Leo LaFleur has thrown us a curveball. We’re familiar with the Prix MNB Award-nominee’s other works; 2014’s Love and Fortune, and 2015’s What Haunts Your Road, but he’s gone and written us a children’s album, and now we’re not sure what to do.
LaFleur’s latest release, the three-song Bonsai Tree EP is a gentle affair and a true gift to kids and adults alike.
The record’s origins are as innocent as the record itself. In 2017 LaFleur found himself living and working in China; teaching English to elementary school children, and it was while talking about the ‘little trees’ that the seed was first planted.
It was the marriage of teaching and music that first gave LaFleur the opportunity to see the light in children’s eyes; the willingness and wonder with which they sang along. He made up songs; the songs that would make up The Bonsai Tree, to teach the kids a language and a subject, and in the process, he found a bit of himself.
To break down the songs themselves is fruitless here. Kids expect far less from a song than adults do. LaFleur recognized that. “I think Steve Earle said something like ultimately every song is about the person who wrote it. And, to a large extent, I think he is right. But it feels less like that when writing for kids. It feels like giving. It feels more like channeling joy for someone else. You don’t always feel that way when writing for adults.”
LaFleur had such an experience overseas that when he returned he called up a stellar roster of friends to commemorate it.
Adam Keirstead (bass), Hilary Ladd (backing vocals), Katie Bestvator (cello), and Ryan Brown (Drums) backed up LaFleur’s voice and guitar and the whole thing was engineered and mastered by John McLaggan. This record kinda makes you wish it was longer than three songs.
LaFleur has written for children before. Several times, actually. His latest book, The Queen, was chosen by the CCBC this year for their Best Books for Kids & Teens list in Canada. These were books, however, and not songs We’re pleased to see how well he has made the transition. An ongoing partnership with Nigel Saunders; the curator of the ‘little trees’ we mentioned is sure to bear fruit as the two have plans to shoot a music video in the near future, and LaFleur is searching for an illustrator to bring his book, The Bonsai Zone: Nigel meets Mary to life. There is lots going on in Leo LaFleur’s world.
Look into this guy, folks. He has something for everybody, and that something will make you smile.