Hi I’m Laena, the singer/songwriter for your identity crisis

Who Is Laena Hughes?

Laena Hughes is a singer-songwriter for the overstimulated soul. Defined by a relentless creative curiosity, she is constantly exploring new instruments and textures to bring her stories to life. She thrives on being creatively challenged, treating every project as an opportunity to expand her sonic world and create a safe space for those navigating their own identity crisis.

A woman with purple hair in a pink dress standing outdoors near water, holding multiple beige sweaters with pink ribbons, with trees in the background.
A woman with purple hair in a pink dress standing outdoors near water, holding multiple beige sweaters with pink ribbons, with trees in the background.

The Sound

Laena’s music begins at the source: her ukulele. Used as the primary tool in her writing process, she crafts the emotional skeleton of her songs through four strings and a story. From there, she works closely with her producer to translate those chords into the lush, genre-defying visions she imagines. The result is a "Sweet and Sour" contrast—layering whimsical, bubblegum-bright melodies over raw, personal lyrics to create a world where listeners can process deep emotions and still find a reason to smile.

A young girl with long purple hair, tied with a large pink bow, stands near a fountain in a park, surrounded by trees in early spring.
A young girl with long purple hair, tied with a large pink bow, stands near a fountain in a park, surrounded by trees in early spring.

The Journey

What began with childhood flute lessons blossomed into a lifeline during the quiet of lockdown. After trading a draining 9-5 for a music degree at ACM, Laena embraced her introverted nature as her creative superpower. Today, she translates intense, confusing feelings into the kind of comforting music that helped her feel less alone during life’s trials and tribulations.

A girl with purple hair and a pink bow stands near water fountain in a park, with trees in the background.
A girl with purple hair and a pink bow stands near water fountain in a park, with trees in the background.

The Vision

Laena’s creative world is a collaborative one. Backed by a dedicated team, she is focused on building a sustainable space for her music within the industry. Guided by a "never mastered" approach to her craft, she continues to experiment with new sounds and instruments, evolving her Sweet and Sour pop to offer a sense of belonging to anyone navigating the noise of the modern world.

A person with purple hair wearing a light pink dress and a cream-colored cardigan with pink bows, standing under a large blossoming tree with white flowers. The background includes green bushes and a blue sky.
A person with purple hair wearing a light pink dress and a cream-colored cardigan with pink bows, standing under a large blossoming tree with white flowers. The background includes green bushes and a blue sky.

For booking inquiries, collaborative projects, or just to say hello, reach out at laenahughesmusic@gmail.com

Love Notes 💌

"Having shaped Laena’s sonic identity from the very beginning, I’ve seen her evolve from a girl with a ukulele into a formidable Pop/Indie Pop artist. My journey with her started by vocal coaching her through ‘Chances,’ and since then, I have stepped in to fully build the musical worlds for her follow-up projects—including our collaboration on ‘Aphrodite’ and her latest single, ‘Safe From My Heart.’

Laena has a rare gift for raw, vulnerable songwriting. My role as her manager, producer, and collaborator is to take those initial ukulele chords and lyric sheets and translate them into a cinematic, driving sound that balances ‘cutesy’ aesthetics with a gritty, dark-pop edge. Her 'chronic perfectionism' ensures that every track we build together is intentional and polished. ‘Safe From My Heart’ is the culmination of our work so far—a perfect intersection of her storytelling and a high-energy, modern Indie Pop sound."

— Paris Thorpe (Manager, Producer & Collaborator)

Discography

Find the song that’s right for you

A young woman with purple hair lies on her stomach on the grass, surrounded by heart-shaped bubbles, and wearing colorful sneakers and a denim jacket with flower patterns, with foliage and sky in the background.

Safe From My Heart

An infectious anthem for the daydreamers, "Safe From My Heart" is a "girlie pop" bop that celebrates the safety of imaginary romance over the messy risks of real-world heartbreak.

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Laena Hughes and singer/songwriter Paris Thorpe collaboration. 'Aphrodite' Album Cover

Aphrodite (Feat. Paris Thorpe)

For the hopeless romantic afraid to fall in love

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Laena Hughes - 'Chances' Album Cover

Chances

For when you’re finally done with that toxic person

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