Leon Bridges | Praise of simplicity

It’s not just because the sixth song from his most recent album (released October 4) is called Simplify that we chose this title. That’s because Leon Bridges told us. Often.

“I am quite simple by nature. The more success we have and the higher we climb the ladder, the more we want to find simplicity again. This whole album goes in this direction,” confides the confident introvert in a virtual interview.

Consequently, the American singer titled his fourth offering Leon – his real first name is Todd. Leon Bridges is not the first artist to release a self-titled record when his career is well underway. Generally, this choice is explained by the desire to reveal a more intimate side or to mark a turning point.

In the case of our interviewee, it is a bit of both. “I try to reinvent myself with each album, and for this one, I open a window on who I am, in an authentic way. »

The 35-year-old artist describes Leon like a “gumbo of sounds”. In addition to the comparison to comforting Louisiana soup, he mentions that he wanted to channel the energy of his “pantheon” of 1970s soul albums. “There are elements of country, but the basis is still soul and R&B,” summarizes Leon Bridges.

The room Panther Citywith country-soul arrangements, illustrates his approach well.

“This song is about spending summers with my father on the south side of Forth Worth. [au Texas]. This area was very dangerous, but I wanted to witness its beauty despite all the chaos. […] Chatting with my good friends [et musiciens] Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, we realized that rather than looking for the next hit, we would highlight the beauty of simplicity. I have never had such a strong attachment to my songs as to those on this album and I think it’s extraordinary,” says Leon Bridges.

Ten years of evolution

Ten years have passed since the singer-songwriter released his first demos on the SoundCloud platform. Noticed by different record companies, Leon Bridges chose the Columbia Records label to launch his first album, Coming Homein the summer of 2015. Its retro and warm sound immediately appealed, to the point that it was nominated for the Grammy awards the following year. Without denying his only platinum-certified record, the singer is proud of his evolution.

“Doing the same thing would have been comfortable, but I didn’t want my art to stagnate. I also believe that changing my sound has helped broaden my audience. It’s wonderful that, 10 years later, people are still interested in my music,” he mentions with a shy smile.

The most contemporary Good Thing (2018), chic and elegant Gold-Diggers Sound (2021), as well as the two microalbums with Khruangbin, Texas Sun (2020) et Texas Moon (2022), in addition to a host of varied collaborations (Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, Noah Cyrus, Gunna, etc.) demonstrate the progression of Leon Bridges, but also explains why Leon is the logical continuation. “Looking at the cumulative results of my music and the success I had with Khruangbin, I noticed that my most popular songs are the really simple ones. »

“I noticed that Gold-Diggers Sound was difficult to translate into a show, he continues. I wanted to make an album that was going to allow me to just pick up a guitar and play for people, no matter the size of the room. […] I don’t claim to be a great guitarist, but the guitar is my first love. It’s my tool for writing songs. It is very therapeutic for me. »

The house close to the heart

Leon Bridges assures that he will strum more strings during his North American tour. He will perform twice in Toronto, but unfortunately no stop is planned in Quebec.

The first five shows will take place in his beloved Texas, and that’s no coincidence. “Feeling at home is a state of mind. When I’m in a studio, it’s my sanctuary. When I’m on stage, I feel at home. But this album is the story of where I really come from, my refuge,” explains Leon Bridges.

On That’s What I Lovethird and most recent extract from Leonthe Texan lists different things he likes: “ bourbon, Cadillacs, blue denim, makin’ love on the beach in the mornin’ “. He concludes the track by mentioning that he equally enjoys the ups and downs, the good times and the bad. “It’s the duality of life. You can’t have one without the other. Bad experiences make me recognize the value of good ones and make me feel grateful for my entire journey,” he philosophizes.