Leon DC: Enjoy the Process

Blessed with a richly soulful voice, UK R&B artist Leon DC has amassed an impressive fan-following in recent years, as we discovered ourselves when we published our previous interview with him. The Winchester has rarely been so busy!

Now we're back at Leon's East London studio for a catch-up and a sneak peak at the video for his latest single: 'Zen'. The new video is entirely animated and something of a departure for the singer/songwriter, albeit one that ideally complements the confident, empowering tone of the track it visualises.

Leon, as well as being a successful recording artist and bloody nice chap, happens to also be an elite athlete. This time out we opted to grill the 6’3” singer not only about his music, but also about his impressive volleyball skills.

For dislocated pinkies, big power hitting, 'Zen' and more, read on!

♣︎ ♣︎ ♣︎

Hello Leon. Tell us what you've been up to since we last met?

It's been non-stop recording and working out how and where I’m going to be performing next year. I’ve become a bit of a hermit. I’m really trying to perfect my sound, getting a solid batch of songs ready to perform for next year.

I’ve also started a part-time Masters in Music Performance at the University of East London. I got a volleyball scholarship to study and play volleyball. Really looking forward to seeing what I’ll learn and where I’ll be in two years' time.

Never stop learning. It is true you played for the national volleyball squad?

It is. Growing up, I was a part of the junior and senior national team setup. Over the years I’ve travelled around Europe for international games.

I wouldn’t mind playing professionally again for a season or two.

Who do you play for now?

I currently play for Malory Eagles. It's my home team, based in Tooting, London. I first played for them right at the start of my career, so it feels good to be back.

Is volleyball as physically demanding as it looks?

Some positions can be physically demanding, depending on if you have a height advantage on the other team. I'm 6’3”, which is small for a volleyballer.

Height doesn’t matter so much if you’re playing the defensive role, but I play the opposite: the attacking position. I’m supposed to be the big power hitter that wins the majority of the points.

The speed of the game is impressive to watch. Volleyball’s not a contact sport, so it’s not as dangerous as, say, rugby. I dislocated my pinkie finger two seasons ago. Apart from that, I’ve been quite blessed and not suffered too many injuries over the past decade.

Let’s not tempt fate. What’s your training regime?

It's quite flexible. It changes depending on my schedule, but it’s a mixture of muscle-building and endurance exercises.

When I’m having my strength and conditioning sessions, I mainly try to work on speed and agility; the more explosive the better. I try to do as little running as possible. I find it tedious, even with the world’s best music playlist. 

I try to incorporate my cardio with exercises that still involve lifting of some sort. I’m always trying to build each week. I'm currently squatting over 150 kg and benching over 100 kg.

Impressive. How big is volleyball in the UK now?

It's definitely not as big as in the rest of Europe. Since the London Olympics in 2012, things have been getting progressively better. And a lot of people, especially young people, are learning about the sport because of the Haikyu! anime.

Haven't seen it. Is it good?

It's great! You should watch it. It’s definitely one of my favourite sports animes. I’m waiting for it to finish so I can binge watch the rest, without having to wait for new episodes to drop.

Tell us about 'Zen'. What’s it about?

It’s about feeling empowered, determined and passionate about what you do. It took me about a week to the get the lyrics down. The beat’s by Kofi Cooks. So good!

I’ve been learning to take things in my stride and enjoy the process. This track is basically about me working through that. Previously, I’ve been overly eager to impress, especially when it comes to music.

I’m at a point now where I’ve gone full circle and remembered why I picked up a mic in the first place. I'm buzzing to see what the next couple of years hold for me.

'Zen' has been out for a week or two. What' s the reaction been like?

Yeah, it came out on October 7 [2022]. The reaction’s been great. I'm really happy. And I’ve been so excited about people getting to see the video, which drops today. This one's fully animated.

Very cool. How did it come about?

The person behind this artistry is Swifty Creative. He’s a very talented and imaginative digital creator. He’s done a lot of work for other artists I'm a fan of. I approached him to do a video for me. He said yes and came up with some concepts a few days later.

When it came to the look of the animation, I pretty much gave him full creative control. I had faith in the quality of his work. 

Thanks, Leon. It's been great to catch up.

Likewise! It’s great working with you guys. Thanks for all the love you continuously show. I really appreciate it. I’m a massive fan! I’m in love with my Wave Hoodie. I’ve also swapped out the laces in my volleyball shoes for my TOC Laces.

Guaranteed to enhance your performance! Any final words?

Just thanks to everyone that’s supporting me. 'Zen' is available now on all the major streaming and digital platforms. The video drops today on YouTube.

I have lots more videos in the pipeline, and definitely more music. Stay tuned!

♣︎ ♣︎ ♣︎

►'Zen' by Leon DC is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music and elsewhere.