New Stockholm singer Léon has a cellist for a mother and a conductor for a father but as a child it was the arrival of Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits in her life that pointed to the direction her musical life would take. She’s a pop girl, specifically with a warm electronic sound, and she isn’t afraid to add twisted digital effects to her soulful voice.
Katy Perry, no less, got the ball rolling on her buzz last summer when the superstar tweeted a link to her song Tired of Talking and pronounced her “one to watch!”.
Spotify added their endorsement at the start of this year, adding her to a “Spotlight on 2016” playlist of new hotshots that also features Jack Garratt and Rudimental collaborator Anne-Marie.
As a result, Tired of Talking, a break-up tune that finds space for an uplifting chorus and a bit of light whistling, is now on more than 17 million Spotify streams.
London will be introduced to her properly when she makes her headlining debut at Hoxton’s Courtyard Theatre next week, and then it’ll be full steam ahead to join her fellow Swede Zara Larsson at the top of our charts.
April 12, Courtyard Theatre, N1 (0844 477 1000, thecourtyard.org.uk)