Leah Kate is one of pop’s most unapologetic and dynamic voices, known for transforming her personal chaos into powerful anthems. With over a billion global streams, platinum certifications, and viral smashes like “10 Things I Hate About You,” she’s gone from TikTok sensation to Billboard-charting artist, touring with the likes of Madison Beer and Hayley Kiyoko and even sharing the stage with Steve Aoki at Tomorrowland.
Leah now returns with “Genius,” a project that digs deeper into her unfiltered storytelling, exposing not just heartbreaks and exes, but also her own spirals, mistakes, and breakthroughs. Split into cinematic acts, the album begins with “Act I: It Doesn’t Take a Genius (To Ruin Everything),” featuring the focus single “Meltdown.” Each act captures a different layer of Leah’s unraveling, blending humor, honesty, and catharsis.
What’s the story behind calling the album “Genius”?
The title is ironic. The album is a dissertation on all my bad decisions, meltdowns, and chaotic choices that somehow turned into songs. It’s me owning the mess and still calling it genius, because sometimes survival itself feels like a brilliant act.
The album is being released in acts, starting with “Act I: It Doesn’t Take a Genius (To Ruin Everything).” Can you walk us through your vision behind this unique rollout structure?
I wanted the release to feel cinematic, almost like you’re watching me spiral in real time. Breaking it into acts makes it more like chapters in a story, each one a little darker, funnier, and more self-aware than the last, until the full picture comes together. It keeps the chaos organized, if that makes sense.
“Genius” deals with your own mistakes and meltdowns. Is there a song on the album that was particularly challenging or therapeutic to write?
“Meltdown” was both. I wrote it during one of the most anxious periods of my life; it felt like everything was falling apart, and the only way I could cope was to put it into a song. By the time I finished it, I felt a sense of relief. Like I’d taken my spiral and made it into something I could dance to.
You recently co-wrote Kesha’s single ATTENTION! Featuring Slayyyter and Rose Gray. How does your approach differ when writing for other artists versus your own material?
When I write for myself, I’m brutally personal; it’s literally my diary in melody form. When I write for others, it’s more like stepping into their world and amplifying their voice. With Kesha, it was about channeling her wild, fearless energy. With me, it’s about exposing all the messy parts I’d usually try to hide.
From your breakout hit “10 Things I Hate About You” to performing at Tomorrowland with Steve Aoki, your rise has been meteoric. What have been some of the most defining moments of your career so far?
Opening for Madison Beer, Anne-Marie, and Hayley Kiyoko was huge for me; those shows really shaped my artistry. Having “10 Things” blow up while I was on the Madison Beer tour was surreal, because it was my first time playing for crowds like that, and suddenly everyone was screaming my song back at me. Playing Tomorrowland with Steve Aoki is also a core memory, like a pop girl meeting a rave king in front of tens of thousands of people. Those moments remind me why I do what I do.
Going from TikTok virality to charting on Billboard, how has navigating the music industry changed for you since your early breakout?
At first, everything felt like a lottery ticket: one viral video, and your life changed overnight. Now it’s more about building longevity and strategy. I’ve learned how to take the chaos of virality and turn it into something sustainable while still keeping that unfiltered, impulsive energy that people connected to in the first place.
How is “Genius” different from your debut album, “Super Over”?
“Super Over” was me discovering my voice and putting my world into songs for the first time. “Genius” digs deeper. It’s raw, unfiltered, and way more self-aware. I’m not just roasting exes anymore; I’m calling myself out too.
Most memorable tour or festival moment so far?
The Madison Beer tour, hands down. It was my first tour, and I had a hit at the same time. Hearing thousands of people scream “10 Things I Hate About You” back at me every night was completely surreal.
What do you want fans to feel when they hear the album from start to finish?
I want them to feel seen in their chaos. To laugh at the drama, cry at the meltdowns, and leave feeling like maybe being a little bit of a disaster isn’t the worst thing in the world. If anything, it makes you human, and sometimes, that’s genius.
Photos/ Amy Lee
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