Leilani Patao

Last updated
Leilani Patao
Genres Indie, Hyperpop, Singer-Songwriter, Electronic
OccupationsMusician, engineer
Labels Audio Antihero

Leilani Patao is a Hawaiian-American [1] [2] [3] musician, vocalist and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. [4] [5] [6] They are based in Brooklyn, New York. [7] [8]

Contents

Education and musical theater (2012 - 2026)

Leilani Patao began their musical theater and songwriting education at the Jaxx Theatricals Conservatory [9] before enrolling at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where they performed in productions including Jesus Christ Superstar. [10] [11]

In 2021, Patao performed at the "I’m Still Here" virtual benefit for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Billy Rose Theatre Division. [12] [13] [14] That same year, they appeared, as a representative of LACHSA, [15] [16] in "Louder Than Words: High School Edition” to promote tick… tick… BOOM! . [17] [18]

In 2022, Patao performed at the American Theater Wing gala. [19] [20] [21] The following year, they were a finalist in the 2023 Write Out Loud songwriting competition. [22]

During their academic career, Patao received awards and nominations from the National Endowment for the Arts, [23] [24] [25] YoungArts, [26] [27] the National Youth Arts Awards, [28] and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative. [29] [30] They also received a scholarship from the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. [31]

Singer-songwriter career (2021 - present)

Early releases (2021 - 2024)

In 2021, Leilani Patao began self-releasing albums of their original songs with The Lovers Reversed, which was followed by You Always Loved Reading the next year. Patao also played and recorded [32] with the Prophet Tree punk band. [7]

Between March and June 2024, Patao issued the "Make Believe," “I Know," and "LABEL" singles. [33] [34] [35] Patao appeared on the June 17 broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as part of the "Battle of the Instant Songwriters." [36] [4] [37] The But What If? album was released on July 19. [38] [7]

Label debut (2025 - present)

In July 2025, Leilani Patao deejayed an "Intern Mix" set for Bayonet Records on The Lot Radio. [39] In September, they debuted on the Audio Antihero, [40] [41] [42] and released with the "Cut" single, [43] [44] [45] which was followed by "BIRD WHISTLE" in October. [46] [47] [48] The daisy EP was issued on November 7. [49] [50] [51]

daisy was followed by the "Red Hair Dye" single and remixes by Benjamin Shaw and iyrliaes. [52] [53]

Patao withheld these 2025 releases from streaming services. [54] [55] [56]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Compilation appearances

