Life is Sweet

Powered by Julie Cymek’s sultry, commanding vocals and electrifying stage presence, Sweet Leda is taking the diverse mid-Atlantic music scene by storm as one of the most exciting and accomplished live acts on the rise. In fact, Lou Plaia (co-founder of Reverbnation) describes them as “the highlight of every festival they play.” With its rich blend of new school , psychedelic rock, soul and pop, Sweet Leda’s heartfelt original music can best be described as a female-fronted, soul-based, Zeppelin meets Chili Peppers!

Sweet Leda’s sophomore album Let It In captures the live and raw essence of what can only come from years of steady gigs, blood, sweat, and a few tears. To capture this essence, the band recorded all together in one room, tracking analog to 2” tape. What came out of the process is an intimate, in-your-face, edgy sound that exemplifies Sweet Leda live, at their best. Let It In was recorded and engineered at WrightWay in by IRKO (Jay-Z, J Lo, Pitbull, Talib Kweli), mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Beck, Dr John), and produced by Sweet Leda’s very own “fifth Beatle,” Stephen Joseph Antonelli, who also produced and recorded the band’s first album, Need The Music.

Among the band’s many milestone achievements are: four Tri State Indie Music Awards, including the Groupie’s Choice Award in 2012; Best Emerging Artist DC/Baltimore in The Deli Magazine’s reader’s poll in 2011; sharing the stage with bands like Galactic, 311, and Jefferson Starship; performing at festivals with the likes of Citizen Cope, John Mayer, G Love, Cake, Live, Lake Street Dive, and Tedeschi Trucks; writing the end-credit title track for the feature film Lovely Molly by Ed Sanchez (Blair Witch Project); being hand-picked by Allman Bros. drummer Butch Trucks to open for his band at the Roots Rock Revival Masters Camp; and gracing the Miller Lite Stage at Summerfest 2013 in Milwaukee.

Sweet Leda regularly features tenor-saxophonist Ron Holloway who is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of where veteran jazz critic described Holloway as a “bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling.” Holloway has worked with the likes of , , Gil Scott- Heron, , and Root Boy Slim. He is currently a member of The Band.

“This band is the highlight of every festival they play!” —Lou Plaia, Co-Founder/EVP Music Industry & Artist Relations REVERBNATION “…the band that clearly is redefining the Baltimore sound as we speak!” — Kelly Bell, Kelly Bell Band “… they are one of the tightest bands on the local circuit and their professional attitude off- stage does not prepare you for their raucous on-stage antics. To put it simply, they are fun, and this new track [“Can’t Stand”] off their latest album embodies that fun.” — Carrie Neuman, 103.1 WRNR “By 3 p.m. they [Sweet Leda] had easily drawn the largest crowd, their fans echoing their stage energy, and, quite literally, their lyrics. Julie, the face of Sweet Leda, brought her A-game with killer vocals (her voice hit notes that are probably illegal in some countries) and the crowd responded with the careless, drunken dancing every band craves to see. ” — WLOY Loyola Radio ” . . . Sweet Leda was this year’s delightful find . . . Julie Cymek’s distinctive voice brought it strong . . . Think Adele mixed with Mary J. Blige with a certain South Of The Mason-Dixon Line ache that’s all her own . . . I listened to the CD in the car on the way home and it made my trip north on 83 quite the funky ride. There is not a bad song on it. I recommend you get one for your own ride or house party or whatever. You will not be disappointed.” — Randy Bucksner, TriState Indie “Their rock, soul and even funk influences are not subtle, and the band members do not hold back their intimacy with the music from their active presence on stage. Their fusionist sound may make you so inclined to stomp your boots before you kick them off after hard days work.” — Natalie Lord, What’s Up Annapolis Magazine