Leon Thomas — Tiny Desk (NPR), Washington D.C., 2025

This filmed live concert captures American singer, songwriter and producer Leon Thomas for his debut in NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series, in Washington D.C., in 2025. Known first as a songwriter before establishing himself as an artist, Thomas defends his contemporary R&B/soul, carried by a supple voice and a keen sense of groove. The set gathers five songs — VIBES DON’T LIE, YES IT IS, MUTT, Breaking Point and Treasure In The Hills — three of them from his album MUTT. He dedicates Breaking Point to his grandfather, opera singer John Anthony, a high point of an otherwise rhythm-driven set of guitar, keys and backing vocals. The acoustic, close-up Tiny Desk format highlights the vocal harmonies and the soul foundation of his arrangements. Representative of 2020s live soul, this full performance illustrates the movement between writing for others and personal statement. A carefully made document on one of the rising voices of American R&B, to discover as a filmed live concert.