Leon Thomas - PHOLKS (2025) Hi Res

After a breakout 2024, Leon Thomas returns with PHOLKS, a compact yet deeply emotive R&B project that reinforces his status as one of the genre’s most exciting new voices.

Following the success of last year’s Mutt (still holding strong on top of the Billboard R&B charts), Leon Thomas delivers PHOLKS; a short but potent collection of songs that expands on his blend of confessional lyricism, silky production, and undeniable groove. Across seven tracks, he navigates longing, heartbreak, and introspection with a confidence that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern.

The EP opens with Just How You Are, previously released as a single, and it wastes no time reintroducing what’s quickly become Leon’s signature sound. Preppy chords and smooth bass lines carry a rhythm that’s instantly infectious, while the chorus captures that perfect balance between vulnerability and aura. His delivery feels both casual and confessional, making for a bright, effortlessly groovy opener.

That energy continues into My Muse, the project’s focus track and one of its emotional high points. From the first note, the passion is palpable. The lush instrumentation wraps around Leon’s vocals as he wrestles with unreciprocated affection. His songwriting treads the line between obsessive and honest, channeling that early 2000s R&B yearning that once defined the genre. The track’s outro, all shimmering chords and warm harmonies, feels blissful, like a slow exhale after emotional turbulence.

5 More Minutes carries the theme of pining forward. Lines like “show me you been missing me, like I been missing you” ring with relatable desperation, contrasting the track’s upbeat, almost danceable groove. The juxtaposition between the song’s breezy production and its emotional core gives it a bittersweet charm, the kind of R&B track that disguises heartbreak with rhythm. From there, Trappedpulls the project into darker, more introspective territory. Built around an acoustic guitar and subtle percussive work, it strips the sound down to something raw and intimate. The atmosphere is dense and melancholic, drawing listeners into the depressive fog that Leon captures so vividly. Its abrupt ending leaves the emotion unresolved, a smart choice that lingers.

The tension breaks with Baccarat, an unexpected pivot where Leon lets loose. Driven by frenetic electric guitars and pounding drums, the track feels chaotic in the best way, a sonic depiction of emotional overload. His vocals echo and reverberate like they’re calling out from inside a storm, desperate to be heard. It’s one of the EP’s most experimental and idiosyncratic cuts, culminating in a climactic outro where every instrument surges to the surface. The energy then softens with Feel Alive, which returns to acoustic textures. Here, Leon’s ghostly vocal tone glides over a gentle rhythm, creating a moment of introspection and release. The layered backing vocals shimmer, and though brief, the track leaves a lasting impression.

Closing track Lone Wolf winds the EP down with poise and grace. A soft piano and steady drum pattern form the backbone of this entrancing finale, as Leon embraces solitude rather than running from it. The spoken outro feels almost meditative, a message of self-acceptance and quiet strength to end the journey on a reflective note.

While short, PHOLKS reaffirms that the success of Mutt was no fluke. Leon Thomas, once best known as an actor, continues to carve out his lane as one of R&B’s most distinctive voices. Each release refines his sound further, smooth, soulful, and full of emotional truth. PHOLKS might be brief, but it’s another confident step toward greatness.