Musician
songwriter
Leah Holtom is a 24-year-old singer / songwriter from Brampton, Ontario. With her tender yet powerfully soaring vocals, Leah possesses a remarkable gift for moving people with her music. She blends the best of folk and country music, leading her audiences on a journey with memorable, traditional styles, while still delivering fresh musical perspectives.
Leah’s songs offer intimate storytelling and captivating melodies that are accompanied by the classic instrumentation of pedal steel, fiddle, and acoustic guitar. Her endearing voice and rich sound are showcased on her recent debut EP, ‘Patchwork,’ released in July 2024.
As a pastor’s daughter, Leah began her singing career in the church at a young age. This is where she discovered the heart and soul of music and all the ways music can provide comfort and joy. As she began writing her own music, Leah was determined to incorporate these same elements as honestly as she could. Over the years she has pulled inspiration from many of the great folk songwriters of our time. Artists such as John Prine, Alison Krauss, and Gregory Alan Isokov have inspired her to explore the themes of family, human connection and the everyday experiences of people. Leah embraces the storytelling character of country, folk, and bluegrass music, and seeks to connect with her audience through the stories of her own life.
Leah further developed her artistry during her studies in the Bachelor of Music Program at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. In 2022, shortly before she graduated, Leah began to shine her light in the local music scene, performing at legendary venues like The Horseshoe Tavern, The El Mocambo, The Cameron House, and The Great Hall. In 2022 and 2023, she was selected for a variety of artist development programs, including The Honey Jam (2022), Folk Music Ontario’s DAP program (2022), and the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Young Performers Program (2023). She returned to the Folk Music Ontario conference in 2023 as an official showcasing artist. In 2024, she appeared in the ‘This Is Brampton” showcase at the NXNE music festival, sponsored by Brampton Arts Organization and Brampton On Stage. Leah performs regularly around the province both with her own project and other artists in the Toronto music scene.
Leah has been overwhelmed by the success of her independently released debut single, ‘Face The Day,’ which has reached over 8000 streams across 90 countries. Along with releasing her debut single, Leah released her debut EP in July 2024. A collection of five songs that showcase Leah’s strong writing and captivating vocals, the EP acquaints listeners with the full range of her artistry. Currently, Leah is working on a live video project series funded by FACTOR Canada which she looks forward to sharing alongside her EP in 2024. Follow along Leah’s journey and make sure not to miss any of her upcoming shows or releases