Montreal’s Ada Lea (the moniker of Alexandra Levy) latest single is “hurt,” her first new piece of music in 2021. “hurt” lives in a snowy Montreal winter, a city that Levy calls home and lives and breathes through her music. It thrums with bass and brooding keys, as Levy uses frank language and imagery: “somebody hurt me badly, now I’m stuck in a rut // now I don’t know my body // I could say it or say nothing at all // take a walk or take none at all // get on a bus back to montreal // tell my friends or say nothing at all.” When the song hits its peak, her voice is carried by a swirl of strings and quick-tempoed keys.

Like 2020’s woman, here EP, “hurt” was recorded in LA with producer/engineer Marshall Vore (Phoebe Bridgers, Better Oblivion Community Center), and a band that includes Johanna Samuels (backing vocals), Harrison Whitford (guitars, bass), Eve Parker Finley (strings) and Tasy Hudson (drums). In the accompanying video, directed by Monse Muro, Levy sits at a decorated table, awash in desaturated colors. Peculiar images and colors flash through as the song grows in intensity.

“hurt” follows Levy’s woman, here EP (2020) and her debut, what we say in private (2019), a collection of raw, confessional, and at times messy emotions, presented through beautifully colorful pop songs. “hurt” is a first taste of what’s to come.

We’re excited to announce the release of Culxr House:Freedom Summer on July 30th ~ a collaborative project showcasing a host of talent from Omaha, Nebraska, all tied to innovative community hub Culxr House. The compilation is available digitally and on limited 12" vinyl, with 50% of the album’s profits shared between the artists involved, and the other 50% donated directly to the Culxr House venue that brought this project to life. Hear first track “Inherit the Earth” and preorder now.

Culxr House is an innovative community hub based in the city that focuses on providing artists and creatives a safe space to grow their talent and obtain access to resources necessary to turn their art into economic opportunities. They exist to bridge both social and economic gaps through the cultivation of talent and artistry within the inner city. Spearheaded by Marcey Yates, founder of Culxr House, ‘Freedom Summer’ showcases the talent that has long been under-recognized in Omaha, captures the spirit of the Culxr House community, and spotlights a time when they stepped to the front of a movement for social justice in Omaha. For more information on Culxr House and the work that they do, visit culxr.house