Album review: LEONI JANE KENNEDY – Synthetic

LEONI JANE KENNEDY - Synthetic

www.leonijanekennedy.com [Release date 15.06.26]

Andy Sharrocks commented, reviewing the fourth single of 2025 ‘Sloe’, “it kind of goes nowhere”. That track is included here on Leoni’s second album ‘Synthetic’ which is essentially a collection of those singles.

She has a background in musical school, then playing guitar with prog rockers The Anchoress whilst now a member of the Solstice “harem”. Her first album was one of Rush acoustic covers ‘New World Woman’ and released in 2023.

She’s still only 25, although she has been plying her trade since at least 2018 when she won a Freddie Mercury Scholarship at the ACM. I couldn’t help wondering whether Leoni’s upward trajectory will be any more successful than GRTR! favourite Chantel McGregor who can also straddle classic rock and prog (and another talented vocalist/guitarist/songwriter).

All tracks feature excellent honeyed vocals and capable guitar from the title ‘Synthetic’ to ‘Temple’. The lyrics may well be written from the heart, including ‘Jesse’ (a tribute to a long standing friendship and her “amp guru”). ‘Different Woman’ was originally entitled ‘Different Kind Of Woman’.

Perhaps as a result of the singles, the overall vibe of this album is a little samey. Venturing beyond a somewhat strict (if vinyl friendly) 34 minutes would have allowed more variety and light and shade. It’s a shame, too, that other songs she’s performed live (and were never “singles”) don’t appear here. For example, ‘Ammunition’.

And what about ‘Sloe’? Well that was the first single to bring Leoni to our attention via the radio station’s ‘New to GRTR!’ show. It is a grower and, like the album as a whole, is a fair enough summary of her burgeoning talents. Sorry Andy! ****

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 25 May 2026

BABY JANE Midnight Highway (Sped Up) (indie)
ASTRAL ROCKS The Flame In Me (Astral Rocks Prodns.)
INDIGO SYNDICATE dwn4smr (indie)
THE SKBS The Prying Eye (indie)
AGAINST THE CURRENT Dead Man Walking (indie)
ICONIC Tears Keep On Falling (Frontiers)

Featured Albums w/c 25 May 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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