Ada Lea announces new album when i paint my masterpiece

Ada Lea shares surreal new single midnight magic and confirms third full-length album

Ada Lea, the musical project of Montreal-based songwriter Alexandra Levy, has announced the release of her third album when i paint my masterpiece, out Friday 8 August 2025 on Saddle Creek. Alongside the announcement, she has shared a new single and video, midnight magic.

Described as a dreamworld track inspired by visual artists Leonora Carrington and Maruja Mallo, midnight magic was written alongside an original painting that Ada Lea created during the songwriting process. The surreal aesthetic carries through to the video, developed with visual artist Clarice Hana. It features a giant creature woman giving birth to symbolic objects before delivering the artist herself.

Mirroring both the painting and video are Levy’s experiences while making when i paint my masterpiece. Reflecting on the song, she says, “I felt like I was taking a leap of faith with this surreal approach—and it felt good to trust that the song knew best. In an artist talk, Margaux Williamson said her new body of work took her 8 years to complete and said, ‘I am constantly needing to remind myself that the hand knows better than the brain.’ I nodded Yes. When it came time to record the vocals, a lot had happened since the initial recording session, the most significant being a second trimester pregnancy loss. It was grueling. As soon as I physically could, I started singing and resumed working on the album again. As I sang the first lines of this song, which go ‘angel, promise me this,’ I immediately burst into tears because I knew that the song was for my baby.”

When is Ada Lea touring the UK?

Ada Lea will tour the UK in August 2025 alongside Allegra Krieger, following the release of when i paint my masterpiece. UK dates include:

Friday 16 August – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club (solo)
Saturday 17 August – Bristol, Rough Trade (with Allegra Krieger)
Sunday 18 August – Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s (with Allegra Krieger)
Monday 19 August – Glasgow, Nice n’ Sleazy (with Allegra Krieger)
Tuesday 20 August – Chester, St. Mary’s Creative Space (with Allegra Krieger)
Wednesday 21 August – London, Lexington (Line of Best Fit) (with Allegra Krieger)