Celebrate the Changing of the Seasons with Land Heart Song’s New Single “Green Leaf”
Land Heart Song is weaving childhood wonder into musical fun for the whole family on her new song “Green Leaf,” available everywhere now. This new track follows her first single, “Thank You, Tree,” which was released on May 12th, and her full album Songs for Tree will be released on October 27th.
Land Heart Song is Tiiu Strutt (she/her), a first-generation Canadian with Estonian and British Heritage living in Williams Treaty Territory in the small town of Mount Albert, Ontario. Since 2003, she has released four albums, toured nationally, and received recognition on national and college radio, including CBC Radio’s “Canada Live” program. Under her “Land Heart Song” moniker, Strutt brings ten years of experience as an elementary school teacher, which informs her work in creating meaningful musical workshops for families often in collaboration with organizations like Natural Curiosity.
“Green Leaf” is the song that catalyzed Strutt’s journey to create the full Songs for Tree album, a collection of ten songs that follows a child’s relationship with a tree over the four seasons. The song came to her during a walk with her 2-year-old and newborn on a crisp autumn day, as her son playfully kicked colorful leaves. This simple moment sparked a whimsical wondering in her– “Red Leaf, where’s Mr. Green?!” This moment led to the spontaneous creation of the melody and lyrics, uncovering her talent for perceiving the world through a child’s eyes and infusing it into song.
Created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Green Leaf” also marked the initial collaboration between Strutt and producer Joel Schwartz. Despite working in isolation, they exchanged musical ideas and tracks, with Strutt converting her bedroom closet into an improvised recording studio for scratch tracks and final vocals.
Strutt is passionate about understanding the lived experiences of all beings sharing the land with her and seeks to recognize the connection between social justice and climate change in her work. She writes regularly about her learning journey on her blog where she shares ideas, lyrics, and chords to help others connect with the power of music.
Land Heart Song is on a mission to help nurture love for the land through song, and her music is perfect to help celebrate the changing of the seasons with the young (and young at heart!) in our lives. Don’t miss “Green Leaf” and Songs for Tree.
Care to introduce yourself?
My name is Tiiu Strutt (she/her) and I am first-generation Canadian with Estonian and British heritage. I live with my family in the small town of Mount Albert, in Williams Treaty Territory. I am an artist and an educator, and I write and perform songs for the whole family under the stage name Land Heart Song. The songs I share are all about nurturing love for the land.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Green Leaf.”
I wrote Green Leaf on a beautiful fall day after going for a walk with my kids- then two year old and newborn. My toddler was kicking the leaves all over the sidewalk, and the line “Red Leaf, where’s Mr. Green?” popped into my head. It struck me as an endearing thought to explore, and the melody was quite catchy. I came home and wrote the rest of the tune while my kids played on the carpet, and I found I really enjoyed exploring and seeing the natural world through a child’s eye through song. “Green Leaf” started the whole journey that has become Land Heart Song.
I worked with Toronto-based producer Joel Schwartz to record the song, and the whole album entitled “Songs for Tree” that will be released later this month. Joel and I first started to work together in the summer of 2021, when we were still in the middle of the pandemic. We found our rhythm of collaborating, despite the isolation, with Joel in his studio and me at home. I really appreciate how Joel shows up as a producer- very open, curious, honest and keen to explore ideas together. It made the many miles between us melt away. I turned my bedroom closet into a studio, and that is where I recorded the scratch track and all of the vocals for Green Leaf. Erin Blackstock is a good friend and wonderful musician and singer-songwriter, and she later joined me in my studio to record the background vocals. I’m really proud of what we created together, and I’m grateful to Joel and Erin for working with me on this tune.
What’s it like being a musician in Mount Albert, ON?
I love being a musician here! I have found so much support and opportunity to collaborate with others to create and share live music. I’ve worked with our library, the local school, the farmer’s market, and with local festivals to share my music in so many different ways, from performances to workshops to outdoor art circles. We also have a great open mic night that happens in town where many musicians from town and the surrounding area gather to play; I’m always inspired by the musicians I connect with there. I’m excited to host my album release at our community centre next month- it has a beautiful hall with a stage. I remember when I first saw it, I thought to myself, “wow, what a great place for live music!” So I’m feeling really excited about gathering the community together in that space, and I’m hoping it’s the first of many live music shows that I will be a part of at this venue!
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
Great question! I think my first Canadian loves were Joni Mitchell and Sarah McLachlan, and my love for Sarah sent me on a road trip with friends to Lilith Fair when I was 18 years old. I remember walking into the then Molson Amphitheatre, and there was this little side stage with a performer belting it out and playing piano, and I was blown away. That was Emm Gryner; she really made an impression on me.
For most recent, I think of Amanda Rheaume. Her strength and grace on stage blows me away. I’m inspired by the work she does off the stage, too. She is a community builder and is doing amazing work with her label Ishkode Records.
You’ve been making music for a while now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
This is a hard question to answer! I still have so much to learn! I suppose I would offer some ‘bigger picture’ words of advice; that you belong and the world needs you and wants you sharing your unique gifts. Trust yourself, trust your vision, and surround yourself with people and experiences where you feel supported to be yourself. I think I’ve spent a lot of time and energy second-guessing myself or thinking I needed to sound/look a certain way to be able to find my way as a musician. I’m still learning this one myself, and these words are easier said than done, but it is now a key part of my practice to ground myself daily in trusting myself and what I have to offer; it supports me in then focusing my time and energy on creating and connecting with others.