Emerging artist Leonie Jakobi has been making waves with her infectious blend of heartland rock, Americana, and searingly honest lyrics — and she’s only just getting started. After earning major UK airplay support from 6 Music, BBC Introducing, and Planet Rock, and building a growing fanbase with her empowering single I Deserve To Shine, Leonie returns with her latest track, So Much Love To Give, a soaring anthem inspired by the joyful energy of Bruce Springsteen’s live shows.
Captured with a warm analogue sound at singer-songwriter Arielle’s studio — including drum and bass tracks run through a ’70s tape machine — So Much Love To Give offers a message of resilience, hope, and self-love, rooted in the idea that “grief is love with nowhere to go.” The single previews Leonie’s highly anticipated debut album What Are The People Gonna Say?, set for release on September 5th, 2025. The record promises to be a deeply personal reflection on the lessons learned in her twenties, crafted with timeless influences and a fiercely modern voice.
Having already received support from icons like Simon Le Bon, Steven Van Zandt, and Sir Paul McCartney (with whom she had a writing session while studying at LIPA), Leonie’s star is firmly on the rise. She’ll celebrate the album release with a special homecoming show at Dreieichenhain Castle in Germany, before hitting UK stages later this year.
We caught up with Leonie to talk about the new single, the making of her debut album, and the lessons that have shaped her as an artist and as a person.
Congratulations on your new single, “So Much Love To Give”! Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the track and what it means to you personally?
Thank you so much! The song is about admitting that you want to love, but also be loved. It’s inspired by the quote “grief is love with nowhere to go,” which I believe fits any situation where you lose someone. I wrote it after being broken up with, so I was filled with all this love I really wanted to give someone, but I couldn’t. I realized that a lot of people struggle with the pain of wanting to love but having to hold themselves back.
You’ve mentioned Bruce Springsteen as a major influence, especially in how he creates joy during live shows. What did you want to channel from his energy into your own sound?
What I love about his sound is that he’s difficult to put in a box. It’s rock’n’roll but with the Americana/country storytelling aspect. I believe he’s one of the reasons they came up with the term “heartland rock.” It’s all about togetherness and unity without anger or sadness. Even though some songs can destroy me emotionally, most of the time it’s hard to be sad and not smile when you listen to his music. That’s what I hope people will take away from my songs too.
The lyrics of the song touch on grief, love, and resilience. What personal experiences shaped this message?
I realized that a lot of time in your twenties is consumed by grief. You grieve friendships, relationships, places, versions of yourself. I’ve had a few very close family members pass away in my early twenties, I moved to a different country, I’ve had different jobs, relationships, and friend groups. All of this was so much change and grief, all while slowly becoming the person I want to be. The song was very comforting to me because “I’ll always be on my side” and I always have my own back. Whatever happens, I know I can handle it because I trust myself.
You recorded the track using a ’70s tape machine to capture an analogue feel. How important is that vintage sound to you, and what does it add to your music?
I love the warmth and anti-perfectionism of the tape machine. We only used it for drums and bass, but it felt very rock’n’roll to just play through the full song together without fixing anything. The rest was recorded digitally. I’m always a fan of doing whatever makes things feel easy and fun. But it’s very special to record similarly to some of my favorite artists from the ’60s and ’70s.
Your debut album What Are The People Gonna Say? is out in September. What’s the story behind the album title?
People have a lot of opinions about everyone and everything. And I often think — it’s really not that serious. Do your thing, have fun, let people do whatever they want as long as it’s not hurting anyone. It’s about learning not to care what people say, which is obviously easier said than done, but it sums up the album.
A lot of the album reflects on lessons from your twenties—what’s one of the most powerful things you’ve learned that ended up shaping a song?
One song on the album is called “The Life My Parents Had,” and that was a huge lesson for me. Growing up, you always assume your life is going to look like your parents’. My dad lived in the same house his whole life, he always had the same friends, and my parents have been together since my mum was 18. You think that’s how life works. But it turns out it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes that makes me sad, but usually, I’m so happy with all the experiences I get to have by doing it completely differently.
How did working at Arielle’s studio influence the sound and vibe of the album?
The studio, with all the analogue vibes, influenced a lot of the sound, but Arielle as a producer and friend influenced it even more. Working and living together for a few weeks was such a blast, and I’m so grateful for her guidance. I’m a huge fan of her own music, and getting all her brilliant ideas on this record is such a privilege!
You grew up in Frankfurt but moved to Liverpool in 2018. How has the city shaped your music and your perspective as an artist?
Moving to Liverpool changed everything for me. Where I’m from, there’s very little live music, especially in my genre. And often people think it’s a great thing to be one of very few people doing this, but there’s actually something calming about being surrounded by musicians who are all working on their own careers too. You’re not an outsider anymore — you’re part of a community.
You’re playing a special homecoming show at Dreieichenhain Castle on the day of your album release. How does it feel to return to that stage?
I’m so excited for this! I played my farewell concert there before moving to Liverpool, and it feels like such a full-circle moment to return with my first full album. Coming home is always special; I’m so grateful to have so much support from my hometown.
You’ve had support from some big names—Simon Le Bon, Steven Van Zandt, even a writing session with Sir Paul McCartney! What was that like?
I’ve been very lucky to have had support from people I look up to. The session with Paul McCartney happened when I was studying at LIPA and was picked as one of the lucky few to get a one-on-one with him. I was terrified beforehand, but he’s honestly as nice and kind as everyone says, so it ended up being a very inspiring chat where I got to play a few of my songs to him and we talked about them.
Your sound blends Americana, country rock, and heartland rock with really current, honest lyrics. How do you strike that balance between vintage and modern?
I think it happens quite naturally. Most of the music I listen to is from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, but I’m obviously experiencing life and society right now. So I think my sound will always have something old-school to it while my thoughts and lyrics are those of a woman in the 21st century who travels a lot and has conversations with people from different backgrounds.
You’ve only released one EP so far, but your momentum is impressive. What’s kept you grounded through this rise?
The hard work that never stops — which I love! As much as I love gigging and posting sunny videos on social media, in the end, a lot of the work is emails, research, and spreadsheets.
What are your thoughts on the current streaming landscape? Do you feel like it helps or hinders emerging artists like yourself?
I think there’s definitely something wrong with how streaming works and how songwriters and artists are paid from it. But I believe it’s also a huge opportunity for new artists. Yes, maybe in vinyl-only days, you’d get more money from the sales, but I don’t think I would have made any sales in the first place if no one knew me or my music. In a way, music has become more democratic, which I appreciate a lot. I always say streaming is for quantity and discovering new music; vinyl is for quality and being a fan.
You’ve played shows with some exciting names and have festivals lined up this summer. What’s your dream venue or festival to play one day?
This might sound very cliché, but Red Rocks in Colorado looks like the most amazing on-stage experience. Playing right into the sunset there — that would be a dream come true!
You mentioned The Stone Pony as a dream stage. Why does that particular venue hold so much meaning for you?
The Stone Pony is for Springsteen what the Cavern Club is for The Beatles. I’ve played a few gigs at the Cavern, and it’s inspiring but weirdly grounding to play in the same place as the biggest stars in the world. You realize we’re all chasing the same feeling — having fun and bringing people together for a big party.
Which artist—past or present—would be your absolute dream collaboration?
I know I’m repeating myself, but very obviously Springsteen. But also artists like Suzi Quatro, Brandi Carlile, or Larkin Poe. I think working with any of them would be such a special experience.
Finally, if listeners take away one message from your new single or upcoming album, what do you hope it is?
Nothing is that serious — you’re allowed to be happy and enjoy your life.
