Liesa grew up in the Midwest with a musical family; her mother, a pianist, is full-blooded Bohemian (formerly the western lands of the Czech Republic). Liesa's father, who is half German, and her three siblings spent countless hours around the piano, singing and harmonizing together while her mother played and sang.

Her instrumental musical journey began on the piano at the age of 5. After entering grade school, she began playing the flute at the age of 9.

In addition to singing, Liesa currently plays the Roland FR-1X V-Accordion and Hohner accordions.