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How Former ‘Victorious’ Star, Leon Thomas, Is Rewriting The R&B Scene

Thomas has solidified his status as an R&B powerhouse, catapulting himself into the mainstream music scene—where he intends to remain.

Leon Thomas as Andre Harris.
Illustration by Alyssa Dixon

Although best known for his role as Andre Harris in Nickelodeon’s teen sitcom Victorious, Leon Thomas III has expanded his talents to the realm of music production. With the recent release of his sophomore album MUTT, Thomas has solidified his status as an R&B powerhouse, catapulting himself into the mainstream music scene—where he intends to remain.

The Beginnings

The Brooklyn-born performer began his extensive music career in 2003, debuting as Young Simba in the acclaimed Broadway adaptation of The Lion King. After appearing in numerous other musical productions, including Caroline and The Color Purple, he eventually transitioned to film and TV.

Thomas’s multifaceted entertainment skills were undeniable, and he immediately stood out as an important asset to Nickelodeon. After lending his vocals to the character of Tyrone in Nick Jr.’s animated children’s series The Backyardigans and guest-starring in iCarly, he subsequently landed his standout role as Andre Harris in Victorious.

Five members of the "Victorious" cast standing at the Kids Choice Awards 2011.
Leon Thomas and his fellow Victorious cast members at the 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards (from left: Leon Thomas, Elizabeth Gillies, Avan Jogia, Ariana Grande, and Matt Bennett). (Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins)

Meanwhile, what seemed to be a simple hobby and trait of his Victorious character, proved to be something much more enduring: music was slowly beginning to take priority over his acting career.

The Partnerships

One of the most advantageous factors in Thomas’s mainstream breakthrough is his wide range of features and partnered projects. From co-writing songs for Ariana Grande and Drake to producing one of SZA’s most popular songs, Thomas has carefully curated a repertoire of impressive collaborations.

Ariana Grande

Alongside his fellow musically-inclined co-star, Ariana Grande, Thomas co-wrote and co-produced four tracks on Grande’s 2013 debut album Yours Truly.

The duo’s music expertise was particularly apparent on the album’s lead single, “The Way” (featuring Mac Miller). The song was a commercial success, and after quickly reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, “The Way” launched both Grande and Thomas into the mainstream.

Thomas told Black Entertainment Television (BET), “I remember those moments where I started really feeling like this was a real thing. It was just a really great way to occupy my time when I wasn’t auditioning or filming. But once we got that number one with Ariana on our first album, it felt like, okay, yeah.”

The two continued their musical partnership in later years with the release of Grande’s Positions in 2020.

Drake

Contributing to his, now, extensive track record of collaborations, Thomas offered his songwriting and production talents to Drake in 2021 on his sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy. Of the LP’s 21 tracks, Thomas co-produced three of them: “In the Bible” (featuring Lil Durk and Giveon), “Pipe Down,” and “Love All” (featuring Jay-Z).

In an interview with Complex, Thomas shared, “All of it has just been an amazing process. On “In the Bible,” working with Austin Powerz and Eli Brown, those guys are super talented, and on “Pipe Down,” specifically working with FaxOnly on that joint. But I think one of the most poignant contributions that can be pointed out is my vocal chops. There’s definitely more to it, but that’s one of the most poignant things you can point to.”

SZA

Further expanding his musical resume and marking one of his most significant collaborations to date, Thomas’s work with R&B singer-songwriter SZA proved to be a seminal aspect of his career. The two joined forces to create “Snooze,” the sixth single from SZA’s 2022 album SOS.

Thomas explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “I did the chords and played a bunch of instruments on it, like bass and guitar, and I had my boy, BLK, doing keys, and Khris did the drums, and Babyface came in and added some licks on the guitar as well.”

Focusing on themes of romantic desire and emotional commitment, “Snooze” combines SZA’s signature vocals with the melodic, emotional resonance of Thomas’s instrumentalism. Since its release, “Snooze” has garnered over one billion streams on both Spotify and Apple Music combined.

Thomas’s contributions to “Snooze” earned him his first Grammy Award in early 2024 for “Best R&B Song.”

The Solo Releases

Genesis (2018)

Thomas began his solo career in 2012 with his first mixtape, Metro Hearts. However, his work did not begin to adopt his neo-soul-infused sound until 2018 with the release of his EP, Genesis. Featuring seven tracks, the EP showcases an experimental side of Leon Thomas. With faster beats, layered synths, and muffled percussion, Genesis takes listeners on an atmospheric journey into smooth R&B.

In an interview with Rated R&B, Thomas explained, “It’s honestly the beginning of the narrative of my creativity. It was a really short and sweet, concise version of all the different aspects of the production styles that I do. I’m more than just a producer and a writer. I’m an artist.”

Electric Dusk (2023)

Five years after the release of Genesis, Thomas unveiled his first full-length album, Electric Dusk, in 2023. There exists an immersive nature throughout the album’s twelve songs, and each is sonically unlike any of his previous releases. Thomas employs a variety of production techniques—from sped-up vocals to slowed instrumentals—to masterfully create a gentle, yet deeply emotional listening experience.

Electric Dusk is a fusion of old and new Leon Thomas, mixing the unconventionality of Genesis with the boldness of his most recent release, MUTT.

MUTT (2024)

Undoubtedly, Thomas’s 2024 sophomore album, MUTT, is his most popular release to date. Garnering over 50 million streams on Spotify, MUTT has earned Thomas widespread recognition. Primarily due to the popularity of the LP’s title track, “MUTT,” the album propelled Thomas to the top of multiple R&B charts.

With a sound reminiscent of ’90s R&B and hip-hop, MUTT is the embodiment of Thomas’s innovative production techniques. Each of the fourteen songs showcases his ability to seamlessly fuse retro influences with contemporary experimentation.

As a result of Thomas’s unbridled musical abilities and versatility, MUTT was, unsurprisingly, named the Best R&B Album of 2024 by Billboard.

The musical reign of Leon Thomas is, no doubt, boundless and ongoing. With his unique instrumentation, songwriting skills, and production techniques, Thomas continues to place himself at the forefront of modern R&B, shaping the future of the genre for years to come.

A girl with a scarf smiling.

Brendilou Armstrong is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College, where she is pursuing a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing. Her work has been published by the Dartmouth College Office of Admissions, The Dartmouth, and The Stonefence Review.

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