BEYOND THE NOTES
Photo by Austin Hargraves (Hollywood Reporter)
December 15, 2025 | Shreya Varma
Most of us first met Leon Thomas as the charming, musically gifted Andre Harris on Nickelodeon’s Victorious. A six-time Grammy nominee with credits on chart-dominating albums, he’s become one of R&B’s most vital and visionary voices whose fingerprints are all over some of today’s biggest hits. And now, the world knows what many fans suspected all along—Leon Thomas was always destined for more than the small screen.
The journey didn’t start with Victorious, though. Growing up surrounded by music with a grandfather who was a professional jazz artist and opera singer, music has always been part of his DNA. It began on a Broadway stage. In 2010, Thomas made his professional debut as a child actor, showing early signs of the artistry that would eventually define his career.
After Victorious wrapped, many of his co-stars pivoted to music, acting, or left the spotlight together. Thomas took a different route. He partnered with longtime collaborator Khristopher Riddick-Tynes and co-founded the production duo, The Rascals. The duo would soon become one of the most influential and quietly powerful forces in modern music.
While fans might not have known it at the time, they were already listening to Thomas’s genius. Ariana Grande’s lush ballads “Tattooed Heart,” “safety net,” and “nasty”? Leon Thomas was there. Drake’s introspective bangers like “Gold Rose” and “Love All”? Yup, there too. And in 2024, his work on SZA’s dreamy, genre-bending hit Snooze earned him his first Grammy for Best R&B Song.
However, after years of crafting hits behind the scenes, Thomas stepped into the spotlight. His 2018 debut EP Genesis marked his first solo chapter, and by 2022, he signed a joint deal with Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY Records and Motown Records. This deal signified his official shift as a solo recording artist.
Then came Electric Dusk in 2023—his official debut album and an instant game-changer, proving Thomas could not only produce the hits but be one. The project drew critical acclaim for its cinematic soundscapes and emotional depth, solidifying Thomas as one of R&B’s most versatile voices.
And just when you thought he couldn’t go any higher, Thomas dropped Mutt in 2024—his sophomore, genre-blending masterpiece of an album that dominated R&B charts, cracked the Billboard Top 10, and scored him six Grammy nominations.
Looking back, it’s hard not to be in awe of the journey. From being a Nickelodeon prodigy to one of the most respected names in the industry, Leon Thomas is defining what it means to evolve, experiment, and inspire. And if the last decade is any sign, his next chapter is going to be nothing short of legendary.