Leanna Firestone Talks New Album, Dream Collaborations, and more!
by Lilli Newhouse | May 14th, 2026
Leanna Firestone is a Singer-Songwriter from Nashville, TN who first gained fame on TikTok for her acoustic guitar and singing videos.
“With over 100 million career streams, Leanna has built a fiercely loyal fanbase drawn to her candid lyricism and relatability. She first broke through with viral hit “Strawberry Mentos,” followed by fan favorites “Least Favorite Only Child” and “Diet Coke,” each surpassing 10 million streams.
Written through the lens of her friends’ relationships and breakups, The Answer marks a subtle but meaningful shift in Leanna’s songwriting. Expanding beyond her own experiences, she zooms out to examine love from the outside. The album leans into her signature blend of unfiltered vulnerability and sharp wit, turning hyper-specific emotional moments into something deeply universal. Her recent singles “Town Ain’t Big Enough” and “Victory Lap” offer an early glimpse into the project.” - Via Press Release from Jess Seewald
Her New Album “The Answer” Comes out May 15, 2026 at Midnight!
How did your journey into music begin?
Photo by Sean Worth | @Seanworthstudio
I would say the very first step into music for me was listening to Taylor Swift’s ‘Our Song’ while in the back of my mom’s minivan. I really just loved the way that listening to music made me feel! Music was the first media that I felt really transported me into whatever story the artist was telling. I love the way that music can be a wormhole into other lives, and ever since I listened to Our Song… I knew I wanted to make music and make other people feel the way that song made me feel.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
Taylor Swift, One Direction, and the Phantom of the Opera musical. I am a pop girl through and through (and I love anything with a little extra theatrics dashed in.)
Can you walk us through your songwriting process?
Usually, my songwriting process starts with lyrics! Most often I will see an average phrase, and I will turn it over until I find a way I can turn it on its head or apply a new concept to a common saying. From there, I will build out a larger story to apply the phrase to- and as I don’t fit squarely into one genre, I’ll let the concept drive what the instrumentation sounds like.
What advice would you give to your younger self when you were just starting out?
There is more to life than music. (Which I know is a weird thing to say in an interview about my music.) But I used to spend so much time focused on how to become a better singer and songwriter by focusing almost entirely on what other people were doing and how they were crafting their songs. And while I think monitoring the landscape is good to an extent, I would say that I have found my life and my music to be entirely more fruitful when I think of art as a response to lived experience rather than trying to make it the center of my life. Music, to a musician, will come back. Your art will be more poignant and informed if you allow yourself to do more than just music.
How do you stay creatively inspired during slower seasons?
When I’m not in a season of creating, all I do is consume the art of people who are. I’m watching TV, I’m reading books, I’m playing video games, I’m going to the museum, I’m going to the record store. I am engaging with other people’s art extensively and thoughtfully.
What’s a risk you’ve taken creatively that paid off?
I think any time I’ve added in a non-musical sound effect it has paid off ten-fold. I always get a little scared that it’s too much or too kitchy or too weird but I think I add them in tastefully so they end up adding to the songs rather than detracting.
Who would be your dream collaboration, dead or alive?
This changes all the time, but as of right now I really want to work with Audrey Hobert. I think we have very similar musical inclinations and I respect her songwriting SO much. We could make an amazing weird girl song.
What song off of your upcoming album are you most excited for fans to hear and why?
I would say Get Help is one that I’m very excited- yet, also nervous, for fans to hear. In almost every song where I express hurt or anger, I always make sure to extend some empathy somewhere so the audience (and the person that it’s about) understands that just because I’m telling a story from my side which is biased, that doesn’t mean that this person is not a human being capable of redemption. In this one, I allowed myself to not caveat or shy away from my own frustration or indignation. Despite my discomfort with not explicitly saying “guys, don’t worry! I know this is not that serious!” I do think that by leaning into my own feminine rage, it will allow my listeners to do the same. I hope that they will appreciate me trying something new and use it as an outlet as I have!
Do you have a favorite story behind any songs off of “the answer”?
Via Leanna on Instagram
Yes! One day, I went into the studio with a very sad, very personal half of a song. After playing it for the other songwriters in the room, and having a brief cry, I actually decided I wasn’t ready to write or talk about something that was still so painful for me. So instead we pivoted in the complete opposite direction and ended up writing a song that became ‘Town Ain’t Big Enough’ which is now one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.
What was the most challenging part of making your latest project?
I think the hardest part was just the waiting! I love to share everything as I’m writing it and since I was making an active effort to take time off and write this away from the internet, I found that it was extremely hard to not run to my socials to share bits and pieces!
What’s coming next for you?
After I tour this album, I think I’ll probably sit for a while. Eventually, I really enjoyed the slower creative process that this album took on and I totally intend to take a beat before creating my next thing- whatever that may be!
What are you currently listening to on repeat?
Right now, I have returned to my 2025 Album of the Year, ‘Who’s the Clown?’ by Audrey Hobert. Honestly, that's the bible for weird girls and I am fully studied up on it. There’s not a skip on there for me.
What’s something fans might be surprised to learn about you?
I really, really hate ketchup. Like not in a cute, polite declining way. But rather like if I smell it, it makes me gag sort of way. I am not a ketchup girl AT ALL.
How do you prepare for a live performance?
I have a trick that I do before every show, that I learned in a public speaking class in college. Basically, I will make myself as big as I can, on my tiptoes with my arms out above my head and I will growl like I am a bear trying to intimidate another bear. It’s supposed to calm you down or make you less scared or something, but mostly it just makes me feel a little silly so I step out of my own head right before I go on stage.
What’s your favorite memory from performing live?
Though it was extremely annoying at the time, one of my favorite memories is from my first tour in San Francisco. When I was in the middle of introducing this extremely sad song about my dad’s addiction, ESOEMOEHOED, the strobe light went off and got stuck. When the lighting person tried to fix it, it ended up getting faster. It went on that way for several minutes. It was so embarrassing but looking back, SO funny.
Is there anything you want fans to know about the album before they hear it?
Freedom is on the other side of loss. Very few things in life are more important than your friends.
Keep up with Leanna on social media: Instagram | TikTok | X | Spotify | Apple Music
May 22, 2026 - Deep Ellum Art Co. Dallas, Texas
May 23, 2026 - Brushy Street Commons Austin, Texas
May 26, 2026 - Rosetta Room Mesa, Arizona
May 27, 2026 - Constellation Room Santa Ana, California
May 29, 2026 - Echo Los Angeles, California
May 30, 2026 - Bottom of The Hill San Francisco, California
June 1, 2026 - Soundwell Salt Lake City, Utah
June 3, 2026 - Meow Wolf Denver, Colorado
June 5, 2026 - X Ray Arcade Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 6, 2026 - Cobra Lounge Chicago, Illinois
June 7, 2026 - Ace of Cups Columbus, Ohio
June 9, 2026 - The Drake Toronto, Canada
June 12, 2026 - Metro Gallery Baltimore, Maryland
June 13, 2026 - Crystal Ballroom Boston, Massachusetts
June 14, 2026 - Baronet Rooftop Asbury Park, New Jersey
June 16, 2026 - Canal Club Richmond, Virginia
June 17, 2026 - Cat's Cradle Back Room Carrboro, North Carolina
June 19, 2026 - The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
June 20, 2026 - The Social Orlando, Florida
