“Electric Dusk” With Leon Thomas
Grammy Award winning artist Leon Thomas III discusses his new album “Electric Dusk”, signing with Ty Dolla $ign’s EZYMNY Records, and more.
Brooklyn, New York native Leon Thomas III has been a staple in the entertainment industry since elementary school. At age 10, Leon made his acting/musical debut on Broadway as Young Simba in The Lion King. While still a teen, he landed an important voice acting role for Nickelodeon’, followed by landing roles in “Caroline, Or Change” and “The Color Purple” as well. Eventually, he was brought back by the network Nickelodeon to star alongside Victoria Justice.That same year, he and his best friend Khris Riddick-Tynes started a production duo called “The Rascals.” They are credited for producing for the likes of Drake, BabyFace, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, SZA, and many more.
Solely focusing on his musical career now, Leon is back with a vengeance as he recently released his debut album, “Electric Dusk,” on EZYMNY Records/Motown Records. The label EZMNY Records belongs to Grammy Award-winning artist Ty Dolla $ign, who signed a joint venture with Motown Records in May of 2022. Leon has embraced his songwriting and production ability, taking the role of mixing engineer for the LP. Lead singles “Breaking Point” and “Crash & Burn” illustrate the depth of Leon’s sound, between ballads and gospel-infused soundscapes.
“This album makes me think about the 1960s, drop-top Cadillac at the drive-in, looking out at a scenic view, listening to a crooner sing about love. I wanted to capture that vibe with these records but in a new way.”
I got a chance to speak to Leon Thomas III, his new album “Electric Dusk”, signing with Ty Dolla $ign’s EZYMNY Records, and more. Check out the interview below!
Leon Thomas III Interview
Q. You have an imposing music resume; what made you decide that signing with Ty Dolla $ign’s EZYMNY/Motown Records was the best fit for your musical career?
A. “I watched some of the Baby Keem and Kendrick videos, and something crossed my mind. There has never been a big bro, little bro moment in R&B; it’s never a passing of the baton. Me and Ty recorded 12 or 13 tracks together, so seeing the back and forth in Hip Hop, I wanted to know if I could attach myself to an entity that would give me a chance to do this with R&B. It is fantastic to see where we’re talking this thing, this is chapter 1 but know we got chapters done already for you guys. Get ready for some cool projects to come.”
Q. Coming from Metro Hearts to V1bes and Genesis, how did we get to Electric Dusk?
A. “There’s been an evolution as an artist and also as a producer. I think I’m really utilizing the knowledge that I’ve acquired over the past six or seven years to really put together a very specific sound for Electric Dusk. I feel like this is really the true representation of everything that I’ve been cultivating for the past six years. I mean, we’ve been hearing it on records for other people for a while now, and it’s just cool to be able to do it for myself finally.”
