Emerging/exciting/engaging/exploding pop star Lennon Stella has officially released her debut album, Three. Two. One. and fans are thankful that the countdown is over.
The Ontario native has grown up in the public eye on TV and YouTube. She's gone from being a teen on the screen to an adult learning life, sharing her tales, and crafting a career from her talent and opportunities. It's the continuation of the journey that her fans have been following her on for years, and the next step in who she is and what she does as an artist.
With 13 tracks and clocking in at 43 minutes, Three. Two. One. is a full 'sit-down and listen' album. It's not over before you feel like it's even begun, it's not an EP that we're begging to be something more. It's the debut full-length album we were hoping as the follow-up to the Love, Me EP (2018). And it's the album she wanted to make, which is even more important.
In talking to Apple Music, Lennon said, " This is me releasing myself from the pressure of prior expectations and intimidations. Three, two, one, I'm diving in and doing what feels good to myself. The album is a free fall." she added, "Ultimately, I wanted [this album] to be an honest introduction, true to who I am as a human being. And hopefully people will draw parallels to their own lives."
Hearing a 20-year-old express themselves that clearly is wonderful. Hearing an artist say those things and go for what they want and feel and need is empowering.
In the same Apple Music piece, Lennon spoke about the songs on Three. Two. One., here's what she said about Fear Of Being Alone, "The song, production-wise, is definitely one of my favorites, if not my favorite... There's a darkness... I really just wanted some of that. It's a different feeling than the rest of the album."
If you haven't heard it yet, hit play and check it out now.
What we've known for years is that Lennon Stella is a talented singer and performer. What we've watched and learned is growth and discovery and experimentation. The road to country music was laid out in front of her, and we're sure she would have been embraced by that community. But the road to pop was the one she took - and we can tell you from personal experience (having seen her play at a sold-out Danforth Music Hall) that it looks like she took the right path. We've seen the lineups down the street to get in. We've seen the rush to get to the front row of the GA floor. We've heard the screams and cheers when she's taken the stage to start the show. It's all legit.
And while her 2020 tour has been postponed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to see all of those same reactions again (at a more intense level) when she does get out on the road for her upcoming shows.
Related: Lennon Stella Opens Love, me Tour in TorontoThe singer-songwriter honesty and vérité on Three. Two. One. speaks to the roots that Lennon Stella started with. The family business is music, she's been learning and living it her entire life. And her ability to bring that experience in folk/country to her pop music and tell stories and be genuine and offer feelings and vulnerability and truth and hurt and questions in her music is lovely. She's not the only pop star to release smashes with messages, but it's not the easy path, and we recognize it as a risk worth taking and appreciating.
As with all albums that I dig, I recommend you hit play on track number one ( Much Too Much) and let it play all the way through. But I will tell you that I am developing soft spots for Kissing Other People, Older Than I Am, Save Us, and Weakness (Huey Lewis) [ft. Maisy Stella] as songs I'm ready to listen to on repeat as I work through the record.
Note: I really like the little hit of I Love You Always Forever in Save Us. She nailed it.
The album is a statement and a strong debut. Lennon Stella was able to work with good, talented people to put it together and execute the vision and introduction she hoped for. And ending with Goodnight is about as perfect as it could have gone for Three. Two. One.
In her own words, "This song has a feeling of not wanting something to end - wanting it to just be good night so that you can wake up to it in the morning, rather than it being goodbye, because then obviously it's gone. It's hopeful."
Lennon Stella, Three. Two. One. Tracklist