Leah Marlene has a gift for pulling audiences into a spell. At the heart of her eclectic sound is a commitment to visceral storytelling, melodic invention, and emotional honesty. Marlene’s music blends the intimacy of folk with the dynamism of rock and pop, feeling both timeless and refreshingly new. She refuses to be boxed in, forging a path shaped by instinct, integrity, and a devotion to authentic connection.

 

Born in Ontario and raised in Illinois, Leah grew up surrounded by music. Her father, a member of the Canadian 80s rock band Honeymoon Suite, still tours internationally, and their home was always brimming with instruments. By the time she was nine, she was performing in coffee shops and farmers’ markets, and as a teenager she began making regular trips to Nashville to co-write and perform. Before her career-defining turn on American Idol, she had already released two self-produced albums and multiple EPs, raised over $15,000 through fan crowdfunding campaigns, attended Belmont University’s songwriting program, and was awarded the 2021 SOCAN Young Canadian Songwriter Award.

 

Her national breakthrough came on Season 20 of American Idol, where she placed third. The show introduced her to millions, but it was her ability to connect through story and song that left the deepest impression. Katy Perry said Leah could “hold the room in the palm of [her] hand,” while Lionel Richie described her performance as “a possession… spiritual… crazy good.” Her original single Flowers, written as a letter of hope to her younger self during a serious mental health battle, reached #6 on iTunes when performed and released on the Idol finale. Its chorus — “even the pavement gives way to the flowers” — became an anthem for fans who saw their own struggles reflected in her words, and continues to resonate with listeners who find comfort and courage in its message.

 

Determined to build on the momentum of Idol, Leah poured her energy into building an independent career on her own terms. She quickly sold over 4,000 tickets for a hometown concert that drew fans from more than 35 states, toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, and released her six-song EP We’re All Buying Into a Dream (2024). Written in the whirlwind aftermath of Idol, the project marked the first time Leah felt she had truly uncovered her own distinct sound and lyrical identity.

Over the past few years she has played well over 100 shows, ranging from intimate house concerts to major festivals like Pilgrimage and Summer Camp. She has shared stages with Jade Bird, Peach Pit, David Cook, The Cat Empire, and Margo Price. In 2025 she was selected as a Top 50 finalist out of 7,500 entries in NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest and named Nashville’s standout entrant for the Tiny Desk On the Road tour — a career highlight for an artist long inspired by the platform’s celebration of raw, authentic performance. She has also carried her music beyond North America, performing for the U.S. Navy in Italy and Greece and even aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea.

 

On stage, Leah is as magnetic as she is refreshing. She crafts transportive, moody performances that captivate audiences from the first note to the last, punctuated by goofy, unfiltered banter and moments of genuine connection. Every show feels different — shaped by the crowd, the room, and the moment — but what remains constant is her ability to leave listeners changed, as if they’ve shared not just a concert, but a deeply personal experience.

 

Now based in Nashville, Leah is currently working on her next album. She sees her career as something larger than herself: not a quest for fame, but a mission to create art that serves people and society, helps listeners feel what they need to feel, and builds genuine connection in an age of constant distraction. Grounded and evolving, Leah Marlene is less concerned with chasing the spotlight than with creating moments that matter. Her aim is simple: to leave every stage — and every audience — changed for the better.