Name Leah Wellbaum
Best known for Being a fruit-enthusiast, and also a rascal.
Currently city: Los Angeles, C.A.
Really want to be in The middle of the ocean having a nice float amongst wise, hospitable elephant seals.
Excited to Go on a big headline tour this fall after a year-and-a-half off the road.
My current music collection has a lot of Musical theatre, Khruangbin, Chopin, Ktlyn, Cake.
And a little of Tibetan singing bowls and Megan Thee Stallion.
Preferred format Live music! Live music! Live music!
5 Albums I Can’t Live Without:
1
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
I saw this movie for the first time at musical theatre camp when I was 14-years-old and my brain was forever changed. This film kicked off my journey of thinking about gender expansively. For me, it’s one of the most unique and relatable pieces of work about gender-fluidity and rock and roll. I felt so seen by this film. It’s aesthetically gorgeous, mythological, and never loses its sense of humor. I return to this soundtrack whenever I feel lost.
2
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, Fiona Apple
Fiona has been a lyrical inspiration of mine since I was young, and this album is an incredible example of her virtuosity in pairing poetry with music. She makes challenging words fit effortlessly into songs, and that is something I try to do in my work as well. She is so bold and confrontational while also being surreal and philosophical. Fiona has always played by her own rules. Her work is brave and offers me permission to lean into the dark corners of my creature consciousness even when it’s a little scary.
3
The Best of John Fahey 1959 – 1977, John Fahey
I found this CD at my local public library as a teenager and checked it out on a whim. The man on the cover (John Fahey, of course) holds out an acoustic guitar in front of him with a strange and knowing look in his eye. This album was my introduction to fingerpicking and it’s hugely transportive. John Fahey is one of my top influences on the guitar, and his catalog is so deep. From traditional Christian Hymns to blues to experimental soundscape, he has been a leading sonic reference for me since the beginning.
4
Black Reign, Queen Latifah
Aside from musical theatre, rap and hip-hop was my earliest passion. This album is a beautiful and revolutionary rap album. It’s positive, peace-forward, hopeful, and overtly feminist. Queen Latifah preaches equality—if everyone listened to the song “U.N.I.T.Y.” first thing in the morning, the world would be a better place.
5
Live Through This, Hole
Live Through This is a masterclass in blending the specific and visceral with the universal. This record is both timelessly philosophical and looks at gender dynamics in an invitational way that cleverly challenges the listener to question their own position of power and victimhood.
I can’t mention Hole without telling my Courtney Love story. We opened for our friend’s band at the Troubadour in 2015 and Courtney came to the show with Pamela Anderson. Supposedly during our set, she was up in the greenroom and pushed our booking agent out of the way to watch us play. We were shocked and honored to learn about this. Our label at the time knew someone who worked for Courtney so they reached out and asked her what she thought about the show. She responded with the second best thing she could have said. Despite photographic evidence, she claimed she was never there at all.
