Leo D.E Johnson is a rock, soul, and grunge artist from Vancouver, BC, who identifies as trans, non-binary, and Black Scotian. They grew up in Nova Scotia in a musical family, where both of their parents were musicians: their mother, a blues musician, and their father, a producer and musician. Johnson trained with and participated in community choirs and musical theatre programs while growing up. After moving to Vancouver as an adult, they were introduced to the fusion of poetry and music and was inspired by the art of storytelling through music, ultimately dedicating their career to becoming a musician. Touring throughout the Greater Vancouver Area and beyond, Johnson roots their music in the traditions of soul and rock ‘n’ roll, while maintaining a philosophical credo centered on identity, culture, lived experience, and advocacy for social justice for Indigenous, Black, and queer communities.

Johnson is an active performer and teacher/facilitator within the Vancouver arts scene. Their music has been described as blending powerful lyricism with expansive soundscapes, exploring themes of resilience, self-discovery, and belonging (available to stream on Bandcamp). They consistently gig at live music hot spots and have been featured in concert series such as Ebony Roots, which aimed to reclaim the displaced community of Black Strathcona/Hogan’s Alley—Vancouver’s first Black neighborhood and cultural hub. Channeling their musical theatre roots, Johnson also performs in local experimental theatre, joining the casts of productions including Inferno!, a contemporary hip-hop opera at IndieFest 2025, and Eurydice Fragments, a contemporary version of the Greek Orphean myth at IndieFest 2024 that blended vocals, dance, motion capture, and interactive technologies. Further, they have worked at the children’s summer program, Jam Camp, facilitating small-group lessons in electric guitar and songwriting.