Back in 2018, Brother Leo made his debut with “Strangers On An Island,” introducing himself to the world. Does he still feel like a stranger? What has changed since then? When asked, Brother Leo admits that he still carries a sense of being an outsider. However, with an increasing number of people recognizing his work and listening to his music, he finds the experience surreal and humbling.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Brother Leo continues to release singles this year, eagerly anticipating the release of his debut album next year. Surprisingly, he found that the pandemic nurtured his creativity. With fewer distractions demanding his attention, he was able to immerse himself fully in his craft. The period also prompted him to ponder profound existential questions, leading to personal growth.
Back in 2018, you introduced yourself to the world with “Strangers On An Island”. Do you still feel like a stranger? What has changed for you since then?
Yee I’ll probably always feel a bit like a stranger haha. Not much really, still doing what I did before but I guess more people now know who I am and are listening to my music which is a bit surreal to be honest.
You have been and will be releasing more singles this year, and your debut album is coming next year. How did you experience working during the pandemic? Did it nourish or dry out your creativity?
Mostly it nourished my creativity.. I’ve been able to properly lock myself in with not a lot of other stuff screaming for my attention, which has been nice in a way. Also I’d say it made me take a step back and ask myself a lot of those big questions.
You’re based between London and Stockholm. Right? Which city has the bigger impact on your music?
Yee that’s right, even though I’ve been a lot more in Sthlm since the pandemic kicked in.
It’s so hard to say, I think my initial way of writing and making music is pretty Swedish but the last couple of years I’ve definitely been influenced more and more by London and the people I’ve worked with there, musically but also creatively in general I’d say.
Your upcoming album has some great production collaborations, such as Fred Gibson (Stormzy), Steve Mac (Ed Sheeran), and Björn Yttling (Lykke Li). Which musician/artist would you love to collaborate with (dead or alive).
There’s so many great artists out there that truly inspire me, but Robyn is definitely one of them.
Your latest single “People” is probably the funniest critical view on humanity. What is your favorite and least likable trait of people?
Unselfish acts of kindness, when there’s no obvious benefits to be gained… helping a stranger you’re never gonna see again.
Least likeable would be the exact opposite I guess. Greed and selfishness to the extreme.
I guess we all have both sides of that coin which is probably what makes us human..
What inspired you to write this song? And how did you come up with the idea for the video?
I guess it came from just zooming out, watching myself, people and humanity in general… if you zoom out and look at us.. what we’re all doing, what most of us are aiming for and what a lot of us are capable of doing to get that.. it’s pretty sad but also hilarious in a way.. We all become clouded at times and seek happiness in unachievable places. We box ourselves in and follow the stream.. we get a job, a dog and get stuck in the race.. we live on social media and sometimes I think we forget what’s truly important and what truly would make us happy and fulfilled.. Then you meet that special person.. who immediately make you switch lenses and see the world in a completely different light.. which is pretty scary but also beautiful at the same time.
The idea for the video initially came from the director Chris Curtley after he heard the song. We wanted to make an observation about modern day society by plunging Jesus into the 21st century. A Jesus who’s not his normal messiah self, he’s been corrupted by society and is a fading light in a celebrity obsessed world.
I thought this was a funny but also a pretty dark way of expressing how the world fills our heads with idealistic values about fame and success, subsequently providing a blueprint on what is deemed a happy life and what is not.
Regarding the music video’s concept, the director Chris Curtley envisioned a modern-day adaptation, immersing Jesus in the 21st century. This portrayal presents Jesus as a fading light, corrupted by a celebrity-obsessed world. Through this darkly comical approach, the video critiques how society implants idealistic notions of fame and success, ultimately dictating our perception of a happy life.
At TITLE, we emphasize the importance of embracing one’s True Identity. To Brother Leo, this concept involves accepting and embracing one’s authentic self, beyond superficial layers of deception and falsehoods. He believes he has found his true identity, at least for the present moment. However, he acknowledges that it is a continual journey, with the potential for evolution and transformation in the future. Brother Leo strives to stay true to himself and follow his creative energy wherever it may lead.
Looking ahead, Brother Leo eagerly anticipates his upcoming releases, the opportunity to continue creating music, and the chance to finally connect with and perform for his supportive fanbase in person.
