Bio

Auckland-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and production wizard behind Flying Nun crew Ghost Wave, Mathew L. Paul arrived in 2021 under his solo moniker LEON with the release of his debut full-length, Cherry.

A deeply reflective record, Cherry was described by Under The Radar as “9 tracks of club-igniting dance grooves, 60's-tinged psychedelic pop and fervent funk”, reflecting the turbulence of a world in the midst of a collective panic attack – all strung together by the singer’s “irresistibly soulful wordplay.”

Post-Cherry, LEON retreated to his Mt Eden studio, sketching a fresh batch of new songs, still finding time to deliver a colourful, dubbed-out falsetto croon over Julien Dyne’s afro-jazz/house track GRL (Modes, Soundway 2021), a featured track on the BBC’s New Music Fix with Tom Ravenscroft.

While an enthusiastic collaborator, in most cases, he writes and produces tracks in their entirety, relegating only mix and mastering duties. That said, growing a stable of artists to work with is high on the agenda.”

“[Producing myself] is just how I’ve always done it,” LEON says of his creative process. “One of my favourite things is to just have a simple groove going on my headphones, turn on the mic and just kind of feel what comes out, whether that’s from a melodic perspective or just the attitude of the song.”

“It’s probably super ridiculous to see me feeling out the song in these high pitched, kinda squeaky tones, but I think to deliver a song you kind of need to think like an actor. It’s cinematic and you wanna feel it, so the listener feels it too.”

For now, the former guitar-gang frontman is stepping up to the mic to deliver guide tracks for other vocalists. Bringing pop and dance elements into closer focus with the next slew of singles, 2023 promises to be a fruitful year for the emerging producer with the release of Sunshine, featuring Zambian-born, Auckland-based artist Mukuka on vocal duties.

“Getting to work with new artists allows me a new kind of creative freedom. It’s a total blessing. To be able to pursue this music and these vibes has always been the ultimate expression of freedom – and rocking with others is definitely the vibe right now.”

Links

• Instagram Page
• Bandcamp Page
• Spotify Page
• Apple Music Page