Actor, writer and singer-songwriter Nicôle Lecky today releases the eagerly anticipated original soundtrack from her groundbreaking musical drama Mood via EMI in partnership with the BBC.
Based on Lecky’s critically acclaimed Royal Court play Superhoe, Mood tells the story of Sasha, a 25-year-old wannabe singer and rapper. Told in part through the songs that she creates, the show follows Sasha’s attempts to become a major recording artist. It’s a powerful drama about social media/influencer culture and the hustle of chasing your dreams.
Performed by Lecky (as she’s known in music) and co-written alongside in-demand hitmaker such as Kamille (Little Mix, Mabel), Ethan P. Flynn (fka twigs) and Kwame (ARTIST CREDIT??), the soundtrack showcases the unbridled talents of a real deal artist who can do it all – and do it with heart, soul, finesse, conviction and jaw-dropping style.
The original soundtrack from Mood features 13 self-written tracks that range in confident styles across R&B, drill, disco, reggae/ska, old school musical, soul balladry and “female boss Cardi B-inspired rap”. It’s a listening journey that propels you through highs and lows, from party scenes to crushing loss. It’s testament to Lecky’s talents that the soundtrack works as a collection of vivid, evocative songs even if you haven’t watched Mood.
While Lecky is an accomplished writer and performer in her own right, it was important that the songs for the Mood soundtrack were as truthful to Mood the drama. As Lecky said: “I wrote all of the songs from a place of Sasha’s mood, of what I felt like would be the best expression of how she can communicate to the audience what she was feeling. There’s a flow, and that flow is the narrative across the series.”
Music is central to the character of Sasha and a key aspect of getting audiences to relate to her. Speaking about Sasha, Lecky said: “She was always a wannabe singer. The reason for that is, I wanted this woman to have a talent that you could see. Because basically, these girls that we see in the show, they’re getting shamed for saying they do one thing – modelling, singing, acting – and then secretly they’re doing sex work. I thought: what’s the way to really have the audience onside and have them want her to do this other thing instead? And music was the right thing.”
A flagship show for BBC Three when it relaunched as a terrestrial channel in February, Mood has received unanimous critical acclaim since it premiered, with the Guardian dubbing it “invigorating, and refreshingly easy in its own skin” and the i proclaiming the show “an intense, absorbing exploration of ambition – banging tunes included”. Lecky has picked up fans everywhere from Vogue, NME, Gal-Dem and The Face.
It’s not often that life imitates art, but the original soundtrack for Mood marks the arrival of Lecky, a true musical superstar.
AVAILABLE TO STREAM HERE.
