Forget what you thought you knew about Leon Thomas. The former Nickelodeon actor, known for his role as Andre Harris on Victorious, has carved out a new lane for himself as a funk-influenced R&B star.
Thomas began his career on Broadway as a child, performing in musicals such as The Lion King and The Color Purple, as well as in films like August Rush. He met his future Victorious co-star and longtime collaborator Ariana Grande on Broadway. After Victorious ended in 2013, he began co-producing songs for Grande’s debut album as a part of the production duo The Rascals, alongside Khristopher Riddick-Tynes.
Thomas has produced for several artists, including Drake, Kehlani, Post Malone, Cincinnati native Arin Ray and many others. In 2024, Thomas received his first Grammy Award as a producer for Best R&B Song on SZA’s “Snooze.“ That same year, he would release his album, MUTT, featuring the popular single “MUTT,” which gave him his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 10 after a 38-week climb, becoming the third-longest climb in the chart’s 67-year history.
“I’m just putting my neck out there and daring to be different,” Thomas said in an interview with the Recording Academy of the United States. “I’m not doing basic concepts or attacking basic instrumentals. I feel like I’m doing my best to push the genre by taking chances and experimenting. I’m just hoping that it’s received because I genuinely love the R&B genre. I want to see it grow and evolve, and I want to be a part of that process.”
He released his most recent EP, PHOLKS, on Oct. 23. He began his “MUTTS DON’T HEEL” tour on Oct. 30.
Leon Thomas plays Bogart’s on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. More info: bogarts.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Nov. 12 print edition.
This article appears in Nov. 12-25.