With a dramatic sound and rare sensibility, Leyah is one of the distinctive voices of the new wave of modern Romanian music. Her name is synonymous with "cinematic pop," a genre that the artist brought to our country. Here, music, emotion, and visual aesthetics intertwine on a deep and personal level. Leyah transforms each song into an intense story, exploring themes such as vulnerability, inner strength, and the search for identity, in a sound universe that transcends the boundaries of conventional pop. 

WIN Gallery: Who is the person behind the stage name ”Leyah”?

Leyah: My name is Magdalena Marica, I am a composer, pianist, and singer. People say that I am the pioneer of the Cinematic Pop in Romania, which flatters me, but what I am most proud of are my signature projects, the ”Cinestezia” tour and the ”Cinestezia Symphonic” concert.

WIN Gallery: On February 1st, 2026, you will hold a heart-warming concert, "Unplugged Stories," at Hanul Gabroveni in Bucharest. What can you tell us about this event – a gift to music lovers?

Leyah: "Unplugged Stories" is the first concert-talk in Romania, where cinematic pop music and meaningful conversations meet and intertwine. Along with me and the musicians I will be playing with, we will be joined on stage by two exceptional guests: Teodora Tompea and Paul Olteanu, who will debate a topic that is gaining more and more attention — deeplugging: disconnecting from the online world and reconnecting offline.

I wanted to create this concert format because it brings three new elements to the Romanian events market:

Firstly, it proposes an innovative concept, that of a concert-talk, which combines live music with dialogue and meaningful conversations, transforming the concert into an experience of listening and reflection.

Secondly, it eliminates the classic separation between stage and audience: spectators do not sit in the concert hall and artists on stage, but rather share the same space. The audience sits among the performers and guests, next to the creative act, having the opportunity to be closer to those they listen to. This does not happen often.

Thirdly, the listening experience is completely unconventional, achieved through a silent sound system: each guest receives professional headphones, through which they listen to the concert privately, creating an extra layer of connection with the music, with the self, and the moment. This format creates the feeling that those on stage are singing and speaking directly to you. Through the headphones, the music and conversations come across in an extremely personal, almost confessional way, as if each audience member were enjoying their own private concert. This closeness completely changes the interaction with the audience: it all becomes more intimate, more attentive, and much more personal. I truly believe it will be a special experience for those in the audience.