Hi there! My name is Leah, and I am a 22-year-old music and culture journalist with over three years of experience. I began writing about music for a now-defunct blog I ran with my roommate during our freshman and sophomore years, which landed me an internship at Paste Magazine, contributing to their music vertical throughout the summer of 2024. I have since continued freelancing, but most of my work these days is housed on The Needle Drop (under pen name Leah Bess), a music news site owned by Lambgoat and music critic Anthony Fantano. Since joining the site at its inception in 2024, I have spearheaded efforts to expand the writers' involvement through editorial content (including our weekly release roundup) and on Fantano's social media channels. At the start of 2026 I launched my column "Sleeper Hit Support Group," which takes a music-business framed deep dive into the song sitting at the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100 and the careers of the artist(s) behind them. 

I am a recent graduate of Drexel University's hallmark Music Industry program, through which I have worked internships at Philadelphia's NPR-affiliate station WXPN and music publicity firm Big Hassle. Throughout my time at Drexel, I was deeply involved in the school's radio station, WKDU. I was the first of my class to become a DJ, and was a part of the music director team by the end of my freshman year. 

I have been a music lover since my days listening to the Schoolhouse Rock and Phineas and Ferb soundtracks (both of which I credit for shaping my music taste), playing in concert bands and orchestras since elementary school, and have been a hobby guitarist, bassist, and songwriter since middle school. I strive to channel that passion into all of my work, regardless of scope, size, or discipline.