We caught up with rapidly rising star Leena Punks who is making waves with her audacious melodic house, techno and breakbeat productions. Having emerged just 6 years ago in 2020, Leena Punks has swiftly built momentum with releases on major labels like Enhanced Music, Anjunabeats and Armada Music, while she has also wowed crowds at festivals like Tomorrowland and Creamfields.
The London-based artist is a regular fixture in the Beatport Top 10, and she has garnered acclaim from greats such as MEDUZA, Vintage Culture, Armin van Buuren and Gorgon City. In the interview, Leena Punks discusses creating her latest single ‘In The Night’ at ADE, her musical influences, crafting the distinct “Leena Punks” sound and more!
Congratulations on your new single ‘In The Night’! When you were building the track, what feeling were you trying to capture on the dancefloor? 
With ‘In The Night’ I wanted to capture that moment on the dancefloor where everything feels hypnotic but also emotional at the same time. It is that point in the night when the lights are low, the groove locks in, and people are completely pulled into the music. I am always chasing that balance between energy and atmosphere. Something that hits hard in a club but also feels cinematic and emotional.
You also mentioned chasing a “proggy 80s feeling.” What is it about that era that feels so powerful to you in electronic music today?
There was always a lot of 80s music playing around my house when I was growing up. I was constantly surrounded by artists like Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, and I spent a lot of time going through my dad’s insane vinyl collection. At one point I discovered he had the Gremlins soundtrack on vinyl and I remember being fascinated by the quirky synth sounds on it.
Later on there was also a resurgence of that era during the early 2010s with things like the Drive soundtrack and Grimes’ album Visions, which really inspired me as well. That whole period has this cinematic, slightly nostalgic feeling in the synths that still feels incredibly powerful today when you combine it with modern production.
You created ‘In The Night’ during ADE with Braev. What is it about those high energy environments like ADE which sparks creativity differently than a normal studio session?
ADE has an incredible energy because everyone is there for the same reason. You are surrounded by artists, DJs and producers talking about ideas all day, hearing new music and sharing inspiration. There is a real momentum that builds.
Working with Braev, whose real name is Pascal, was very natural in that environment. He quickly laid out the idea for the vocal and had a very particular vocal chain that immediately gave it character. That inspired me to start chopping parts of the vocal and using them almost like a synth. It ended up creating these textures that felt like little nods to artists like Daft Punk and Justice.
Did working with Braev push you outside of your comfort zone in any capacity?
Definitely in a good way. Pascal has a really strong instinct for giving a track character. His vocal chain and his approach to melody pushed me to explore a slightly darker but still euphoric sound that feels nostalgic at the same time. It encouraged me to lean further into that proggy, emotional atmosphere while still keeping the groove strong.
Your music often moves between melodic house, techno and breaks. How have you gone about building your own lane between these genres to create the distinct Leena Punks feel?
I have never really approached it by choosing one lane. I grew up loving very different sides of electronic music. Artists like The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers were huge influences, but so were people like Jamie xx, Moby and Bicep.
Because of that my influences are quite varied. The common thread in my music is always melody, energy and emotion. I want the tracks to feel emotional and immersive but still hit hard on a dancefloor. That combination is really what shapes the Leena Punks sound.
Since emerging in 2020 you have had multiple Beatport chart successes and strong radio support. How have you managed that success so far and what challenges have you faced?
It was definitely a bit of a shock in the beginning because my very first track received BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record support and then another one shortly after did the same. I also had two Beatport number ones on the breakbeat chart quite early on.
It has been an amazing journey but it definitely comes with challenges. Electronic music moves very quickly, so staying creative and evolving your sound while still being authentic is really important. Touring has helped me test what works on a dancefloor and understand audiences better, but it can also be intense. I try to stay focused on the music and keep myself grounded.
You have played stages from Tomorrowland to Creamfields and venues like fabric London and Brooklyn Mirage. Do you find yourself approaching production differently now that you have experienced how different crowds react live?
Absolutely. Playing those kinds of stages teaches you a lot about tension, energy and how people react to certain sounds. You start to understand how different moments in a track affect a crowd.
There are also differences between audiences. London crowds can feel different to festival crowds like Creamfields, and New York has a different energy again compared to places like Los Angeles or Miami. I still try to make music that feels personal, but those live experiences definitely influence how I think about arrangement and dynamics.
If someone hears your music for the first time at a club, festival or online, what do you hope they feel in that moment?
This might sound funny but I recently told a friend that I want to make people cry, in a good way. I love the idea that music can be healing and emotional. If one of my tracks gives someone that kind of euphoric emotional release, then that is incredible.
At the same time I want people to feel immersed in the moment, to feel connected to the music and to the crowd around them. And of course at the end of the day it is dance music, so the most important thing is that people are having fun.
Follow Leena Punks:
