Leland: The Pop Songwriter Turned Solo Artist

Leland is an American singer, songwriter, and producer who has shaped the sound of contemporary pop from behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. Hailing from Texas, his major achievement includes co-writing multiple chart-topping hits for major artists and releasing his own critically acclaimed solo work.

Early career

Born in 1991, Leland (born Brett McLaughlin) began his artistic journey in theater before transitioning to music. His early career was defined by songwriting and production, leading to his first major label publishing deal in the mid-2010s where he quickly became a sought-after collaborator in the pop landscape.

Breakthrough

Leland's breakthrough as a songwriter came with his work on Troye Sivan's 2015 debut album Blue Neighbourhood, including the single Youth which achieved platinum certifications in multiple countries. His own solo artist breakthrough arrived with the 2018 release of his debut EP, The Midnight, introducing his distinct vocal style and introspective lyricism.

Key tracks

Mattress — This 2018 single established Leland's solo sound and tackled personal themes with a sleek pop production.

Another Lover — A standout track from his later work that showcases his evolution into more dance-oriented pop music.

Fall Away — This song highlights Leland's skill in crafting emotive ballads with strong melodic hooks.

Loose — A collaboration with BTS that demonstrates his reach and versatility in global pop songwriting.

Collaborations and Solo Work

Leland's collaborative resume is extensive, including writing and production credits for Selena Gomez, Allie X, and Chelsea Cutler. He co-wrote several tracks on Troye Sivan's 2018 album Bloom, including the title track and the single My My My!. His solo work continued with the 2021 EP, About Time, further exploring themes of love, identity, and self-discovery within the pop genre.

His songwriting partnership with artists like Sivan and Gomez has resulted in songs accumulating hundreds of millions of streams globally. Leland balances this collaborative success with a steady output of his own music, building a dedicated fanbase attracted to his honest songwriting.

Fans of Leland's polished pop songcraft may also enjoy the work of similar artists. Troye Sivan shares a collaborative history and a focus on intimate, queer pop narratives. Allie X operates in a similar sphere of inventive and theatrical synth-pop. Chelsea Cutler blends emotive lyricism with electronic production in a comparable way. FLETCHER explores personal storytelling in pop music with a similarly candid approach.

Leland's music, both his solo projects and the hits he has written for others, receives regular airplay on modern pop radio stations and online pop music streams. His songs are featured on independent music radio stations that champion songwriter-driven pop, ensuring his sound reaches a broad audience of listeners.

You can hear the music of Leland on various radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his solo tracks and the major pop hits he has co-written through the curated pop and alternative radio stations available on onairium.com.