With over 350M+ streams and a viral smash under her belt, Leah Kate has built a career out of turning messy moments into unapologetic pop anthems. Now, the Platinum-certified artist is stepping into a new era with her upcoming album Genius, a self-described “PhD in chaos” told in three cinematic acts. The rollout kicks off with “Meltdown” and “ill” — two tracks that capture the highs, lows, and heartbreaks of spiralling with brutal honesty and a wink.

But behind the confessional lyrics and explosive choruses is an artist who doesn’t take herself too seriously. Whether she’s laughing at her own breakdowns, confessing to late-night TikTok spirals, or casually performing for 200,000 people at Tomorrowland with Steve Aoki, Leah embraces the chaos as both muse and motivator.

1883 sat down with Leah for 18 Questions With to talk about bad decisions, dream dinner parties, and why spiralling might just be her superpower.

What’s one exciting thing that happened to you this week?

Act I of my album, Genius, has just come out. I’m calling it my PhD in chaos, so basically, I’m officially a doctor now.

What was the last thing you read?

Honestly… my texts. But if you want a real answer, the group chat I’m in definitely counts as literature.

Favourite memory growing up?

Screaming pop songs into my hairbrush and pretending it was Madison Square Garden, pretty on brand.

Where was the last place you travelled to?

Belgium, to perform with Steve Aoki at Tomorrowland. Just your casual trip to dance in front of 200,000 people.

What was the last thing that made you laugh?

My own meltdown over something completely unnecessary. At least I know how to turn it into content.

What’s your nighttime ritual?

Convincing myself I’ll go to bed early… and then spiralling on TikTok until 3am.

Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list?

Taylor Swift, and someone who can cook us an amazing meal lol. 

Your new single “Meltdown” really captures that feeling of unravelling. What inspired this track, and what headspace were you in while writing it?

“Meltdown” is basically me spiralling out loud. I wrote it when my anxiety was winning, and instead of crying on the floor, I decided to put it into a pop song. Way more productive.

“ill” is paired with “Meltdown” in Act I. How do these two songs connect with each other, and why did you choose them to open the album rollout?

They’re like two sides of the same disaster. “Meltdown” is me losing it, “ill” is me admitting the situationship made me sick. Together, they set the tone for the chaos you’re about to get from this album.

Was there anything unexpected you learned about yourself while creating “Meltdown” or “ill”?

That I can actually laugh at my breakdowns, writing these songs made me realize spiralling can be entertaining if you package it correctly.

You’ve described Genius as a “dissertation on your own bad decisions.” Can you expand on that? What do you hope listeners take away from this storytelling approach?

If you can get a degree for bad choices, I’m graduating with honours. I hope people listen and think, “Wow, she’s a mess… but so am I.” There’s power in owning your chaos.

You’ve toured with Madison Beer, Hayley Kiyoko, Chase Atlantic, and even performed with Steve Aoki at Tomorrowland. What’s been your most surreal live moment so far?

Definitely opening for Madison Beer on my first tour while having my first breakout song at the same time. The crowd screaming every lyric back at me, it was insane.

If this album existed in a cinematic universe, what are some films, tv shows, or books that would co-exist alongside it?

Mean Girls, Euphoria, and maybe Legally Blonde. Anything chaotic, emotional, and a little too dramatic.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self about navigating the music industry?

Stop waiting for permission. Release the song, post the video, and send the email. Nobody else is going to do it for you.

If you could manifest one thing for yourself this album era, what would it be?

A world tour. And maybe a little less chaos in my personal life… but let’s be real, the chaos makes the songs better