“Ally” delivers a statement for the modern ages with a Motown vibe. De León reflects on the riots incited by the death of George Floyd happening two blocks from her house in Long Beach, California, and receiving messages from well-meaning friends the next morning. In response, she made the decision to stop being precious with the subject and penned “Ally” as a vehicle to process her own emotions and respond to all of them. The cathartic songwriting process invited musician friends from all walks of life and all parts of the country to contribute to the track including co-producers Max MacVeety and David Tam. De León reminds listeners that the fight for justice is not over and this iteration and uprising has only just begun. In tandem with the march-like drum beats, it is a call to arms that everyone can be an ally to the disenfranchised, vulnerable, and overlooked—Black Lives Matter.
De León is a veteran in the modern music scene best known for her 7-year tenure with Orgōne and performing in the all-star soul ensemble Matador! Soul Sounds alongside Color Red founder Eddie Roberts as well as Alan Evans, Kim Dawson, Chris Spies, and Nate Edgar. Outside of live performances, she is a sought out session vocalist in Los Angeles working with major artists and motion pictures. She recently contributed vocals on a track on the Mank soundtrack scored by Trent Reznor and has provided background vocals for Lady Gaga, Macy Gray, and George Clinton.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, de León hosted a live stream series at her home in Long Beach, California and plans on resuming the series as soon as it is safe to do so.
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