Leon Thomas
Article by Brittany Ormiston
Hosted by: 1824 - UMG’s creative solutions team
Leon Thomas has made his mark over the years, and considers himself a vivid storyteller in all aspects of his life. Though many recognize him from various acting endeavors, Leon has worked behind the scenes in the music industry. He is sought out for his innate abilities as a songwriter and producer, and has worked with artists such as Drake, Post Malone, and SZA. He picked up nuggets of wisdom along the way, and learned the importance of surrounding himself with creative minds. Leon has done his fair share of observation, and taken note of the ups and downs other artists have experienced. “Working with artists I am able to see the mistakes they are making at the height of their careers,” shares Leon. With this in mind, Leon has been able to break out of his shell and step in front of the curtain by creating and releasing his debut album Electric Dust in August via Motown/EZMNY Records.
After dealing with a legal battle prior to signing with his current label, Leon was finally able to share the art he had in his back pocket for years. Despite the album being pure gold, the creation process was filled with frustration and defeat because all Leon wanted was for the world to hear what he had been working on. Leon explained, “Even though I was being heard by a lot of people’s favorite artists in the studio and got my ideas out through them…I wanted to be heard as myself, and really embody the vision of myself that I see in my head.” These trials and tribulations also sparked a lot of inspiration, and Leon was able to write from the heart. ‘Breaking Point’ depicts a high level of vulnerability, and is the track he is most proud of. He dug to the very core of his psyche despite the uncomfortability surrounding it. For this track and Electric Dust as a whole, Leon channeled the advice of his mentor and friend. Babyface once told him, “Try your best to be honest and everything else will come from there.” This simplistic yet powerful phrase has never steered Leon wrong.
In the midst of transparency, Leon pulled from a number of influences while crafting Electric Dust. As a kid, he used to watch a number of black romantic comedies. He played several movie soundtracks in the background as he diligently worked on the album. Also, Leon mentioned his album feels like the 1960s lyrically and sonically. A great deal of the songwriting is incredibly simplistic, especially tracks such as ‘Blue Hundreds.’ Psych-rock elements were mixed with R&B, and the guitar effects were drawn straight from the ‘60s realm. Co-producer Axel Foley (Kendrick Lamar) assisted with mixing in additional hip-hop elements to equal the perfect balance of soul and passion. Leon has always focused on the good juxtaposition between live elements and studio elements, and this rings true with Electric Dust. He wants to see more of the live feel in R&B, and has made it his mission to push records that embody this.
Leon is optimistic for the evolution of R&B, and music as a whole. He is looking forward to continuously making a positive impact with his music, and storytelling in all shapes and forms. With feelings of pride and triumph since releasing Electric Dust, he will surely use this inspiration within his own projects and other artists he crosses paths with. With his unimaginable talent and utmost ambition, Leon is set to emerge victorious time and time again in anything he sets his mind to.
