McLeod wants each song and album to be distinct. “One of my biggest fears as an artist is to make a series of albums or songs that sound exactly the same.” With, ‘The best that I can be’, McLeod melds a sound that’s all their own. It’s their debut album on Paper Bag Records and follows 2020’s independently released, ‘The Love you withhold is the pain you carry,’ and 2022’s ambient album ‘All watched over by machines of Loving grace.’

Citing influences such as My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Ros, Mount Eerie and Godspeed you! Black Emporer, among many others. ‘The best that I can be.’ was written over the course of three years-some of the most complicated but rewarding personally for McLeod. Not only did they grieve the loss of a close friend and bandmate, but they were dealing with newly found sobriety, their mental health, and concepts around gender identity and queerness. More chaos courtesy of a pandemic added to the mix, but McLeod came out the other side, trying to rebuild their life around more positive and emotionally healthy habits. “Going on five years sober, this experience has been one that has shaped me like no other has,” they say.

Andrew is also a member and collaborator with Daniel Monkman’s project Zoon as well as JUNO nominated Ombiigizi ( Monkman and Adam sturgeon of Status-non-status ) - both of which are polaris prize shortlisted artists.