Leah spent her childhood surrounded by music enthusiasts, thanks to her father's long-time passion project of finding and refurbishing classical pianos. She often spent evenings listening to her father practice pieces by great composers, like Chopin, Eric Satie and Bach. Her house was a gathering place for music lovers through intimate piano concerts, which her parents hosted regularly. "I was often deathly bored at them - at my young age, I didn’t have the life experience to connect with the pieces. Not until I was older did I really feel moved by music."
Her brother is also a strong inspiration for Leah's music. As a professional musician and producer, he helped her develop her music taste and approach to playing instruments. Leah's journey with music has been fluid, skipping arpeggios and music sheets to instead learn her favorite songs by ear on the piano, guitar and bass.
During her five years in Australia, Leah studied sound engineering at the creative media institute SAE. "That was the first time I used recording equipment and software. It wasn’t until the past year at age 27 that I started recording my own music and mixing". Leah prefers a trial-and-error strategy, pursuing sounds she likes over following a musical formula.
For Leah, her music is all about the experience of sound and emotion. "For me with my music, it is all about how it sounds and feels". Without any fixed plans, she lets notes and melodies organically guide her creative process. "I don’t plan things out at all. I set myself up and find a melody or note that moves me and then go from there" she explains. Music allows her to lose track of time and just feel completely present. Although not every song may make an album, Leah enjoys the process itself. "It's like surfing - Even when you have a bad session, you always feel better after being in the ocean.”
Her first album, "Shine," was released on 5 January 2024 with 8 tracks. The songs feature an authentic lo-fi production style and lyrics that cover themes specific to Leah's journey, but relatable to many of us. "I wrote this after the end of a long relationship where I felt I had to be less of myself (strong, capable, athletic, independent) to make the relationship work… I think women often go through this experience." Shine symbolises the importance of not suppressing yourself to fit in someone else's shallow box..
With the single "Cupids Chain", which was released on 14 February 2024, Leah gives a foretaste of her upcoming EP "Crush Notes", which is due for release later in the year. "Better", the second single from "Crush Notes", will also be released on 1 March 2024. She is also planning to release instrumental tracks later in the year, which she is particularly looking forward to.
Leah's music project sunbreather is not only an artistic creation, but also a journey of self-discovery and exploration. Through her honest lyrics and gorgeous melodies, she invites her listeners to find themselves and celebrate their own authenticity. In a world where conformity is often prized, Leah reminds us that it's important to stay true to yourself and live out your passions unapologetically.
Of course you can also listen to Leah's Sunbreather tracks on our REBEL YELL Spotify Playlist.
Photos: Sydney Nash
