Ava Leigh is a reggae singer from the United Kingdom, originally from Chester. Born in 1985, she draws on mid-1970s roots reggae and presents it through a style that blends conscious lyrics, lover’s rock and a lighter, more contemporary feel.

Early background

As a schoolgirl, she tours with her school swing jazz band, and her singing already earns attention. She also grows up around Jamaican music at home, singing along with her mother, who is an avid fan, while they do housework in Chester. Before settling on reggae, she experiments with different styles including rock and R&B.

Debut album

Her first album, Turned-on Underground, marks her introduction as a recording artist. The album’s first single includes the hook “It makes me go la-la-la….” It is recorded in several locations, including Harry J’s studio in Kingston, Jamaica, a basement studio in Brixton, and Nick Manasseh’s garden shed near Glastonbury Tor.

The record is made with help from veteran Jamaican rhythm section Sly and Robbie, and with UK producers and sound engineers including Futurecut and Nick Manasseh. Ava Leigh also shows an affinity with older reggae singers such as Marcia Griffiths and Dennis Brown, and her interpretation of Matumbi’s lover’s rock song “After Tonight” is recorded with Finley Quaye.

Style and themes

Her songs move between different moods: “Rolling” uses Sly and Robbie’s drums and bass to evoke a late-night party atmosphere; “Breathe” focuses on the earth and the importance of life on it; “Same Old Thing” looks at routine and difficult experiences; and “Mad About The Boy,” “Who Told You” and “La La La” deal with love, including songs she describes as angry love songs. She says she writes about her own experiences and those of her friends, aiming for songs that listeners can relate to and remember.

Musical identity

Leigh says people are often surprised that a woman from Chester sings reggae, but she presents the music as something that fits her naturally. Her voice is described as carrying the spirit of a conscious reggae singer while still sounding personal and distinct. Her work places her within a modern UK reggae setting while keeping close links to Jamaican roots and classic lovers’ rock.