Artist Advent Calendar - Day 11: Leanna Firestone
Written by: Keyali Mikaela
Welcome to Day 11 of Next Wave's Artist Advent Calendar!
Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the insanely talented Leanna Firestone—an artist who blends humor, heart, and honesty into every lyric she writes. From crafting melodies inspired by her dad's boss's emails (yes, really) to fangirling over Maisie Peters and Taylor Swift, Leanna's perspective is as fresh as it is relatable.
Her songs are the kind that make you laugh, cry, and reflect—all in the same breath. And let’s be real, anyone who unapologetically keeps Alvin and the Chipmunks on their playlist is a vibe we can all get behind.
Stay tuned for more from Leanna as we dive deeper into her creative world today. Who knows, you might just discover your next favorite lyric or artist collab dream!
NW: What's the weirdest thing that’s inspired a song?
Leanna: I would say the weirdest thing that inspired part of a song is the response my dad's old boss gave him after he resigned. His email reply to him (amongst other things) was something along the lines of "I've been doing this long enough that I know when people want to go, you should let them go." I thought that was such a cool yet apathetic response that I included it in Two Week Notice.
NW: Who’s an artist you've recently discovered?
Leanna: I've very recently discovered an artist named Abby Powledge and I think she's crazy talented. Everything she makes just has something about it that makes you want to start crying.
NW: What’s the biggest thing you learned about yourself this year?
Leanna: I learn so much every year. I am a very introspective person so it really shocked me when I realized but I am an avoidant person. Normally, I am anxiously attached when it comes to relationships but I realized this year that that is like the only thing I have an anxious attachment to everything else... very avoidant.
NW: What's the strangest place you've ever written or recorded music?
Leanna: I have written lyrics in my head almost anywhere you can imagine. I would say the weirdest place that I have a voice memo from is Universal Studios Japan. (It was not great and it was ultimately very loud after I listened back lol)
NW: If you could collab with any artist right now, who would it be?
Leanna: Maisie Peters! She is a dream collaborator and she makes the kind of half-joke music that I like to make. Her tongue is always in her cheek and I am obsessed with that!
NW: What was your most-played song this year?
Leanna: Probably Drunk, Running by Lizzy McAlpine. I am also obsessed with her and that song is by far my favorite off that record. It is so smart and thoughtful and if you have any experience loving someone with an addiction- you will love and hate that song.
NW: What's a lyric from another artist that hits you hard every time?
Leanna: I don't have to tell you about Taylor Swift's critically-acclaimed, 2020 album Folklore- but I do need to remind you of a line in one of the most slept on songs from that album: Peace. The line in question (although I could argue that the whole song bangs every time) is "I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me." She understands me.
NW: What song of yours do you feel most proud of?
Leanna: This is a really hard one! I have so many that I am very proud of. I would say the one that I am the most proud of from a personal perspective, like it was really hard to write, release, and talk about is ESOEMOEHOED.
NW: Who’s the most unexpected artist on your playlist right now?
Leanna: Unironically- Alvin and the Chipmunks. Next question.
NW: Do you have a favorite holiday movie?
Leanna: I love holiday episodes of TV and definitely watch those more than holiday movies, but if I had to pick: Last Holiday. But that definitely has more to do with the fact that Queen Latifah stars in it more than anything.
NW: Are you more of a ‘decorate everything’ or ‘less is more’ type of person?
Leanna: I looooooove decorations, however I hate taking them down. And I know that putting them up means having to take them down. So normally I'll make sure to go to a garden or a hotel or someone else's property that decorates so I can just benefit from the decorations without doing any work for them.
NW: What's the coolest holiday decoration you've ever seen?
Leanna: Any decoration inside the Opryland hotel in Nashville is the coolest. I've been every year since I was a kid just to walk around and it never gets old, it's awesome every time.
NW: Is there a city you’d love to spend the holidays in?
Leanna: New York! I've been there near the holidays and it is always gorgeous. I love that it's packed and there's so many holiday things to do, and someday I would love to be there during the holidays for longer than a day!
NW: If you could invite any musician to your holiday dinner, who would it be?
Leanna: I have so many!!! If I had to pick one right now... probably Maisie Peters. She just seems like a great dinner party guest.
