About Leah
“Leah Cotterell could sing the shopping list and melt your heart” (Rhythms, 2000)
With her deep soulful voice, Leah Cotterell’s real talent is digging new layers of meaning out of any lyric. Making her debut in alternative cabaret in the 1980s’ Leah’s musical world was transformed when she partnered with the best jazz musicians in Brisbane. Over the three decades since then, her band projects have spanned jazz, country, gospel and folk repertoires, in the company of great players, performing on TV, at major venues and festivals. High profile performances this decade include the “Memorial for John Rodgers” (2025) and “Songs of Justice” (2019) at QPAC, and “Festival of Tibet” (2020) and “Women In Voice” (2021, 2022) at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Leah discovered her vocation in an unorthodox apprenticeship, with unaccompanied folk singing, political and feminist cabaret and a break through blues band project.
In 1989 Leah partnered with the finest jazz musicians in Brisbane - Tony Hobb’s Bebopera, performing at concerts, festivals, on television and radio, and making a live album.
In the early 1990s Leah moved to Melbourne, joining some beautiful projects, and picking up a couple of theatre seasons in these years.
Over nearly 30 years Leah has made 13 appearances in the long running musical revue “Women In Voice”.
Back in Brisbane Leah turned to degree studies (BMus 1998 QCGU) and lyric writing for a new country and gospel band project, 18 Wheels.
In the 2000s Leah's projects were shaped by motherhood, developing producing shows with, and for, admired collaborators.
From her musical memoir and post graduate musicological research to social history research and community music, the 2010s were rich in new directions.
The 2020s have been busy with opportunities to perform music and create shows, as well as pursue writing projects and freelance tutoring of creative arts and music courses.