The Making of Hellfire & Holy Water: Leanne Binder Reunites With Producer Lee J. Turner

The creative partnership behind Leanne Binder's forthcoming album began with a Christmas song. Binder had traveled to Nashville to record a piece written for her late father when she connected with producer Lee J. Turner, a Grammy-winning musician whose understanding of rock, blues, and soul closely matched her own interests.

What began as a single recording session developed into an ongoing collaboration. The pair went on to make Binder's 2025 independent album, I Got Something to Say, and have now reunited for Hellfire & Holy Water, a nine-track collection scheduled for release February 12, 2027.

The album's first single, “Hellfire & Holy Water,” is available now and provides an indication of the musical direction the collaborators have pursued. Binder drew from the heavy blues-rock of the 1970s, specifically referencing Humble Pie, Grand Funk Railroad, and the sound of Marshall amplifiers.

Turner helped bring that vision into the studio with a group of established Nashville musicians. Guitarist Jon Conley, who has worked with Kenny Chesney, plays the majority of the album's guitar parts and takes a driving role on the title track. Audley Freed, whose credits include The Black Crowes and Sheryl Crow, also contributes to the record's guitar-based sound.

Photo credit: Elaine Manusakis with EveryAngle

The title single illustrates how Binder and Turner have approached the sessions. While developing its arrangement, the musicians followed Binder's instincts into an extended ending that arose spontaneously. The recording eventually reached approximately six minutes, a length Binder was comfortable retaining because it suited the blues-rock character of the song.

That willingness to leave space for a performance reflects a creative relationship built around Binder's musical priorities. After years of independently navigating the industry, she entered the sessions with a clear understanding of the sounds she wanted to pursue. Turner provided a collaborator capable of translating those ideas into a recording.

The songwriting gives those arrangements a personal purpose. Across Hellfire & Holy Water, Binder addresses the tension between independence and connection, anger and forgiveness, and strength and vulnerability. These subjects emerge from her experiences with difficult relationships and the challenges of sustaining a music career without major-label backing.

The album follows a notable period of renewed ambition for Binder. Encouraged by the radio response to I Got Something to Say, particularly in Austin, she committed additional resources to recording and promotion. Money earned through live performances and her vocal coaching studio helped make the project possible.

The nine-song tracklist suggests a range of subjects and imagery, with titles including “Dandelion Sugar,” “Didn't I,” “Dirty Little Secrets,” “Lightning in a Bottle Kind of Woman,” “Hallelujah to the Moon,” and “Mississippi Burning.” While the title track has arrived first, the remainder of the collection will become available with the full album in February.

For Binder, the collaboration with Turner represents a chance to pursue the music that first drew her toward rock and blues, supported by experienced players and the perspective of a long independent career. Listeners can hear “Hellfire & Holy Water” now, ahead of the album's February 12, 2027 release. Additional music and artist information are available through her Spotify profile and official website.