Leanne and Naara is an indie pop/singer-songwriter duo based in Metro Manila, Philippines. The duo consists of Leanne Mamonong and Naara Acueza.
Although they began their musical careers while in their school, the duo began released their debut single "Again" in 2016, "New York and Back" in 2017, "Make Me Sing" and "Someday" in 2018, and "Destination" in 2019.[1][2][3]
The duo is currently signed to Warner Music Philippines.[4] They released their debut album Daybreak in 2020 with their leading single "Keeping Me Up".[5][6]
History
Early years
Mamonong and Acueza met each other in 2012 when they were both college freshmen at Assumption College San Lorenzo, taking Bachelor of Performance Arts course. The duo started their musical career when Mamonong was asked to perform at a school event, in which she felt uncomfortable to do solo but decided to tap in Acueza to accompany her. In the end, Acueza returned the favor to Mamonong by agreeing to perform at the next school events.[7][8]
In 2015, a few weeks before their graduation, the duo made their first gig at a local cafe in Bonifacio Global City owned by singer/artist and entrepreneur Miguel Escueta. They performed acoustic versions/covers of popular hits at the said place on a weekly basis.[7]
Breakout artists (2016–2019)
In 2016, a year after their graduation, they composed and released their debut single "Again". It garnered 1 million streams for 2 months and earned top spots on Spotify's Philippines Viral 50 and other countries' charts and at #12 on Global Viral 50.[1]
In 2018, the duo released their own version of Nina's 2006 hit "Someday", which became an instant hit on both radio and streaming platforms.[9] They would later join the Elements Music Camp alongside Ben&Ben and Reese Lansangan.[10]
In 2020, the duo released their first studio album, Daybreak, consists of 8 tracks featuring their lead singles "Keeping Me Up" and "Who's Gonna Love You". The album was co-produced in collaboration with Sonic State Audio and London-based Chasing Fantasia.[12] The album would later win Best Album at the 34th Awit Awards.[13]
In 2021, they released Daybreak (Live), a 13-track live album version of Daybreak including pre-2020 non-album singles accompanied by a recorded virtual concert, shot at the Maybank Theater's Globe Auditorium in BGC, Taguig. The virtual concert premiered on their official YouTube channel on September 4, 2021.[14][15]
In 2024, the duo confirmed their intimate relationship amid breakup insinuations.[16]
