Known for her ability to deep dive into multiple genres and then come up for air with a hook-driven pop song, Cairns-based artist LT reveals her new single, "Real Life = No Fun," as a fine example of what it would feel like if Beck, LT, and Devon Cole joined forces and invited you on their next road trip.

Independent, emerging artist LT has their song ‘Real Life = No Fun’ featured this season's Grey’s Anatomy, a series long regarded as one of the most influential tastemakers in
television music.

For artists and industry alike, Grey’s Anatomy has a well-documented legacy of launching and amplifying career through sync placements. Songs featured on the show have helped propel acts such as Snow Patrol (Chasing Cars), The Fray (How to Save a Life), Sara Bareilles, Bon Iver, Vance Joy, KT Tunstall and London Grammar into global consciousness, often marking a pivotal turning point in their trajectories.
 

LT joins that lineage, making the placement especially significant for an independent artist creating outside traditional industry pipelines from regional Queensland, and an outspoken activist against ageism in the creative industries. “Age is still one of the quiet gatekeepers in music,” said LT. Grey’s Anatomy has a long history of
ignoring those limits and backing the work itself. Having Real Life = No Fun placed in that context is powerful, because it shows that relevance isn’t dictated by age, but by emotional truth.”
 

An Alt-Pop track with a sprinkle of twang, "Real Life = No Fun"  has just landed second place in this years International Songwriting Competition (ISC), one of the most respected and competitive songwriting contests globally.  

“Real Life = No Fun” is one of Double J Radio's Top 10 most played tracks, and is this years summer anthem that begs you to grab your mates, hit the road, and chase the sun.  

LT describes the creation of her latest track as ""Real Life = No Fun," which first came together during the lockdowns of the pandemic. My friends and I had just worked out how to group call each other, so we would meet up and share a couple of beers and a laugh together. Like everyone else at that time, I was imagining taking a road trip and being with my friends again on a beach somewhere, watching the sun go down, and taking our worries with it. "Real Life = No Fun" is still exactly about that. It’s about blowing off your responsibilities or other people's expectations of what you should be doing and just finding space to be with those that matter and having fun."

UK-born, Cairns-based independent artist LT has been on a steady incline in recent years, proving that she’s not stopping anytime soon. Her latest Alt-Pop-Disco single, "Mercy!"has just been added to all British Airways and Aer Lingus in-flight entertainment for the next 12 months. Showcased across their #NextBigThing segment presented by Tina Edwards from Soho Radio, LondonLT is the only Australian-based artist to be selected. The track was also added to the full rotation at ABC's Double J station.

LT, a four-time Queensland Music Award recipient, is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in music, recognised for her track "Act Your Age" addressing ageism. She has garnered attention globally, receiving invitations to perform at BBC Radio-curated events at the UK's 'Cavern Club', and securing heavy support and placements on Spotify and Apple Music.

Proving location and a lack of a record label aren't barriers to success, LT won the International Songwriting Competition and Unsigned Only last year. She's also achieved syncs with Channel 7, ABC TV, Spotify/AAMI Insurance, and Marketing Melodies in-store entertainment, while supporting major artists like Ball Park Music, Missy Higgins, and Bernard Fanning. As Leanne Tennant, LT's work has been recognised by media giants like Medium (USA), Clash Magazine (UK), and Rolling Stone (AU). 

With new music set for release, and currently writing for her next album LT has a busy time ahead, so make sure to keep up with all things LT in 2025 / 2026!
 
 WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LT:

"Each single feels like a real statement of intent, with LT speaking from the heart, and using pop as her origin language" - Clash Magazine, UK

"With two fingers to stereotypes and naysayers, LT, the artist formerly known as Leanne Tennant delves into what it means to be a woman in the music industry, from societal standards to the inherent ageism. It’s a bittersweet song that fuses intoxicating vocals and catchy hooks with rude truths – and sounds great doing it." - Notion Magazine, UK

"Went way harder than I expected.  Banger!" - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J Unearthed

 "Big, vibrant and moving dance energy here from LT and JHustl3" - Claire Mooney, Triple J 

"Vibrant and airy like cotton candy floating on a breeze, Queensland singer-songwriter LThas harnessed amiable bliss on her latest track Hold Ya. Wielding brassy hues, bouncy guitars and LT's effervescent vocals, Hold Ya not only slices through with a sunny disposition; it also explores deeper themes of love, struggle and resolution, handled with elegant ease by this talented artist." - SOUNDCHECK REVIEW, AU

Cinematic scenes evolve hypnotically from stillness to movement in this week’s Wild One. Exploring the role of communication in relationships, the video manages to be both wonderfully tranquil yet unnervingly haunting at the same time. RAGE, ABC - Wild One Pick. 

