Leon James (composer)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Leon James

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1991|12|01}}

| origin = Tamil Nadu, India

| instrument = keyboard/piano

| occupation = {{hlist|Film composer|Music director}}

| years_active =

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}}

Leon James is an Indian film composer and singer who works in Tamil and Telugu films. He made his debut by composing two songs for the Tamil film, Kanchana 2 (2015) directed by Raghava Lawrence, before being noticed for his work in Ko 2 (2016).{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ko2-music-director-leon-james-talks-about-his-music-journey/article7927396.ece | title=From Kanchana-2 to Ko 2 | work=The Hindu | date=28 November 2015 | accessdate=29 April 2016}}

Early life

Leon James became interested in music as a result of his father Noel James's involvement in the industry as A. R. Rahman's manager. As a child, Leon was both a singer (as part of a chorus group) and pianist. He played in a school band called Zinx alongside Anirudh Ravichander, with the pair remaining close friends.{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Latha |title=No rivalry between Anirudh and me, says 23-year-old music director Leon James |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/interview-no-rivalry-between-anirudh-and-me-says-23-year-old-music-director-leon-james-2139084 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=DNA India |language=en}} He is also currently a part of Project Yuj, a "neo-Carnatic funk" band alongside Aalap Raju, Prakash Hariharan and Jeoraj George and the team released an independent album in November 2014.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/meet-the-members-of-project-yuj-a-chennai-band-that-promises-a-different-sound/article6538290.ece | title=The new funk formula | work=The Hindu | accessdate=1 October 2015 | author=Srinivasa Ramanujam| date=27 October 2014 }} Prior to making his debut as a composer, Leon has worked as a keyboardist for stage shows and film albums composed by Santhosh Narayanan, Anirudh Ravichander and Thaman.{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-music-director/leon-james/an-exclusive-interview-with-leon-james-by-avinash-pandian.html | title=An exclusive interview with Leon James by Avinash Pandian | work=Behindwoods | accessdate=1 October 2015}} Leon's father died in January 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=Leon James's Father Passes Away; Music Director Performs Final Rites Yet Delivers Song On Time |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/telugu/leon-jamess-father-passes-away-music-director-performs-final-rites-yet-delivers-song-on-time-article-117699163 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Times Now |language=en}}

Career

Leon James made a breakthrough in the Tamil film industry after his work was spotted by Raghava Lawrence, who was working on his horror comedy film Kanchana 2 (2015). Lawrence had heard a romantic melody song composed by Leon on YouTube and wanted it adapted to be used in his film, and subsequently brought the composer on board to work on the film's soundtrack. The song, "Vaayaa En Veera" sung by Shakthisree Gopalan, won positive reviews with Karthik Srinivasan noting that "Leon's music seems very new-agey" and his "sound is fresh, and purposefully cluttered".{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=11 April 2015 |title=Hitman |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/hitman/article7092834.ece |access-date=1 October 2015 |work=The Hindu}} He later asked Leon to work on a further fast-paced song to be used in the film's climax, and the tune "Sandi Muni" was resultantly produced. The film went on to become amongst the profitable ventures of the year, with Leon's work noticed by critics.{{Cite web |title=Thrilled when Lawrence asked for my song |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Thrilled-when-Lawrence-asked-for-my-song/articleshow/46945353.cms |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=The Times of India}}{{Cite news |last=Srinivasa Ramanujam |date=2 April 2015 |title=Striking a musical chord |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/striking-a-musical-chord/article7062430.ece |access-date=1 October 2015 |work=The Hindu}} Soon after the release of the film in April 2015, he teamed up with singer Andrea Jeremiah to record a song called "Ezhunthu Vaa" to promote female empowerment.{{Cite web |title=Actress Andrea Jeremiah and Leon James team up for a song called Ezhunthu Va, on women empowerment |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/andrea-and-leon-james-teams-up-for-a-song-called-ezunthu-va-on-women-empowerment.html |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=Behindwoods}}

