Leyla McCalla finds inspiration from her past and present. Whether it is her Haitian heritage or her adopted home of New Orleans, she - a bilingual multi-instrumentalist and alumna of Grammy award-winning African-American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops - has risen to produce a distinctive sound that reflects the union of her roots and experience. McCalla has produced a multi-disciplinary music, dance and theatre work, Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever, which follows her personal journey as she uncovers the history of Radio Haiti, the first radio station in Haiti to report news in Haitian Kreyol - the voice of the people. Through this juxtaposition of voices - the personal and political, the anecdotal and the journalistic - McCalla gives expression to the enduring spirit of Haiti's marginalized poor in the face of several centuries of political oppression. Performances of the theatre work are currently scheduled in New Orleans and Philadelphia with more to be announced in soon. The process of creating Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever included listening to countless archival recordings of interviews by Radio Haiti's journalists, and McCalla specifically wrote "Fort Dimanche" after listening to a testimonial interview that Michele Montas - the prominent former journalist and station director at Radio Haiti - had conducted with a survivor of Duvalier's political prison. In the interview, the man outlined his living conditions, the daily terror and torture that these political prisoners were subjected to and the events that led to his arrest. This album is a soundtrack of sorts to the theatre piece, featuring the songs that Leyla McCalla wrote and performs in this work. McCalla's beautiful vocals are described by The New York Times as, "Her voice is disarmingly natural... her magnificently transparent music holds tidings of family, memory, solitude and the inexorability of time: weighty thoughts handled with the lightest touch imaginable. "
Release date:
June 24, 2022
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Creem Circus Get. Switched. On!
Creep Records
October 31, 2025 -
Runo Plum Patching
Winspear
November 14, 2025 -
Cat Burns How To Be Human
Sony UK
November 7, 2025 -
Mariel Buckley Strange Trip Ahead (Red)
Birthday Cake Media
October 17, 2025 -
LUVCAT VICIOUS DELICIOUS
Luvcat Ltd
October 31, 2025 -
Sharp Pins Balloon Balloon Balloon (Beige)
K Records
November 21, 2025 -
David Keenan Modern Mythologies
Good Form Recordings
December 19, 2025 -
Joyer On the Other End of the Line...
Winspear
October 24, 2025 -
Paul McCartney and Wings WINGS (Limited Edition, Deluxe) [3xLP]
Capitol
November 7, 2025 -
Daedric As The Light Left
Fixt
November 14, 2025 -
Charlotte De Witte Charlotte De Witte [2xLP]
Kntxt
November 7, 2025 -
Gary Numan 1,000: Live at the Electric Ballroom, London [3xLP]
Bmg
November 7, 2025 -
Bob Dylan THe Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963 Highlights [4xLP]
Legacy Recordings
October 31, 2025 -
Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Apple (Red)
Geffen
October 31, 2025