W: Ellie Ancill.
I: Aneela Siddiqui
By Leah’s own admission, she’s "all over the place"—and that’s exactly where the magic happens. From the halls of university to the stage, the artist known as Phlegm Fatale is carving out a space where the garish meets the whimsical. We sat down with the Fine Art student to talk about the power of being "weird," the bravery of a bold outfit, and why we should all be a little less precious with our creativity.
I:Leah Walker
The name itself is a deliberate subversion. While it carries the cool, noir connotations of the Velvet Underground’s Femme Fatale, Leah wanted to distort the trope. "I’ve always been drawn to the femme fatale figure, but I wanted to make it weird and a bit distorted and strange," she explains. "I thought 'Phlegm' was a perfect way to put an unusual spin on it." The moniker has stuck so well that it’s followed her into her daily life; while she goes by Leah to friends, her university peers know her simply as Phlegm—a name she fully embraces when she steps onto a stage to perform
"I thought 'Phlegm' was a perfect way to put an unusual spin on the femme fatale."
Leah’s wardrobe is less of a closet and more of a curated explosion of subcultures. Describing her style as an "amalgamation," she leans heavily into the tacky, the garish, and the "out there." To Leah, fashion isn't about being untouchable or elitist. "I like it to be quite fun and whimsical and not boring and plain," she says. "I don’t like to look unapproachable." It is a visual language that prioritizes joy and wackiness over conventional "good taste."
This fearless approach to dressing is fueled by a diverse range of influences. Leah’s inspirations jump across decades and continents, blending the raw, DIY energy of 1970s British punk with the bold, maximalist aesthetics of early 2000s Japanese street style. She cites the androgyny of queer club-kid culture and the "insane" outfits of German punk singer Nina Hagen as North Stars for her own self-expression. "I admire anyone who is brave enough to be really authentic to themselves and really go for it and push boundaries," she notes, crediting the fearlessness of musicians for helping her find her own courage.
"I’m happy to do anything as long as I’m allowed to be weird and creative."
I:Leah Walker
When it comes to the actual process of getting dressed or creating art, Leah’s secret is a lack of preciousness. She doesn't overthink; she iterates. Sometimes a look starts with a single accessory, and other times it’s a chaotic experiment of pairing items that have never met before. This fluidity is also reflected in her studies. Currently a Fine Art student, Leah spends her time creating "weird little films" and dreams of one day directing music videos or producing obscure art—provided she can maintain her creative freedom.
The journey to becoming "Phlegm" wasn't instantaneous. As an introverted child, Leah preferred the background, but at 14, something shifted. She realized that clothes and makeup weren't just tools for social conformity, but a medium for identity exploration. For those still hesitant to take that leap, Leah’s advice is simple: "Just give it a go. You don’t have to leave the house in it, but when you’re at home on your own, just try out a few different things and experiment. You just might like it."