Lia's enthusiasm for music began at a young age. She was born in Panama City, Panama, and grew up in an environment rich in musical diversity. Lia was drawn to the city's salsa, reggae, congo, and tipico music from an early age, and these genres melded with the classical music influence that had been a part of her upbringing.
Her father, Jorge Ledezma Bradley, conducts the Panama National Symphonic Orchestra and founded the Choir Musica Viva. Lia learned a lot about music by accompanying her father to his rehearsals every weekend.She frequently performed in his musical presentations as a member of the child choir. She was also given the opportunity to be a member of a children's choir that performed the classic song "Ojalá Que Llueva Café" with the iconic Bachata group Juan Luis Guerra y 4:40. She also spent some of her early childhood in Salvador, Brazil, where her mother was born. She combined musical and cultural activities, such as visiting samba schools and taking part in carnival.
Lia’s Father, Maestro Jorge Ledezma Bradley.
She relocated to Maui at the age of 14 and enrolled in King Kekaulike High School, where she was a member of the dance team. Lia instantly recognized the parallels between her Latin background and Hawaiian culture, viewing reggae music as a nonviolent protest for oppressed people.
After graduating from high school, she joined the singing group Shuga. The group released a self-titled Urban/Pop EP, and Lia recorded her first song, revealing her distinct ragga flair. The ensemble performed across Maui and O'ahu. They performed at places like Hapa's, Pipeline Cafe, and Kaponos.
When the trio parted ways, Lia went solo and made a promotional CD called Breaking Sonido. The album featured a blend of hip hop, R&B, and reggaeton. Lia has performed throughout Los Angeles, including at The Rumba Room in Universal City Walk, House of Blues on Sunset Strip, and Vault 350 in Long Beach. She has had the opportunity to open for singers such as Pitbull, Zion, and Punta Cartel. At this point, Lia was about to be signed. Her team was in talks with large labels that included Machete and BMG, but every proposal was put on hold when the music industry crashed in 2008, resulting in firm mergers.
Lia expanded her skills by relocating to Los Angeles and enrolling in the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. There, she studied music recording, music business, and media. She also became proficient in performance choreography and costume design.
She also took bass lessons and continued to work on her vocals by obtaining exposure in a variety of genres. Lia participated in weekly live performance workshops (LPWs), where she learned classics in every genre from R&B to rock and even played with guests like 311 drummer Chad Sexton.
Lia Live and Pitbull at Circus L.A.
When Lia returned to Maui, she recorded and released her debut song independently. Lia's single, On a One Way, was played on Q103 Maui and paved the way for her success. Other singles, such as Step It Up, featuring Chisa, were broadcast on radio stations around Hawai'i and peaked at the top of the charts. Lia has also had some success penning collaborations, such as It Can't Get Better Than This with Kalisi, which peaked at number one after its release in 2012.
Since that point, Lia has played in Maui's premier venues, including the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, where she has opened for acts such as UB40, Fiji, and Common Kings. She has performed in numerous festivals and benefit performances, including the Maui Brewfest and the famous Zeptember Tribute Concert.
Lia Live at The Maui Brewfest.
Lia Live at The Maui County Fair.
In addition to being a recording artist, Lia worked in Maui's music industry for 15 years, doing professional shows with Top 40 bands. She's sung lead and background vocals for Funky Business, Island Soul, Burnin Love, Josh Kahula, and Lanai's IDRIVE. During this time, she had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned musicians like Henry Kapono, Mick Fleetwood, and Steven Tyler.
Lia with iDrive At Fleetwoods On Front Street (Special Guests Steven Tyler and Mick Fleetwood)
Beyond her live performance collaborations, Lia contributed to a range of artistic endeavors. She was a ghostwriter for Marty Dread's Surfer Girl track, where she wrote and sang a verse in Portuguese (credit on the album is Dos Chicas Brazil). Other studio credits include arranging and singing harmonies on Big Island artist JJean’s Falling in Love EP and Anuhea’s Sweet Thing cover.
Currently Lia produces, writes, arranges, and engineers her own records. Collaborating with fiancé Kai Akin on guitar and bass, as well as mixing engineer Rob Tsuhako, she's learned to produce a sound that is unique to her upbringing.
Lia recently relocated from Maui to Las Vegas with her fiancé Kai. Their goal is to work as professional musicians while writing and producing music that encourages people to overcome challenges and love life. The latest single, Stand Strong, featuring Jamaican artist Messenjah Selah, is an inspirational anthem that encourages people to be strong throughout difficult times.