, new wave, pop, rock, country… She loves it all. “I turn the volume all the way up, crank it, and drive around. It’s great!”
Leah’s music has been featured on 94.9 The Bull radio and is available for purchase on multiple platforms. Watch the video for “Second-Hand Store” on our website homepage and our facebook page, and visit Leah’s website for more information on upcoming news and performances: leahbellefaser.com.
