leah callahan - our lady of the sad adventure

Boston songwriter Leah Callahan's 5th solo album in 6 years, “Our Lady of the Sad Adventure”, out June 1, 2026, is a reverie which dials up dreamy synths, spacey beats, and captivating melodies.

Musically, OLOTSA continues the spirit of Callahan’s first four solo albums this decade - one of Callahan and her collaborators uncovering the depths of their influences, and choosing genres that suit each song. Music critic Dominic Valvona of “Monolith Cocktail” pointed out this process, describing her last album “Curious Tourist” as “a re-energized flick back through the record collection, picking out and giving a contemporary take on the new wave, power pop, C86, alt-synth-pop, shoegaze, and Britpop genres.”

In “Fall in Love with your Mind" we’re treated to 60s psychedelia by way of 90s Madchester. Not your ordinary love song, it peers into a world where “boys were men and ladies were in a daze … on valium and scotch whiskey”. If you listen closely, you might hear air raid sirens, a threatening undercurrent for the “good old days, bad old ways”. Callahan lifts us from impending doom, however, with an interesting offer: “Let’s change the mood from mad to madness”. While the lyrics here reference a famous paean to LA, Callahan’s is to Boston.

The city of Boston has a significant presence in this album, mentioned in two songs. In “Fall” the reference provides an intimation of malice; Boston is cold, aloof, a “city of stone”. Then in “Driving”, an ode to road songs equally inspired by Jonathan Richman and Johnny Marr, Callahan cryptically offers “I’ve been to Boston, and I can still remember.”

"Devil May Care" was written immediately after reading harrowing accounts from victims of abuse. It ends with a clear dismissal to abusers - ‘I… do what I dare … devil may care’.. giving all victims the final word.

“About You” is a musical thank you card from Callahan to a supportive Colorado-based DJ. With its silky Karen Carpenter vocals, it’s a soothing lullaby for grownups. “So when you feel you can’t get up, turn this on, it’s for you. When everything is so messed up, try to laugh, I will too.”

“Miss Me” features an arrangement that masterfully meshes quirky surf rock with baroque pop. This song was inspired by the experience of watching everyone in a packed bar stop to sing the anthemic “I Will Survive”.

Closer “I Remember” a cover of Molly Drake’s gut-wrenchingly sad tally of broken hearted memories, is given a jubilant reimagining in the hands of Callahan and her collaborator Chris Stern.

Callahan enlists, once again, both good friend and veteran punk rock producer/engineer Richard Marr. Multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer Chris Stern (The Sterns) has brought along another multi-instrumentalist phenom into the mix - Philadelphia based multiinstrumentalist and songwriter Ben Polito (Benny P, The Sterns) on drums.