Song Spotlight: Leon Thomas - MUTT

Leaping up the charts, Leon Thomas is showing us that he’s top dog. Join us as we explore his breakthrough hit, ‘MUTT’.

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Leon Thomas III may be relatively new to the charts, but his career in the industry has been almost two decades in the making. Born into a musical family, Thomas had his start in acting, starring in Broadway productions of The Lion King, The Color Purple andCaroline, Or Change, and on-screen in Nickelodeon shows, voicing Tyrone’s singing parts in The Backyardigans, and most notably portraying Andre Harris in Victorious.

Following his child stardom, Thomas transitioned his focus to music, being mentored by legendary producer Babyface, and establishing himself behind the scenes as a producer and songwriter for the likes of his Victorious co-star Ariana Grande, as well as Rick Ross, Drake, and SZA - winning a Grammy for his work on ‘Snooze’. Alongside his behind the scenes work, Thomas released a string of mixtapes and EPs over the years, before signing with Ty Dolla $ign's label EZMNY Records and Motown in 2022, and releasing his debut studio album Electric Dusk the following year.

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Come 8th August 2024, Thomas released ‘MUTT’, the lead single from his sophomore album of the same name. Written in 2022 following a significant breakup, the track was born on his living room floor whilst microdosing psychedelics and watching his dog and cat fight. In an interview with Rated R&B, Thomas revealed that he was particularly inspired by his dog (a gift from his ex) - drawing parallels between its behaviour and his own, with the comparison becoming a “metaphor for not being a perfect partner but having good intentions” throughout the album.

Interpolating Enchantment’s ‘Silly Love Song’, ‘MUTT’ blends earnest and vulnerable lyrics about being ready to take another chance at love with a funky, R&B, soul production that makes it irresistible to sing along to - we’re barking mad over it! From TikTok virality to breaking into the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, we’re evidently not the only ones, with the track steadily clawing its way toward mainstream success.

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Shaking up the scene, it’s clear Thomas has marked his territory in the R&B game. We can’t wait to see what he does next, but for now, our heads (and tails) are still wagging to this vibey hit.

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