Fans of Sam Cooke are in for a treat with this new artist. With a voice that seems trapped in the nostalgic past of 60’s soul, Leon Bridges evokes a feeling of romanticism unheard of in today’s pop culture environment.
As for that Sam Cooke comparison, DMagazine sat with him and learned he had never heard of Cooke.
“I felt bad because I had never listened to Sam Cooke,’ Bridges says. ‘So I started digging. I went on Pandora and started listening to Motown and Sam Cooke. After listening to all that music, I started to see that that’s where I needed to be.’”
His latest release, Coming Home, was met with high praise that earned him a top spot on Rolling Stone’s 10 New Artists You Need to Know. Bridges’ voice feels like it belongs on a Mad Men soundtrack, but even with its old-school sound, it is one that resembles current artists such as Alabama Shakes. There’s just something about the “Doo-Wop” sound that just makes you want to listen to his tracks over and over again.
Bridges’ top track on Spotify is “Coming Home” with roughly 31M plays. This track is quintessential to his sound and is perfect for a first time listen. It’s for all the hopeless romantics out there who long for someone to be around with. If that song feels too slow for you, try giving “Better Man” a listen and you’ll quickly realize that he brings much more to the table than heartbreak tracks. This song brings in the blues and fast pace hits that just make you want to get up and dance.
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Leon Bridges brings together influences from both past and present to create a familiar sound of a forgotten genre that is soul. A genre with roots so deep in American History that it’s the new addition to the essentials of an All-American playlist. For those out there looking for new artists, make sure to check Bridges’ Coming Home. Don’t miss his tour stop in Miami Beach at Fillmore Theater on the 13th this month.
Jorge Chabo is a sophomore majoring in Economics BA. He’s from Miami, heavily into politics, and enjoys going to the movies.
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