Audiences may be familiar with seeing Leon Jacques on a stage with the likes of Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, or Culture Club. He’s now released his new single titled ‘Parts’. Tapping into his R&B and reggae influences, the Londoner is inviting his audience to the dance floor, welcoming them with his suave vocals soaked into the warm rhythms of his Caribbean roots, brought to life by Sunset Driver. “It was extremely important to come together with a producer who gets it, and being a Notting Hill native with mixed Afro-Caribbean heritage, she knew exactly what I meant when talking about unrefined baselines and synths and how they marry the rhythm section”, Leon explains. Hailing himself from the West Indies, he had his heart set on celebrating his multicultural background with a track that intuitively brings people together, even for a brief encounter…
“I had always wanted to create a song that felt authentic to my heritage but not forced, he continues. I’m privileged to have spent many of my formative years in Jamaica and Barbados so my accent and dialect aren’t forced but at the same time, it’s clearly British which honors the choices of my grandparents to support the colony whilst solidifying a stable foundation for the future family. In writing Parts, I wanted to peek behind the blinds of reggae culture.
This song is about the silent consent given on the dance floor to be led by the rhythm and the vibe for an encapsulating three or four minutes, and then everybody goes their separate ways, happy, unhindered, and judgment-free.”
An original member of House Gospel Choir, Leon Jacques helped shape their signature sound and performed at the biggest UK festivals (Glastonbury, Latitude, Southport) before focusing on his solo career. Previously heard on records from Kojey Radical, Che Lingo, and Naughty Boy, his own material received support from major media outlets like BBC 1Xtra and Notion, all championing the “choir in a box” and his honeyed harmonies. Leon Jacques will continue to shine his light throughout 2022, with a wave of monthly singles.
Image provided by Alison Piron PR (c) Bxsh Creative
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