SHU music major works towards releasing EP with Kickstarter

LeaLea Marra, a senior music therapy major at Seton Hill University (SHU), is working towards releasing her first EP–a musical recording of a couple of her original songs. She is raising money through Kickstarter, and so far has raised $1,341 from 54 backers—nearly halfway to her $3000 goal. The deadline for her Kickstarter is Dec. 6.

Marra has been a singer/songwriter since she was 11. “I was just immediately drawn to music,” said Marra. Marra grew up in a musical household—her father was a musician, and she also had a piano she would play around with when she was little.

The 2003 film “Freaky Friday” also inspired Marra. “Seeing Lindsay Lohan shredding it on the guitar plus in a band made me want to do that,” said Marra. After watching the film, she asked her father to teach her guitar. She mastered a few chords in a week and wrote a song with them. “It was weird how lyrics flowed when I was playing.”

Marra has advanced as a singer/songwriter since learning those first few chords. She has played at local venues around Greensburg, as well as larger venues such as the Beachland Ballroom, Mahalls 20 Lanes, and Barking Spider in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

“The EP will let me share my music and be able to play more shows,” said Marra. “Hopefully it will let people become more aware of my music.”

All of the donations from Kickstarter will go toward the studio time, hard copies, mastering, studio musicians, and some of the perks backers can receive such as posters, t-shirts, buttons, and homemade goodies.

Listen to a sample of Marra’s single, “Heartbeat,” and help support her project on Kickstarter. Every donation is appreciated!

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