As a lifelong songwriter, David Leask’s radar is always on high alert – for fragments of lyrics and music that can be heard in the ether, or simply in a conversation. And it was a touching conversation about empathy containing one of these valuable song starters that sparked David’s emotionally resonant new single, “Feet In Your Shoes”.
“I’ll take some weight off every mile,
Let me put a little bit of my feet in your shoes…”
After one of his performances for long-term care residents at the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto, David was speaking with a staff member. He had always been moved by the great care and attention from SVH staff for their residents. A line in the conversation stuck with David. “The staff member said to me, ‘if only I could have put a little bit of my feet in her shoes’.” That’s all it took for his songwriting wheels to start turning and a melody was mapped out during his drive home.
At the time, David’s wife Mary Ellen was a full-time carer for her Mom at home who was dealing with dementia and he was very aware of the challenges that people in those kinds of care situations carry – the risk of burnout and feeling invisible, not only to the person they are caring for with dementia, but to other family members as well. Fueled by the carer’s need for empathy – whether in a hospital setting or in his own home – David set out to write the song, “Feet In Your Shoes” and to capture the emotion of a carer’s need for help but not being bold enough to ask.
An early demo of the song also captured the ears and hearts of industry peers when it won top honours at the 2022 Mississauga Summer Song Contest and David set to work on recording the final version at Mississauga’s hallowed Metalworks Studio, co-producing the track with Justin Abedin (Jacksoul/Justin Hines). The track features an all-star cast of stellar Canadian musicians, including Lyle Molzan (Jann Arden), Mark McIntyre (Dean Brody), Joel Visentin (Barbra Lica), Bryden Baird (Feist) and Sean O’Connor (NOJO).
“Feet In Your Shoes” is the first single from David’s upcoming eighth album, “One Ray Of Light At A Time”, targeted for a winter 2023 release. The single features energetic, upbeat production with David’s intimate vocal laid down over an infectious rhythm track punctuated by a horn section, stirring electric guitar and Wurlitzer piano. The story moves your heart while the groove moves your body.
David hopes this song will encourage listeners to think of people in their life who could use some understanding and a helping hand. One way they can do that will be by sending “Feet In Your Shoes” with David’s customizable Mobile e(Empathy)Card to someone you want to let know you’re thinking of them and to offer up some love and support at www.davidleask.com/ecards
A decorated artist with international acclaim, David Leask has been dubbed “the most consistent Canadian songwriting competition winner” by Songwriters Magazine, having won numerous contests including USA and International Songwriting Competitions. Leask is Mississauga Music’s 2021 Songwriter of the Year and his most recent record, “Voyageur in Song” was nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Association’s Contemporary Album of the Year. He loves to inspire other creators as an ongoing songwriting mentor and facilitator.
