Back in 2016, the soulful, unhurried ballad “Again” quietly made its way to the local music scene, introducing listeners to the effortless harmonies of Leanne Mamonong and Naara Acueza. The two have come a long way since they first began collaborating in college, jamming in between class sessions, and performing at school events, to now becoming one of OPM’s most beloved indie duos — taking them from coffee shop sets to massive festival stages, all the while racking up awards and building a loyal fanbase.

Now at 29, Leanne and Naara are stepping into a fresh chapter composed of new music, new perspectives, and life lessons that come with nearly a decade in the industry. The Beat Asia caught up with the duo and talked about how their partnership has evolved, the stories behind their latest single “Life at 29,” and even touched on some of their most memorable performances.

A Musical Partnership Forged in Friendship

Leanne and Naara met at Assumption College, where they both pursued a Performing Arts program. Leanne told The Beat Asia how it started with an opportunity to perform at an event on campus, and how, after that, they became the go-to acoustic performers at school.

“We did a cover of Adele’s ‘One and Only’ for that first performance,” Leanne shared when asked about the moment she felt they were meant to perform together. “I’m not sure if it was rehearsed, but Naara started harmonizing during the performance, and honestly, it brought chills to my spine. Looking back now, that was probably the start of Leanne & Naara.”

After graduating, the singer-songwriters released their self-written debut single, “Again,” which garnered a million streams in two months and earned top spots on Spotify’s Philippines Viral 50. It even peaked at #12 on the Global Viral 50 charts! This was followed by a series of non-album singles, including “New York and Back,” “Run Run,” and a cover of Nina’s hit song, “Someday,” which became an instant hit on the radio and across various streaming platforms. In 2019, they signed with Warner Music Philippines, which led to their debut album “Daybreak” (2020), led by the single “Keep Me Up.”

From 2016 till now, the duo has been going strong, and when asked about their secret to keeping a solid partnership, Leanne answered, “I believe we’ve survived by respecting each other’s seasons. We’ve gone through a lot of changes individually, and with that also comes the evolution of the way we work together.”

Through the years, the singer also stated that their music has also grown with them, becoming deeper as they gained new personal experiences. On talks of their creative process and if one is better at music or lyrics and vice versa, Leanne explained that their differing perspectives gave them much room to work with.

“It allows us to really stretch the material,” she said. “And see where it can go before we decide on its final form.”

Both women have very distinct voices and a unique perspective on songwriting, which also led us to ask about the pros and cons of working solo versus with a partner.

“I think it applies to all things. Going solo means more creative freedom; you can do pretty much whatever pleases you. But in some ways, they’re also the same,” Leanne said. “Working with a partner is more collaborative. Two minds are working instead of just one. However, it also involves more consideration, especially for us, because we both sing. So stuff like the key of the song and the overall vibe of it has to feel authentic for both of us. And there are times when that’s challenging to find.”

The singers also described their sound today as “a coming together of all the ‘sounds’ we’ve dabbled in.” In a way, it’s a reflection of all the sounds they’ve been exposed to in the last nine years. They also got candid about what they admire the most about each other as artist — and as friends throughout their relationship all these years.

“I’m blessed to have found Leanne as my partner in this path that I'm in,” Naara told The Beat Asia. “She’s not just incredibly talented, but she also has this beautiful way of putting emotions into words that I’ve always admired. It’s something I honestly can’t do, and that’s why we fit so well together. Beyond the music, what means the most is the friendship we share. With her, I never have to pretend. I can be myself, the real and unfiltered version of me. I'm thankful that she sees me, accepts me, and loves me in any way. That kind of connection is rare these days. It's something I treasure deeply.”

“What I admire about Naara the artist is her depth. She always surprises me with the places she goes to in terms of melody and chord progressions,” Leanne explained. “It’s always refreshing to hear her take, because it’s almost always something I never would have thought of myself. What I love about Naara, the friend, is her way of showing support. She goes out of her way to show that she cares about me and my endeavors. It’s really sweet.”

On ‘Life at 29’ and Beyond

Almost a decade since their first single, Leanne and Naara released “Life at 29” last July 4, a gentle ballad marked by their signature warmth, smooth harmonies, and emotionally grounded lyrics. Leanne shared with us that the song was penned in April 2024 and how it was one of three singles they’re hoping to release this year.

“These singles reflect our current state of mind,” Leanne said as we mentioned how the song felt personal, from its intimate storytelling to the emotional delivery. “Apart from being both 29, we feel that this song [“Life at 29] speaks of the life we have now. It’s quiet and filled with contentment. We wanted that feeling to be translated into song.”

The song features beautiful vocals amid gentle guitar strings over a jazzy melody. It’s seemingly more stripped down compared to their previous works, which we believe gave the storytelling aspect a chance to take center stage. When asked if this was intentional, they both agreed.

“We wanted our listeners to feel the warmth of this song, and so we made sure to keep it as raw as possible, blending a few instruments together and our voices to tell the story,” Leanne explained. “It was wonderful working with Gani Palabyab on this one. He was really the right fit. He brought out the rawest emotion from us during our recording. We revisited a few vocal techniques with him to get the vocal quality that we wanted for the adlibs at the end of the track, most especially. We were also lucky to have Makko Abreu and Josh Tulagan on board, who played electric guitar and bass for the track, respectively.”

“We felt like that was the sound and production that fit best for the song,” Naara added. “We wanted to keep it raw and intimate. While our previous songs were sonically different, those choices were also intentional. Each song has always been carefully shaped to serve the story we were telling at the time.”

The two artists decided that the word “contentment” perfectly encapsulates their lives at 29, a theme that was very much interwoven in the song from its gentle melody to lyrics like “It’s been the healthiest couple of years I’ve been in” and “Lately, it’s hard getting out of our den” — which pertains to that feeling of satisfaction and content from the mere fact of being home with the person you love.

However, “29” also proves to be a daunting year for many, seeing it as the end of their youthful years. But Leanne and Naara provide a hopeful message with this new single, giving it a more optimistic view as it reminded us that the older we get, the wiser we also become.

“We’re still growing and every day teaches us something new,” Leanne said when asked about what they look forward to in their thirties. “Whatever challenges come our way in the years ahead, we trust that we’ll be able to face them in a more mature way.”

There’s no doubt that this dynamic duo will continue to entertain and inspire audiences with their music in the years to come. The artists recently took the Fête de la Musique Philippines Main Stage, where they collaborated with Bras Pas Pas Pas Pas in an explosive retro-themed set. Despite performing songs that were different from their usual sound, the two singers managed to bring the house down and even gave their own songs a different vibe, proving their versatility and talent.

“That performance was a core memory for us! Getting to headline one of the most sought-after music festivals in the Philippines was such a huge blessing for us,” Leanne expressed. “We also felt super lucky to have collaborated again with Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas. It was our second time performing together, and it still blows our minds how they bring so much life and energy to our songs. We were given a chance to perform their song, 'Yatap' — that one was a killer because of the high notes! After performing it, we definitely felt like rockstars. We still get kilig whenever we look back on those moments on stage.”

Surely, there will be more stages to come, and we can’t wait to see more of Leanne and Naara taking over the local music scene. And you heard it here first, the duo is planning to release one more song before the year ends, so watch out for it!

Additionally, they’re also throwing a birthday gig slash get-together called “BYE BYE 29” on Aug. 22 at Jess and Pat’s in Quezon City, where they’re also welcoming special guests Pixie Labrador and Eliza Maturan. You can get your tickets here.

Follow Leanne and Naara on Facebook and Instagram for updates on their latest music releases and upcoming shows.