Leon Bridges coming to Australia with ‘self-portrait’ album

With his fourth album, Leon Bridges is showing his vulnerable side – first loves, hometown streets – in an insight into what makes him tick.

Leon Bridges is headed to Australia. Picture: Jack Bool

He’s performed at the White House for Barack Obama, he’s made music with the likes of Luke Combs and John Mayer, he’s even got a Grammy and new album to his name – and now Leon Bridges is headed to Australia.

The 35-year-old will headline his biggest Australian tour in January, with fresh new music ringing in his ears – a smooth, soul-filled reminder to slow down. It’s music that reminds the Atlanta-born, Texas-raised musician of home – and of a slower, calmer life he craves. He says the self titled album Leon is his best – and most vulnerable – work yet.

“It’s pretty surreal that I’m putting out a fourth album out into the world and it’s something I’m really proud of,” he tells Insider from his US home.

“Leon is a self portrait.

“I wanted to give people a glimpse into the place that shaped me, the place that I deem as my place of refuge – and that’s Fort Worth, Texas.

The cover for the latest album, Leon.

“It’s definitely more of a vulnerable record, which is something that I haven’t really kind of tapped into in some of my albums, so I’m really excited for people to hear this one. I need people to see the real me.”

When he started to write – about first loves and driving down streets he grew up on or the smell of Gumbo cooking – he couldn’t stop. And as an artist who is constantly facing the pressure to create, that’s a good problem to have.

“That’s the stressful part,” he says of the pressure to write hits.

“But the pressure is self-imposed.

“It’s crazy because I’ve always reinvented myself with each album, so it really made it hard to figure out what I wanted to say and what style I wanted to pursue.

“And for me, I think the people need the type of songs where you can pick up a guitar and go into a room and just play it.

“I was always making music that was authentic to me, but I think for a minute, the music got a little bit too complicated … so that inspired me to bring everything back to some simplicity.”

Leon Bridges has been inspired to bring his music back to simplicity. Picture: Jack Bool

That desire to slow down is a common theme in modern life.

For him, reminiscing on where he is now and where he came from has been a full circle moment – and one that took six years to come to fruition. No wonder he’s tired.

“The inspiration strikes, but I guess I’m at a point in my career where I’m like, dang, I’m a little exhausted,” he admits.

“I kind of need to go on a hiatus and shut everything off.

“But man, I love it all.

“(This album) just came out.

“I didn’t know what the concept would be initially – it’s kind of one of those things, in the process you write 100 songs and then you kind of have to dwindle everything down to a 10-song record.

“I started writing with my good friend Ian Fitchuk in Nashville and we would just sit down and have conversations about my upbringing in Fort Worth and what that was like.

“And throughout time I started to see this common thread with all these songs … it just felt really cohesive.”

Nostalgia is what helped shape Leon Bridges into the man he is today. Picture: Jack Bool

A song called Panther City is a reflection of a summer in the 1990s on the south side of Fort Worth – a place he describes as a rough and dangerous place.

While reflecting on how far he’s come, it’s also clear that the nostalgia of him is what helped shape him into the man he is today.

“I wanted to really paint not only my experiences, but just the beauty of that place, in the midst of the chaos,” he says.

“And honestly, it’s expressing so much gratitude for some of the people during that time that I met along the way and still stay in touch with to this day.

“From my perspective of dealing with … the more you climb the ladder and grow in fame, it’s just with the weight of everything that comes with that, I’ve always just desired a more simple life.

“Like, what would everything be like if I was still washing dishes and living in Fort Worth?

“This whole album, it’s just about valuing and focusing on the things that are just most meaningful to me.

“And that’s home and family.

“Because it’s easy to get distracted with all the noise.”

Leon Bridges at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in 2018. Picture: David Harris

Bridges is excited to bring his new sound to Australia when he does his biggest tour here in January.

“Every time I’m in Australia, every time I play a show, the people always give back so much energy and love and are really attentive,” he explains.

“The last time I was out there, I played a few nights at the Sydney Opera House and that’s such a crazy milestone, but I’m really excited to bring these songs out there.

“I feel like this is some of my favourite music I’ve made.

“I’ve never felt more connected to an album and my music, so I’m really, really stoked.”

Leon’s self-titled album is out now. He will play in Brisbane on January 17, Bowral’s Centennial Parklands on January 19 and Sydney’s ICC on January 21, before heading to Melbourne and Geelong. Tickets on sale now. frontiertouring.com/leonbridges