On October 3rd, Leon Thomas, a Brooklyn native musician, surprise dropped his newest single “Just How You Are”. Earlier that week, Thomas announced his upcoming seven-track EP PHOLKS due out on October 24.
Leon Thomas got his start by acting on Nickelodeon’s Victorious; however, he always had a passion for music and singing as both his parents were in the industry. The beginning of his solo career is marked by the release of his first single “Hello How Are You” featuring Wiz Khalifa in September 2013. He has also produced and co-wrote some of the biggest hits in recent years including “Snooze” by SZA which spent 27 consecutive weeks in the Billboard top 100.
It wasn’t until the release of his most recent album MUTT and the deluxe HEEL that his music began receiving the attention it deserved. The title track “Mutt” was his first Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at #17 and gained him a large following of people who knew him from their favorite childhood show yet recently found a love his R&B/Soul music.
This new single “Just How You Are” shows a different side of Thomas’ production we have yet to see from his solo career, as his last project had a nearly opposite sonic palette with an airier blues feel. The fourth track of MUTT “Vibes Don’t Lie” is a perfect example of this as the layering of vocals and light percussion creates a chill atmosphere. “Just How You Are” has roots in funk-soul with its percussion heavy mix invoking a dance vibe on its listeners; this musical texture can also be heard from Thomas on his recent collaboration with YG “LOVERS OR FRIENDS?”
“Just How You Are” follows Thomas as he navigates the understanding that an ex-lover will continue to scrutinize his every action saying, “You love to pick my world apart/But that’s just how you are.” As the first single of this EP, we have only just heard the beginning of the story unfolding. Thomas reflects on this relationship, and we can hope the rest of the EP will give us the full story.
Listen to the full EP on October 24 and be sure to see Leon Thomas on the “Mutts Don’t Heel Tour” at Brooklyn Paramount on November 23 and 24.
Comments are closed.