songwriter | cover artist
Lainey Dionne is a GRAMMY® Considered indie pop singer/songwriter and millennial musician from Rhode Island. Dionne has over 40 nominations & awards for her songwriting including Songwriter of the Year at the New England Music Awards. Under an Artist Development deal in Nashville, Lainey wrote with various professional writers (including writers for Dua Lipa, Jonas Brothers, Maroon 5, Noah Kahan, etc) on her debut full length album Self Titled (2021). A single from the album was optioned by Selena Gomez before its release; although Gomez's team ultimately passed on the track, Lainey has successfully written for other signed artists as well as for television shows on various networks including MTV, Amazon Prime, TLC, Bravo, Peacock, and E!. Since graduating Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music, Dionne has opened for international acts including The Head and The Heart and Nickelodeon's Drake Bell while performing in over 100 venues in Rhode Island. A New England girl at heart, Lainey is not afraid to speak her mind through her songs. She has one goal- to make you feel, and her music will do just that.
With songs that have been described as “the sort of music that immediately makes you forget that you left a burning oven on”, Lainey burst onto the scene in 2020 with her first single 'Hey London,' a foreign fling bop that left fans eager for more. The single won 1st place in the Unsigned Only Competition, 3rd place in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), 3rd place Overall in the Music City Songstar Competition, and was nominated for Song of The Year at the 2021 New England Music Awards (NEMA). The success of her debut single was just the beginning as Lainey's second single, the dark pop sensation 'Skin’ proved to be a turning point in her career. Not only did it resonate deeply with audiences, but it also garnered numerous esteemed awards from the ISC, Unsigned Only Competition, New England Songwriting Competition, Song of The Year Competition, and Music City SongStar Competition. The third and final single off the album ‘I Love You To Death’ has a synth pop bass that sent waves through the industry. The single's success was evident as it won awards in the Unsigned Only Competition, The New England Songwriting Competition, and was nominated for 2022 NEMA Song of the Year, solidifying Lainey's position as a gifted songwriter and performer. Moreover, the song's brilliance was optioned by none other than Selena Gomez and although her team passed on it, this experience serves as a testament to Dionne's remarkable ability to craft music that attracts attention from top-level industry figures.
With an incredible 17 nominations and 4 wins at the NEMA’s, Lainey has firmly established herself as a rising star in New England. The recognition she received, including the coveted 'Best in The State of Rhode Island' award in 2021, highlights her undeniable impact and popularity within her home state and beyond. Her contributions to the music world have earned her NEMA 2024 Pop Act of the Year, 2023 Songwriter of the Year, 2022 Pop Act of The Year, as well as nominations for Female Performer of the Year (‘21 & ‘22), Song of the Year ('21 -'24) and more.
In 2021, Lainey released her first full length album, ‘Self Titled’ which was nominated for NEMA 2022 Album of the Year. "The songs are a game of truth or dare where I do the most daring things for love and have to tell the truth about it in my songs. I literally cried while recording some of the songs, and sneaked my ex's name in a few lyrics. So much of me is unapologetically inside this record" Dionne states. In regards to naming her album, Lainey says “I chose 'Self Titled' as the name for my album because I am not defined by my exes, they do not represent my name, but the lessons I learned from them did shape me into the person I am today through the good and the bad- and now that I've come out the other side, I feel entitled to myself again".
Dionne has continued to build on her momentum by releasing nine subsequent singles since Self Titled. These singles have proven to be a hit with both radio stations and her ever-growing fan base. Single "Two Weirdos" has won 3rd Place Overall, 1st Place Adult Contemporary Genre, and the Judges Choice Award at the New England Songwriting Competition, earning her a performance at the admirable Cape Cod Women's Music Festival for over 700 people. As she continues to release new music, Dionne remains a prolific writer, co-writing with several hit writers, producers, and artists in the industry including Nick Schwarz (Skillet) and Emmy Award Winning Producer, Mike Meiers. Lainey was also a writer on the 3 million stream hit track “broke & lonely” for up and coming artist Alexa Cappelli. Dionne has recently set her sights on writing music for television and has had success landing tracks on network television with renowned producer Kevin Rockhill including The Real Housewives, Teen Mom, Paris Hilton in Love, and more.
Dionne's journey as a musician began in her hometown of Smithfield RI, where she was raised. From a young age, her passion for music was evident, and she displayed remarkable talent as a multi-instrumentalist. At the age of 7, she started her musical journey by learning to play the piano under formal training, then followed with violin, and guitar. As her love for music continued to grow, Lainey's determination and curiosity led her to explore and master other instruments through self-teaching. The turning point in Lainey's musical aspirations came during a high school talent show, where she experienced an unforgettable moment of connection with the audience. As the crowd sang along with her, she realized at that moment she wanted to pursue a career as an artist. Lainey graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2015, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Music Business with a minor in Music Production and Engineering. While attending, she had the pleasure of learning from industry professionals such as Grammy Award winning producer, Jason Stokes and Grammy-nominated hit songwriter, producer, and Warner Brothers Records executive, Kara DioGuardi. She was also accepted into former Warner/Chappell Publishing Group executive Judy Stakee's Songwriting Retreat in France. Lainey is currently working on her highly anticipated sophomore album.