Leverage for Mountains
Leverage For Mountains is Nick Loyer, Jay Trépanier and Jay Flynn. Based in Gatineau, the indie/folk trio is quickly gaining popularity with their rich acoustic sound and powerful vocal harmonies.
The band quietly released their first E.P. in 2016, titled "The Essence Project", introducing their audience to their simplistic approach to giving springboard to the lyrics offered and the emotions induced in their songs. All of this is served with captivating melodies and meticulous vocal harmonies. The trio was awarded "Public’s Choice" at the Cabaret le Festif! (Charlevoix, QC) in 2017 and has been performing throughout Quebec and Ontario, whether it be intimate house concerts or at big festivals such as the Mariposa Folk Festival (Orillia, ON) and Blue Skies Festival (Clarendon, ON).
Just before the pandemic, Don Bird, former Artistic Director of the Summerfolk Music and Dance Festival (Owen Sound, ON) claimed "These guys stunned the Folk Music Ontario conference. A 'must-see' Gatineau band that should be at every festival next year”. During the pandemic, the trio performed at many virtual events, including the 2020 edition of the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival where they shared the main stage with Luce Dufault for the performance of one of their songs "Without You", a performance acclaimed as a highlight of the event. LFM was invited back the following year for the 2021 edition of the festival, where they opened for Matt Lang and Les Cowboys Fringants.
In 2022, the trio launched their second album, Love Out of the Dark, at a sold-out performance at Salle Jean-Desprèz in Gatineau, where all tickets were sold out in just a few hours. The band is the first emerging artist to fill this venue in record time. The next day, François Dubé, producer and pianist, who attended the E.P launch, testifies during an interview on 94.5 Unique FM: "C'était un événement avec un grand "E" (...) Ce groupe-là est extraordinaire (...) Pour donner une idée aux gens, ça fait penser à Crosby, Stills & Nash, version 2022. Je te dirais même qu'on y retrouve des couleurs de Fleetwood Mac. (...) J'ai pas de mots, eux autres, sont prêts pour l'international..." Their audience was so enthusiastic that LFM announced an additional show at the Microbrasserie artisanale À La Dérive, a show that sold out just as quickly.
The trio also performs song clips on their various social media platforms to get exposure beyond the performance circuit. LFM was discovered by the manager of Los Angeles-based Jamestown Revival, Marc Friedenberg, who gave them a rave review: "I can't believe these guys don't have representation. They are f***ing unbelievable. I've been listening to their album non-stop for a week, their music just stays with me. I think Love Out of the Dark is a game-changer."
"Less is more" is the motto the trio uses to describe their approach to their music. Their striking harmonies, coupled with the poignant lyrics of their songs, undoubtedly leave their listeners wanting more.