LEYA Eyeline [NNA-145]

Eyeline, the new mixtape from LEYA — violinist and vocalist Adam Markiewicz and harpist Marilu Donovan — began to take shape last November while the duo was on tour. It was recorded mostly at home with friends, including Actress, Julie Byrne, Deli Girls, Okay Kaya, claire rousay, Sunk Heaven, and Martha Skye Murphy. LEYA describe the mixtape as the origin of sight, “like seeing the one who is watching.” Eyeline is an imperfect parade for charmed constellations — an ethereal blend of neofolk and neoclassical darkwave.

LEYA works with and against the grain of tradition, mining intensity though alternate tunings, strange harmonies, and dreamstate operatic vocals. The resulting experience is one of beauty but spans many imperfect worlds.

LEYA has released a steady volume of work in several years. Their two albums via NNA Tapes, The Fool (2018) and its critically acclaimed follow-up Flood Dream (2020), exist alongside a wide range of collaborations. In 2018, the group wrote and performed a full-length soundtrack to I Love You, an erotic film directed by Brooke Candy and produced by PornHub that also features the duo as actors. 2019’s Angel Lust, a collaborative EP with Eartheater, followed courtesy of experimental label PAN. In 2020, they dropped a number of shorter releases including “Antigone,” a collaborative single with American black metal band Liturgy, a remix of their Flood Dream track “Wave” by British electronic musician Actress, another remix of the album’s penultimate track “First Way” by the venerable Drew McDowall (Coil, Psychic TV), and a collaboration with Deli Girls for their new album BOSS called “barrier to love.” Composer/Filmmaker Christina Vantzou delivered a final mashup remix of Flood Dream’s “Mary” and “ABBA” in May 2021. The duo provided live scoring for a Hood by Air fashion show curated by Surf Gang member Babyxsosa in June 2021. From their releases LEYA have earned acclaim from Bandcamp Daily, Brooklyn Vegan, Consequence, Document Journal, Esquire, FACT, The FADER, i-D, PAPER, Noisey, Pitchfork, Spin, and The New York Times, among many other media outlets.