In his latest ‘At Home With’ conversation on Apple Music 1, Zane Lowe is joined by Leon Bridges, in an interview to talk about his forthcoming album ‘Gold-Diggers Sound’. He tells Zane about dealing with imposter syndrome, why he dislikes being labelled as ‘retro’, wanting to pursue acting, his plans to make a country album and more. Check out all of the artist-curated ‘At Home With’ playlists on Apple Music HERE. Listen to Zane’s interview with Leon Bridges here.
I want to continue to stay unpredictable throughout my career. And so I wouldn’t say that it’s totally indicative of what the future of me sounds like because there’s just so much that I want to do. I want to tour around and make a country album.
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music About Being Labelled “Retro”…
Well, I took something that was initially so pure for me with the sound that started in the songs that I was writing, it was so pure for me and then it immediately got labelled and put into a box that was just really off putting to me because I felt like the whole retro labels just totally cheapened and diminished what I felt was carrying on the legacy and carrying on my heritage. And when you look at it in the grand scheme of things, all music is derivative of something. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here, and it’s almost damn near impossible.The reverence for what was here before, taking that and putting our own take on it.
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music About How Dropping Out of College To Support His Mum Led To Him Being Discovered…
I left college to pick up a second job to support my mother. During that time, I had to find an outlet to express myself because I wasn’t on the stage anymore. And that’s what music was for me. I was playing guitar and went to a couple of open mics and that’s what led to getting discovered, essentially.
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music About Finding Success and Imposter Syndrome…
Man, I’m so appreciative and grateful for it, but I try not to get too caught up in the accolades, because then I think when I do that, then I lose ambition, and then I get lazy. My success was a fortuitous thing. I didn’t have any aspirations to do it on that level because the idea of that seemed so far-fetched. But I can tell you honestly, I’m still processing what my life is now, that whole concept of imposter syndrome… and when I’m in it, sometimes I feel that maybe I’m not built for this kind of lifestyle. Something that initially was very pure for me and something I was passionate about. I think when you finally reach that tier and are in it, your love for it can be diminished a little bit. I miss when I was able to create music with no expectations.
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music About The Visuals Accompanying His New Album And Wanting To Act…
Because the songs are killer, and so the visual representation needs to be on point. For me it was just about finding really awesome directors that could bring these songs to life. And then at the same time, I kind of low-key want to pursue acting in the future, so get my moment to kind of flex my acting muscles.
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music How James Blake and Frank Ocean Have Impacted The R&B Landscape…
James Blake is somebody that really impacted the landscape of R&B. Frank Ocean had that effect as well. In a world where everything has been done before, when you look at Frank Ocean’s music… I mean, up until that point, there wasn’t R&B music that was lyrically sound in that way. Maybe D’Angelo? But other than that, it was nonexistent. And then also melodically, Frank Ocean was bringing something… When I hear some of those melodies that he uses in his songs, I’m, “Oh, that’s totally a folk thing.”
Leon Bridges Tells Apple Music About Embracing Dance…
You look at Usher and even some of his counterparts like Ginuwine, the whole dynamic of being an awesome singer and awesome dancer is almost missing in today’s music. You currently have Chris Brown, but I think that’s it. So I think what that means is it’s my turn. And just like my music, I got to do it on my terms, you know what I’m saying, in my own way. I’m not the type of cat where it’s full-blown choreography yet on stage or in the videos, but I don’t want to let the world know that I got a little something.
