“My Muse” Leads PHOLKS: Leon Thomas Is Everywhere

Some artists define a year with a single album. Leon Thomas has defined his with presence. Today he releases “My Muse,” the focus track and video from PHOLKS, his new seven-song EP, out now via EZMNY/Motown Records. It shows an artist at the height of his creative powers and in constant demand.

“My Muse”

Thomas releases “My Muse” today, October 24, 2025, following the success of his 2024 album MUTT. The song showcases his strengths as a vocalist and writer, with a smooth, soulful delivery and lyrics that celebrate inspiration and devotion.

As the title suggests, the song is about the person who inspires creativity, a fitting theme for an artist whose career has been built on craft. It reinforces his identity as a romantic, musically rich R&B artist.

Its warm, romantic sound is brighter and more upbeat than much of MUTT, trading that album’s brooding funk for a lighter, soul-steeped glow.

Out today
Leon Thomas releases “My Muse” and the seven-song EP PHOLKS on October 24, 2025, via EZMNY/Motown Records. “Lone Wolf,” with 4batz, is the EP’s only collaboration.

The video

The video, directed by Arrad, is set in a retro-inspired home with sunlit poolside scenes and shows Thomas caught in the orbit of his muse, with a single female co-star. The two dance beneath a crystal chandelier, and his bandmates D. Phelps and Freaky Rob appear alongside him.

It follows the PHOLKS trailer Thomas shared on Monday, October 20. Narrated by Issa Rae, his co-star on HBO’s Insecure, the trailer introduces him as “Soul Brother No. 1” and leads straight into the world of “My Muse.”

Inside PHOLKS

PHOLKS runs seven tracks: “Just How You Are,” “My Muse,” “5 More Minutes,” “Trapped,” “Baccarat,” “Feel Alive” and “Lone Wolf,” the EP’s only collaboration, with 4batz. Thomas made it with his frequent collaborators D. Phelps and Freaky Rob, and his label calls it “a love letter to beautiful chaos,” a blend of funk, classic R&B and rock.

The EP’s lead single, “Just How You Are,” arrived on October 3 with a hazy video starring Lovie Simone. The deeper turn toward funk carries a blessing from one of its founders: at Coachella in April, George Clinton gifted Thomas a custom hat and hailed him as a torchbearer for the genre.

Building on MUTT

All of this activity builds on the foundation of MUTT, his 2024 breakout album. Released in September 2024, the album established him as one of R&B’s leading artists. Its title track, which he wrote on his living room floor while watching his dog and cat tussle, was a slow burn: it entered the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2025 and became the highest-charting Hot 100 song of his career, peaking at No. 11.

The momentum from MUTT has carried into every subsequent release. His viral NPR Tiny Desk set from February became a live EP in August, the deluxe edition MUTT Deluxe: HEEL arrived on May 30 with Halle, Big Sean and Kehlani, and in June he won best new artist at the BET Awards.

As the title suggests, the song is about the person who inspires creativity, a fitting theme for an artist whose career has been built on craft.

Recognition

Thomas’s rise has been recognized by major publications. On August 30, 2025, Billboard featured him in a cover story tied to its R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list, the same story that first revealed PHOLKS, and in September he accepted Billboard’s breakthrough of the year honor. That appearance reinforces his status as a leading figure in the genre.

The recognition rests on years of work behind the scenes. Once André Harris on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, Thomas went on to produce and co-write for Ariana Grande’s Yours Truly and Positions, and he won his first Grammy, for best R&B song, with SZA’s “Snooze,” which he co-produced with Babyface.

Having spent so much time crafting songs for other artists, Thomas understands how to serve a track rather than dominate it. He knows when to step forward and when to support, a skill that makes him an ideal collaborator. This year alone he has worked with peers including Coco Jones, YG and Giveon. Artists choose features carefully, and the range of musicians who have sought out Thomas speaks to his reputation within the industry. He is not just popular with audiences. He is admired by fellow artists.

What it all means

The past year has shown that Leon Thomas is not only a gifted solo artist but also one of the most sought-after collaborators in music. His ability to elevate other artists’ songs while maintaining his own identity is rare.

Next comes the road. On October 30, he opens his headlining Mutts Don’t Heel world tour at the House of Blues in Dallas, with dates across North America, Europe and Australia before it closes in Perth on April 19, 2026.

With “My Muse,” Thomas keeps proving his range, his talent and his appeal. He is everywhere right now, and the industry is better for it.