Leah Marlene

Performers

• Leah Marlene

  Leah Marlene has been making music since she was big enough to hold a guitar. Taking third place on last year’s season of American Idol gave her career a boost, but she’s been working intently on her music, singing and songwriting for as long as she can remember. She already has two self-produced albums; The Space Between and Many Colors, as well as an EP, Arrow and several singles to her credit.

  “My dad was in a band called Honeymoon Suite long before I was born, and the house was always full of instruments,” she recalled. “I had my hands on them before I even knew what they were. I started learning guitar when I was eight and started singing for family, friends and at school. I got my first paying gig when I was nine, doing covers with my dad backing me on guitar and singing harmonies. We played coffee shops, farmer’s markets and the little Circle in uptown Normal [Illinois].

  “My mom started a YouTube channel for me when I was eight, but I didn’t write my first good song till I was in high school. I got my heart broken. When a song came out of it, I wanted to keep writing and see what else I could come up with. My dad had been going to Nashville for co-writing sessions. After I had a few songs under my belt, he offered to take me on his next trip.”