Leena Peisa
The enigmatic keyboardist behind the monster masks of Lordi, bringing symphonic flair to hard rock's most theatrical band.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Finnish keyboardist·Birthday: March 16·Generation X
Biography
Before she was Awa, the mysterious keyboardist and backing vocalist for the Finnish monster rock band Lordi, she was Leena Peisa, a classically trained musician with a taste for the unconventional. Her entry into the band in 2005 was a pivotal moment, adding new layers of orchestral melody and haunting synthesizers to their hard rock foundation just as they were catapulted to global fame by winning the Eurovision Song Contest. For over a decade, hidden behind elaborate makeup and costume, Peisa helped craft the anthemic soundtracks to Lordi's horror-rock spectacles. Her departure in 2022 marked the end of an era, but her contributions are etched into the band's most successful albums, proving that even in a world of monsters, musical sophistication matters.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Leena was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Leena Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Leena's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Performed as Lordi's keyboardist during their surprise victory at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with "Hard Rock Hallelujah".
- Played on multiple Lordi studio albums, including the commercially successful "The Arockalypse" and "Babez for Breakfast".
- Toured extensively worldwide with Lordi, bringing their theatrical monster rock show to global audiences.
- Brought a classically influenced keyboard style to the band, expanding their sonic palette beyond straightforward hard rock.
Did You Know?
Her stage name in Lordi, Awa, is derived from the first two letters of her first and last names (A for Leena? Actually, it's likely from 'Awa' as a nickname; she is also known as 'Awa' personally).
She is a trained pianist and studied music at a conservatory level in Finland.
Before joining Lordi, she played in the Finnish bands Punaiset Messiaat and Dolchamar.
After leaving Lordi, she joined the band "Sampsa Astala & Qma", led by Lordi's former drummer.
“Classical training meets monster rock—that's when things get interesting.”
