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- July 14, 2021
The conversation around mental health has, appropriately, taken center stage over the past year and a half. Amongst all the chaos that was in 2020 and early 2021, we collectively recognized that we can no longer afford to treat mental health as a taboo topic. There are very real consequences to dismissing conversations around mental health, and the spotlight is on normalizing these conversations. Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter ChrisLee leans into this spotlight with his latest single, “Leave Your Light On,” an inspirational ballad in which he advocates for mental health. He is donating a portion of the proceeds to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing support and education to those in need.
ChrisLee began his career assisting major artists such as Miguel, Busta Rhymes, and Shakira at Platinum Sound in New York City. Taking musical influence from artists such as John Legend and Justin Bieber to Kendrick Lamar and Usher, ChrisLee formed his unique sound as a mixture of classic R&B soul and modern, infectious melodies that blend into a sweet, soulful pop treasure. He also founded earth + water records, the first label to focus on the well-being and multidimensionality of its artists. He is known for being a detail-oriented, introspective, and healing light in the studio, always digging in for more depth to get the best and most connected expression possible.
This touching acoustic track was inspired by an individual in ChrisLee’s life who was “dealing with major challenges and ultimately overcame them by seeking out help and addressing the problem head-on.” Of the track, he further explains,
I hope that when people hear this song they realize how important they are to this world and that we need them here. Everyone’s light is unique and adds its own value to this collective human experience. I want us to unite under our commonality as opposed to fighting over our minor differences.
This is a track that genuinely pulls on heartstrings. Between the lovingly delicate production and soothing vocals, it’s a track that sends chills down your spine but in a good way. The message takes an understanding approach, rather than a reprimanding one, which can oftentimes be what happens when it comes to mental health. The lyrics serve as a reminder that no matter how difficult things can get, there are people out there in our corner who understand that sometimes it’s just hard…but they’re still there for us no matter what. And not only are they there for us, they also need us.
The affectionate and compassionate nature of the track is accompanied by a beautiful music video, directed by Mike O’Brien, which features powerful dancing from Laura Faith Ksobiech and Madisyn Maniff.
