Leon Bridges
Born: 1989
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Genre: Soul
Years Active: 2015 -
Real Name: Todd Bridges
Meaning of the Name:
Way of Working: Works with producers
Associated: Khruangbin
Essential Releases
Coming Home (2015)
Retro soul album with modern production.
Louisiana Sun
EP (2016)
More intimate, less polished, personal acoustic work.
Leon Bridges' music is a direct homage to the classic soul of Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Otis Redding, as opposed to more recent artists, which creates a distance between the singer and his songs, since he isn't inspired by his immediate surroundings. His work isn't a product of the current climate but an echo of the past interpreted by someone who wasn't there.
Songs, such as 'Pull Away', are expertly crafted original compositions performed with discipline and flair. Bridges has a great voice, smooth as silk and slick like honey. The instrumentation is comprised of drums, bass, guitars, keys and brass, as it was back then. He even performs in the same, now retro, clothing popular at the time. You could be forgiven for mistaking such efforts as being from the sixties; only they're not.
Decades later, that era's soul and R&B still resonate because of their raw, human quality and timeless themes of love. You only need a pulse to understand them. However, they also carried a political weight from the cultural upheaval of the time, a quality absent from Bridges' work. For instance, Nina Simone's 1963 record 'Mississippi Goddam' was a furious reaction to the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
His songs about being unlucky in love and searching for his sweetheart are one thing, but Bridges rarely mentions topics such as black pride, poverty, and racial segregation, which were also essential to the black music of the era. Perhaps his heart is too pure, or his optimism prevents him for taking a closer look. However, the lush, soulful works of the time were so effective because they stood in contrast to the era's harsh realities, making them feel earned.
Bridges has said he wasn't heartbroken when he wrote the lovesick 'Pull Away'. He didn't experience the feelings expressed in the music and was only inspired after listening to 'I Don't Mind' (1961) by James Brown, which puts the cart before the horse.
The best punk rock was raw and authentic, powered by 'three chords and the truth.' In contrast, Bridges' music is technically flawless but can feel artistically hollow. I'd love to hear him sing more from his own heart, as he does so poignantly on 'Lisa Sawyer', a song he wrote for his mother. It's an effort that shows he can truly live up to his immense talent.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
70
Mental Impact
50
Originality
25
Artistry
60
Authenticity
40
Live
90
Production
70
Musicianship
70
Singing
90
Songwriting
90
Danceability
55
Fun
55
Consistency
60
Range
60
Cool
65
Charisma
65
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- Grammy Award WINNER! 2019: Bet Ain't Worth the Hand - Best Traditional R&B Performance
- 3x Grammy Award Nominee
Certifications >>>
- Coming Home: Platinum in Canada, USA; Gold in Australia, UK
- Good Thing: Gold in USA
Charts >>>
- Coming Home: #6 in USA; #8 in UK
- Good Thing: #3 in USA; #8 in Australia
