Leonie Jakobi is already making an impact after just one independent EP release, with 6 Music, BBC Introducing and Planet Rock airplay as well as at Liverpool’s hallowed Anfield. And some of music’s most influential names have played a part in her rise so far – she has enjoyed a songwriting session with Sir Paul McCartney, and has been featured on both Simon Le Bon and Steven Van Zandt’s radio shows. Now Leonie looks to bring more fans under her spell, starting with her new single ‘I Deserve To Shine’. Listen HERE.
Infused with a rebellious spirit that echoes Bruce Springsteen and Suzi Quatro with the contemporary touch of Larkin Poeand Dorothy, ‘I Deserve To Shine’ is a high-energy anthem of self-empowerment wrapped in nostalgic heartland rock, old-school rock ‘n’ roll and southern grit. Leonie’s fiery vocals exude bloody-minded self-empowerment and unfiltered attitude, making one thing undeniable: she’s shining brighter than ever.
Leonie says, “In this song, I’m taking a feminist stance, and calling out the way some people are drawn to a woman’s radiance only to try and control it. My message is loud and clear: happiness is something you fight for, and no one has the right to take it away.”
‘I Deserve To Shine’ was written solely by Leonie, and was produced by Alec Brits.
The song emerges as Leonie is putting the finishing touches to her upcoming debut album. The majority of its sessions were recorded in Nashville with production from singer-songwriter Arielle. Using a host of vintage ‘70s equipment and analogue recording, it’s a record that promises to use raw classic rock sounds as the basis for a modern, expressive energy.
Leonie Jakobi was born in Frankfurt, but she moved to Liverpool to study at the city’s renowned Institute for Performing Arts and splits her time between both locations. Drawing on further influences such as Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Petty and Bob Seger, her songs fearlessly confront the truths discovered from her own personal experiences. She compiled her early singles in her 2023 debut EP ‘Nothing More To Say’ and started this year with the single ‘Don’t Mind Me (While I Give You Up)’. She has played shows with the likes of Love with Johnny Echols, The New Roses, Leah Weller and Gen and the Degenerates.