"Leanne Tennant most definitely has it going on! Happiness Is should grace a multitude of Best Album of the Year lists, and rightfully so." - MEDIUM, USA

“Bring It All back is a display of astute, mature pop music, delivered with grace and emotion.” - CLASH MAGAZINE, London

“Listening to Bring It All Back, is a testament to how piercingly clear Tennant’s songwriting intent is.  The vocals flow forth from the mix with all the clarity and warmth of a sunbeam after a rainstorm.” - ATWOOD MAGAZINE, USA

“The track has that energy of simmering anger mixed with the sweet sound of forgiveness and that’s not an easy blend to pull off in a song.” - LISTEN WITH MONGER, London

TRIPLE J

4**** The simple guitar picking at the start draws you straight in. The atmosphere Tennant has created through the song - with the stomping rhythm and the layers of voices - brings out such an ominous mood.” - RICHARD KINGSMILL - TRIPLE J

4**** This could be weird to read but I really love the way your voice wraps around vowels. The production is deluxe too, simmering reverb that gives the song a sun dapped quality and works with the build. Beautiful stuff.” - ZAN ROWE - DOUBLE J

4**** Nicely done from Leanne Tennant on this new track. I can confirm that it burrows deep beneath the skin after just a couple of listens.” - DAVE RUBY HOWE - TRIPLE J UNEARTHED

4**** “I love the layering in this. It’s unpredictable able without being jarring, and draws you in from the get-go.” LUCY SMITH - TRIPLE J

“If you thought Leanne Tennant was still a country artist, you haven't been paying attention. 'Bring It All Back' sees her even more wholly venture into synthpop territory than ever before, her natural vocal and the occasional guitar flourish the only reminder of her (still excellent) past musical life. It'll be interesting to hear where she goes from here. We'll be listening.” - DAN CONDON - DOUBLE J

"A bit MØ, a little bit of BANKS, and the musical answer to what would have been if Lana Del Rey had been a bit happier”. TONSPION, - GERMANY

"A beautiful voice that rocks you through effective melodies, a production and a perfect realization, a song of simply great quality. Like us, you will not hesitate to take a closer look at Leanne Tennant's musical catalog and we can tell you that you will not be disappointed."  IGGY MAGAZINE, - FRANCE

"Right from the haunting acapella intro, Leanne Tennant's commandingly haunting vocals latch on. "Gentle Annie" — the first track lifted from her forthcoming second album, Red Wine, Late Nights — teasingly edges towards complete collapse or euphoric explosion (dependent on your own perspective), as Tennant slowly succumbs to the soulful darkness of her late-night world." - ROLLING STONE

"Hearing her, without having seen her live, you can imagine she's standing there like Big Mama Thornton, with a guitar pointed at you and a no-nonsense attitude." - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Top 10 most played track on Double J Radio, Real Life = No Fun - 2025

Second Place - International Songwriting Competition (ISC) - 2025

2 x nominations at QMA's, Real Life = No Fun - 2025

British Airways Addition, ‘Mercy!’ - 2024

Invite to perform at BBC Radio Showcase, the Cavern UK - 2023

BBC Introducing ‘In-Session’ artist - 2023

International Songwriting Competition Winner - 2023

Unsigned Only Winner - 2023

Marketing Melodies additions Rollercoaster, Act Your Age - 2023

Channel 7 Sync, 'Better Homes & Gardens' - 2021/2022

Spotify / AAMI Insurance, 'Slow Down Campaign' Sync - 2021/2022

Rolling Stone 'Song You Need To Know'

The Guardians 'Best New Music'

Support to Bernard Fanning

Support to Ball Park Music

Support to Missy Higgins

Happiness is.....#9 in AIR Charts 

British Airways Addition '#NextBigThing' - 2020

Queensland Music Award 'Bring It All Back' - 2020

KCRW Premiere - USA, Los Angeles - 2020

ABC TV Sync, 'Mustangs' - 2019

Featured in Museum of Brisbane 'High Rotation' exhibition - 2019

Featured in Clash Magazine, London - 2019

Featured in Pop Dust, New York - 2019

Featured in Made in Shoreditch, London - 2019

Featured in Broadway World, New York - 2019

Producers pick, BBC Radio - 2019

Picked up by Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 - 2019

AMRAP Metro Charts top 10 - 2019

RAGE 'Wild One' + RAGE addition- 2019

Rotation Double J - 2019

Spot Rotation Triple J Unearthed - 2019

4*** Reviews Triple J - 2019

Playlisted 'Best new music' Amazon Music - 2019

Playlisted 'Best new arrivals' Double J, Spotify - 2019

Playlisted 'Roots n All' Triple J, Spotify - 2019

Rotation on KCR Radio, California

Rotation on Stag Radio, UK

Rotation on Celtic Music Radio, Scotland

Rotation on Artefaktor, Mexico

Playlisted Radio KC, France

Winner of Carol Lloyd Award - $15'000 - 2018

Winner of Qld Music Award - Blues & Roots for track GENTLE ANNIE - 2017

Triple Z - Hot 100 (2017)

Mentorship w/ Kram - Spiderbait - 2017

Nominated for the Grant McLennan FellowshipNominated for 3 x Qld Music Awards

Rolling Stone Premiere - 2016

Sydney Morning Herald, The Courier Mail reviews - 2016

Billy Thorpe Scholarship Nomination - 2016

Triple Z - Hot 100 - 2016 & 2017

Invited to showcase BIGSOUND, Red Deer Festival, Sydney Blues & Roots - 2016

Support on the Cold Chisel tour - 2015

Support on the Ash Grunwald tour - 2015

Invited to showcase at JB Arts Festival, Malaysia - 2015

Qld Music Award - 2015

Support Colin Hay "Men At Work" - 2012