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Leana

Feb 6 - by Freestyle FM

A couple of weeks ago we recieved the “Faith” CD-single from Leana.

With a background as varied as her hit music, Leana (a.k.a. The Swedish Diva) has a story that would surprise many. From her native Sweden to adopted hometown of Los Angeles, Leana’s history of strength and savvy extends from the business world to the entertainment industry and beyond.

Born in the small fishing village of Stromstad, Sweden, Leana grew to call the country’s sophisticated metropolis of Stockholm home in her teenage years. It was at this time that the tall, stunning blonde launched a career as a catalog and high fashion model. Though her modeling days were highly successful, Leana began to ponder the idea of re-creating herself as a business woman.

Leana formed Absolute Court Reporting with only one employee to her name. During the decade she spent as Absolute’s President, Leana oversaw all aspects of business and organization development, expanding the company exponentially from a tiny business of two to a bustling company with 40 employees.

In 1998, Leana made the life-altering choice to begin her first foray into the music business. Leana began moonlighting with a live nightclub revue, The Swedish Diva Show, which she performed at local Los Angeles staples Luna Park and Club Lunaria. The Swedish Diva Show became a weekly standing room only event and earned accolades from the press, including Los Angeles Magazine, who wrote that Leana “redefine[d] the word ‘Diva’. When discussing her inspiration for The Swedish Diva Show, Leana comments that growing up in Sweden, one dance band reigned supreme locally and throughout the world: “musically, when you grow up [in Sweden], you can’t help but be completely influenced by ABBA, and my producers love to tease me that I have spent my musical life channeling ABBA.”

Besides bringing in kudos from fans worldwide, the live show also put the spotlight on Leana’s talent as a solo artist, and won her the attention of Michael Lloyd, an accomplished producer with over 100 platinum albums to his credit, including classics by Barry Manilow and the acclaimed Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Michael was the first producer to approach Leana about working together in the studio, and their collaboration
eventually became the impetus that led Leana to record her first album, Faith in Myself in 2003. “The album title was really about me developing the confidence in myself to become a recording artist….” says Leana. Faith in Myself included Leana’s breakout single, Dance With A Stranger. The single, a collaboration between Leana and pop super-producer Peter Rafelson, was an instant hit that eventually peaked as a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Dance chart and was nominated for Best HiNRG/Euro Track at the 2006 International Dance Awards. The same year that Leana began recording Faith in Myself, her 10 year tenure as the President of Absolute Court Reporting came to a close. Her business-savvy and attention to detail paid off when she sold her expanded business to Paulson Court Reporting in 2003.

Leana began recording her second album, Feel Me, in 2006. In early 2007, she released Embrace Me, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Break Out Chart, soon becoming the #1 most added pick on the DJ Times National Chart. Embrace Me quickly scaled the Billboard Dance Chart as well, eventually landing at #7 in April, 2007. In late April, 2007, the single peaked at #1 on FMQB. Feel Me is set for release in mid-October, 2007, and will include remixes by Dave Audé and British team Soul Seekerz. Feel Me’s advance release, a rhythmic cover of the 80’s super-hit I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight entered with a bang at #2 on the Billboard Break Out Chart in May, 2007. The song’s pulsating, seductive rhythms are already bringing club crowds to their feet and makingwaves among dance-pop fans and DJ’s world-wide.

Now settled in Santa Monica, California, Leana formed Swedish Diva Records, the record label that manages and distributes her albums in the United States. Leana says that her decision to create her own label was a result of her take-charge attitude; “…most record labels are only interested in signing 20 year old girls. I wanted to show what I was capable of both in music and business, and Swedish
Diva does just that.” Leana looks forward to signing other dance artists to Swedish Diva in the coming years. If her rapid-fire ascent is any indication, we can expect much more success in the future for this Swedish Diva.

Tracks from Leana’s CD-Single “Faith” can be requested here

Leana’s own official website can be found here

The CD-Single is available at emusic.com