Other credits

References

  1. WXXO-FM, Classical 91 5 (2023-12-18). "From the Top features community activist and baritone Raghav Ramgopal, Sun 1/21 @ 5pm". WXXI Classical. Retrieved 2026-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Aloha 'Oe". Daily Joy. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  3. Sur, Kevin. "KEXP Sounds of Survivance Playlist (Nov 17 2025)". FMSpins. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  4. 1 2 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2024-06-17). Battle of the Instant Songwriters: A Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket, Waited Too Long to Get My Beach Bod . Retrieved 2026-01-01 via YouTube.
  5. X (2020-05-10). "The day coronavirus canceled prom and everything else for an L.A. high school singer". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  6. Doyle, Jon (2026-01-09). "Year in Review: 2025". Various Small Flames. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
  7. 1 2 3 Campbell, Caleb. "Premiere: Leilani Patao Shares New EP 'daisy'". Under the Radar Magazine . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  8. Blake, Thomas (2025-11-10). "Leilani Patao – daisy". KLOF Mag . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  9. Dailey, Frankie (2023-08-21). "Meet Past Winners of the Songwriting Challenge". NAMT. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  10. LACHSA (2020-12-13). "LACHSA Students Featured in LA Times". LACHSA. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  11. "High school performing arts were shut down by coronavirus. Will it derail students' careers?". Los Angeles Times. 2020-05-10. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  12. Miller, Deb (2021-06-20). "A 90th anniversary benefit for the Library of the Performing Arts' Billy Rose Theatre Division". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  13. "Star-Studded I'm Still Here Virtual Benefit, Honoring George C. Wolfe and Late Harold Prince, Premieres June 23". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-11-08. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  14. Wild, Stephi. "NYPL Billy Rose Theatre Division Will Celebrate 90 Years with I'M STILL HERE Virtual Benefit". BroadwayWorld.com . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  15. "Cinematic Arts Archives". LACHSA Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  16. Sirikul, Laura (2021-11-19). "High School Performing Arts Students Celebrate 'tick… tick… BOOM!'". The Nerds of Color. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  17. "'tick, tick…BOOM!' is a sound 'Louder than Words' for LA students starring in Netflix video". Daily News. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  18. Still Watching Netflix (2021-11-19). Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Louder Than Words" High School Edition | tick, tick… BOOM! | Netflix . Retrieved 2026-01-01 via YouTube.
  19. and Caitlin Hornik (2022-09-13). "American Theatre Wing's gala honors Antoinette Perry and women in theater". Broadway News. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  20. Moore, Deanna. "Performers Have Been Announced For The American Theatre Wing's Annual Gala". iHeartRadio Broadway . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  21. Glikas, Bruce. "Photos: Inside The American Theatre Wing Annual Gala". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  22. Cristi, A. A. "Finalists Announced For The 2023 WRITE OUT LOUD CONTEST". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  23. Editors, American Theatre (2020-10-09). "NEA, American Theatre Wing Announce Songwriting Winners". AMERICAN THEATRE . Retrieved 2026-01-01.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. "Go Inside the American Theatre Wing's Antoinette Gala Celebrating Women in Theatre". Playbill . Archived from the original on 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  25. "Leilani Patao". The American Theatre Wing . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  26. "National YoungArts Foundation (2021 YoungArts Winners)" (PDF). youngarts.org . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-08-11. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  27. LACHSA (2020-12-19). "A LOOK BACK AT 2020: CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES". LACHSA. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  28. "National Youth Arts – ArtsDig – Resource for youth arts". www.nationalyouththeatre.com. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  29. "America Theatre Wing". The American Theatre Wing. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  30. "Beginning the Journey | Dramatists Guild". www.dramatistsguild.com . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  31. "Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists 2022". From the Top . Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  32. "WNYU 89.1 FM". wnyu.org. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  33. "NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2024: Winners and Local Artists | WFUV". WFUV . Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  34. ""i know" by Leilani Patao. Combat Rock Thu Nov 27 with Teddie Chappell on WNYU". Spinitron . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  35. "WNYU 89.1 FM". wnyu.org. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  36. Doyle, Jon (2025-09-16). "Weekly Listening: September 2025 #3". Various Small Flames. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  37. "daisy - Turn & Work". 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  38. "WNYU 89.1 FM". wnyu.org. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  39. The Lot Radio (2025-07-19). Bayonet Records with Leilani Patao Intern Mix @TheLotRadio 07-18-2025 . Retrieved 2026-01-21 via The Lot Radio on YouTube.
  40. "Muso's Guide - Leilani Patao is Pushing Up Daisy". Muso's Guide . Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  41. "EP's Of The Year 2025". Postcards from the Underground . 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  42. Doyle, Jon (2026-01-09). "Year in Review: 2025". Various Small Flames. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  43. Marty, Arnaud (2025-09-21). "NEW VIDEO: Leilani Patao – "Cut"". HighClouds. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  44. "NY Slice: Local Artists | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  45. "Cut". Hype Machine . Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  46. "Video Of The Week #306: Leilani Patao – Bird Whistle – God Is In The TV". 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  47. "FM4 Heartbeat – Playlist vom 6.10.2025". FM4 (in German). 2025-10-06. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  48. "Leilani Patao shares new single 'BIRD WHISTLE'". LOUD WOMEN. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  49. "Album Of The Week: Sorry 'COSPLAY'". stereogum.com . 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  50. "EP: Leilani Patao – daisy". Indie For Bunnies (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  51. Campbell, Caleb. "Premiere: Leilani Patao Shares New EP 'daisy'". Under the Radar Magazine.
  52. Staff, The Alt Editing (2025-11-18). "Video Premiere: Leilani Patao – "Red Hair Dye"". The Alternative . Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  53. "Red Hair Dye". Hype Machine. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  54. "Brooklyn Indie Artist Leilani Patao Releases Engaging Debut EP 'Daisy' » LIVING LIFE FEARLESS". LIVING LIFE FEARLESS. 2025-12-16. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  55. Doyle, Jon (2025-10-03). "Leilani Patao – BIRD WHISTLE". Various Small Flames. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  56. Writer, Guest (2025-11-10). ""The Making of 'daisy' – and Why It's Not on Streaming": An Essay by Leilani Patao". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2026-01-01.