We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leighton Augenstein. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leighton below.

Leighton, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

My first dollar earned as an artist was last Christmas season. I had received a message through my Instagram account from a local venue that was planning weekend Christmas festivities and wanted music talent during their events. It was so exciting to be asked to do this!! I had never been asked to come sing before and be paid!

The money I received I paid my parents back half the cost for the equipment they purchased me to be able to go work gigs like this one. Then we made an agreement that any money I was paid to come sing would go into a savings account in my name. Any tips I received I was allowed to use how I wanted, which was so much fun! I am not sure what I will do with it one day, maybe buy my first car or travel!

Leighton, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am ten years old and I love to sing. I have always sung, starting at a very young age of two. But I started to work with a vocal coach around 7 and have been singing professionally for about a year or two now. You may have heard me sing the National Anthem at any sports event around Central Ohio/Licking County at some point.

Currently, I sing along with instrumental tracks that I purchase and play on equipment my parents bought me last year.

I do love to attend local karaoke nights and open mic nights. The atmosphere is always fun and warm and accepting. I am looking to get a band to back me soon.

I just had my first big gig, my proudest moment yet, at Union Square Music Hall this past weekend for the Shania Twain Platinum Album Reissues, and with that there was a large band I sang with. I absolutely loved the vibe of singing with a band. I can’t wait until I can find my very own band and start booking gigs more consistently.

As for what sets me apart, I think the biggest thing is my age and how professional I am at such a young age. Also, my vocal coach says that I have a special voice that can mold and mimic other singers of different styles. I have my own sound of course as well which is different – in a good way!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I don’t have the largest following yet – but its growing at a steady rate. My advice, or what I have noticed, is that my biggest growth happened during moments that I shared posts or videos on a consistent basis. My largest growth happened last Christmas time when I got the bookings to come out and sing every weekend at a local venue. Sharing that information and posting videos from the events, as well as going live from the events, really got my follower count boosted. When I have several videos or songs to post, I try my best to space them out every two to three days so I don’t overshare on any given day and it keeps me at the top of someone’s news feed. Stay active, stay positive, and interact with, comment on and follow like-minded people.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When an opportunity comes up, I commit myself to it so I can perform at the best of my ability – even in a short timeframe.

Recently I had an opportunity to have a featured artist spot at a local bar/restaurant, to do so I needed to compile a list of songs I wanted to perform, some songs I needed to learn in a short time frame to obtain enough material for the length of time required for the spot.

I also just had the Shania Twain gig last weekend. I had been learning a couple songs for the show and found out that another singer was performing one of them and was offered two other songs to perform. I was excited to do so! I had about a week and a half to learn the counts and lyrics for two new songs I had never heard and be able to pull it off in front of a large crowd along with a full band for the first time ever.

I thrive under pressure and was able to wow the crowd and get standing ovations! It was such a blast!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighton_bryn_christine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leightonbrynsings/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/LeightonBryn/status/1674583226206019584
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg14z8ENwxIHZriNJ2k_PxA
• Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leighton_bryn_sings