Leah Driscoll’s biggest influence was, and remains, Aretha Franklin. The first time she heard “Respect” on an old cassette was a definitive moment for the young girl. It wasn’t just the richness of Aretha’s voice that drew Leah in. It was the conviction behind every word Aretha sang. It was a confidence that in her childhood and teens, Leah desperately wanted to feel within herself.

Whitney Houston was another influencer. “Whitney’s voice represented the perfect crossroads of where R&B and pop music intersected: a huge voice with soulful sensibilities.”

Whitney, or rather remixes of Whitney, introduced Leah to a new genre that she found equally empowering: dance music. “I absolutely fell in love with Hex Hector and Junior Vasquez’s remixes. When Whitney’s vocals soared above Junior’s pounding beats in ‘Step By Step’, I felt her message in every fiber of my being.”

“Soulful diva vocals are the biggest thing missing from today’s dance floor,” she continues. “I intend to bring them back.”

If anyone can, it’s Leah Driscoll. She has a huge, powerful voice and a wide range. Still, she knows that alone isn’t enough to move people. She says artists must create their own distinctive sound. She’s working hard to bring “character” and “personality” into her music.

“People love hearing a song that makes them feel ‘yeah, I can go on, I can do this!’”, she explains. “That’s what “If This Is Love” is about. It’s an edgy and modern kissing-off love song. I’m thrilled with how the radio version turned out and equally excited about the remixes. Groove Police (Josh Harris & Mike Rizzo) and Soul Seekerz add their own unique flavors to the track.”

“Ultimately, I want to change someone’s life the way Aretha and Whitney changed mine,” Leah Driscoll concludes.