Canadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger has announced a brand-new studio album, “Waves Of Desire”, out October 24 via DevilDuck Records. The first single to be taken from it ‘It’s So Strange‘ is described as a song about vulnerability, starting over, and finding beauty in the cracks – you can listen to it below. With doubled acoustic guitars, mellotron, and Everly Brothers–style harmonies, it hopes to capture the shimmering “Pure Pop for Jerry People” (in a nod to Nick Lowe’s ‘Pure Pop For Now People’) sound he was chasing for the upcoming album.
The video, shot on an old camcorder in and around Solingen, Germany, leans into a warm, nostalgic haze. “The look reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to tape music videos off the TV,” says Leger. “I think that ties in with the purpose behind the direction of the album.” The new album was created during a short break from touring Europe. Leger and his longtime band The Situation stepped into Cologne’s historic Maarweg Studios to record what he considers his most dynamic album to date, drawing from the timeless spirit of artists like The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and The Zombies, whose music first inspired him as a kid.
Produced by Leger himself with contributions from Suzan Köcher (harmony vocals) and Julian Müller (co-production / guitar), the record weaves close harmonies, textured analogue synths into songs that expand on the atmosphere of his 2023 release “Donlands”.
Born and raised in Toronto’s East End, Leger grew up steeped in the sounds of Hank Williams, courtesy of his grandfather, and later found inspiration in The Beatles, Dylan, Cohen, Neil Young, and Tom Waits. Over the past two decades, he’s built a strong body of work — fourteen studio albums, including years of collaboration with Cowboy Junkies’ Michael Timmins and “Donlands“, produced by Grammy winner Mark Howard. His new partnership with Hamburg-based DevilDuck Records signals another chapter. Along the way, he’s shared the stage with the likes of Steve Earle, Dawes, The Sadies, and Ron Sexsmith, who calls him “the real deal.”
There’s a European tour later this year, but no more UK dates at the moment. In the meantime you can pre-order the album from this link.
