Single Review: Sad Club

Sad Club is the debut single from 19-year-old Brody Leigh, a brooding, emotional ballad mourning the loss of a first love. It presents the incredibly intimate musings of a teenage girl on the cusp of adulthood, processing the complexities of real heartbreak in an almost frighteningly honest yet still relatable way. 

From its moody opening keys, Sad Club pairs the dreamy with the depressing. Personal lyrics documenting Leigh’s first heartbreak feel raw and intimate. Eerie sound effects fill the space, with distant backing vocals calling from underwater, and smooth electric guitars layering the song with a necessary tension, particularly in the second verse. Leigh’s vocal tone is light and distinctive. She holds her own on the song without either undermining or overpowering its heavy meaning.

The bridge’s melodic build is a highlight, creating tension whilst coming across as a natural escalation of Leigh’s previous musings. It is also where the shared co-writing credit with Mckenzie Comer, otherwise known as MCK, is most apparent. The pair are clearly an effective match, sharing a similar emotional power between them, yet leaving space for Leigh to define herself as an individual.

An unusually low-tempo choice for a lead single, Sad Club presents Leigh at her lowest, introducing listeners to a vulnerable young storyteller who holds her music close to her heart. However, this restraint may be exactly where its charm lies. Sad Club sets Brody Leigh up to cover a vast emotional range in future releases. It promises a fearless, proud songwriter and performer, ready to explore her honest experience of the world.