The successful nature of his work in his first album prompted producer Elred Kumar to sign him up to work on the whole album for the political-thriller, Ko 2 (2015).{{Cite web |title=Leon James signs Bobby Simhaa's film |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Leon-James-signs-Bobby-Simhaas-film/articleshow/47231226.cms |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=The Times of India}} The album of Ko 2 entailed of six tracks, with a promotional song titled "Unnai Maatrinal" released early as a tribute to former Indian President Abdul Kalam, consisting of lyrics based on his speeches. The album featured vocals from Bollywood artistes Vishal Dadlani, Salim Merchant and Neeti Mohan, while Chinmayi and Leon James, himself, also recorded songs. Leon James also chose to introduce Harish Sivaramakrishnan from the Bangalore-based rock band Agam and London-based singer Inno Genga, for their first respective songs in the Tamil film industry.{{Cite web |date=23 September 2015 |title=Exclusive details of 'Ko 2' music Album from its composer Leon James |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/exclusive-details-of-ko-2-music-album-from-its-composer-leon-james-tamil-news-142932.html |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=IndiaGlitz}}{{Cite web |title=Ko2 song-preview by Sony Music! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/ko2-song-preview-by-sony-music-news-tamil-pj0lINchbchde.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104072108/http://www.sify.com/movies/ko2-song-preview-by-sony-music-news-tamil-pj0lINchbchde.html |archive-date=4 November 2015 |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=Sify}}

Discography

=As composer=

== Original soundtrack ==

style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Language ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2" \| 2015	Kanchana 2	rowspan="4" \| Tamil	2 songs "Sandi Muni" and "Vaaya Veera"
Ko 2
rowspan="1" \| 2016	Kavalai Vendam
rowspan="3" \| 2018	Veera
Next Enti?	Telugu
Silukkuvarupatti Singam	rowspan="3" \| Tamil
2019	LKG
rowspan="1" \| 2020	Oh My Kadavule
2021 \| Paagal	rowspan="3" \| Telugu	1 song "Kanapadava" Background score
2022 \|Ori Devuda \|Remake of Oh My Kadavule
rowspan="3" \|2023 \|Das Ka Dhamki \|
Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum \| rowspan="2" \|Tamil \|
Saba Nayagan \|
rowspan="4" \|2025 \|Laila \|Telugu \|
\|Dragon \|Tamil \| Also credited for keyboards for soundtrack album and mix & mastered credits for "Rise of Dragon"
Mazaka \| rowspan="2" \|Telugu \|
{{pending film\|G.O.A.T}} \|{{cite web\|title=GOAT Cast & Crew\|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sudigali-sudheer-goat.html#cast\|website=Filmibeat}}

=As vocalist=

== Non-film songs ==

2015 – "Ezhunthu Vaa" (featuring Andrea Jeremiah)
2015 – "Punnagaiyya" (featuring Andrea Jeremiah)
2018 – "Kanne Kanne" (featuring Jonita Gandhi)
2020 - "Unna Vida Maaten" (featuring Andrea Jeremiah)
2020 - "Suzhaluren" (featuring Ko Sesha)
2021 - "Unakaaga Naan Irupen" (featuring Avinash Ashok & Shubhangi Jha)

== Film songs ==

style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Song ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
2006	Varalaru	"Thottapuram"	composed by A. R. Rahman
rowspan="2"\| 2015	Kanchana 2	"Sandimuni"
Ko 2	"Kohila", "Vidaadha"
2016	Kavalai Vendam	"En Pulse Yethitu Poriye"
2017	Sakka Podu Podu Raja	"Unakkaga"	composed by Silambarasan
2018	Veera	"Ootaanda Soltuvaa"
2020	Oh My Kadavule	"Haiyyo Haiyyo"
2025	Dragon	"Rise of Dragon"	Telugu dubbed song

References

External links

{{Facebook|leonjamesofficial|Leon James}}

Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Chennai

Category:Tamil film score composers

Category:1991 births

Category:Indian male film score composers

Category:Telugu film score composers

style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Language ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2" \| 2015	Kanchana 2	rowspan="4" \| Tamil	2 songs "Sandi Muni" and "Vaaya Veera"
Ko 2
rowspan="1" \| 2016	Kavalai Vendam
rowspan="3" \| 2018	Veera
Next Enti?	Telugu
Silukkuvarupatti Singam	rowspan="3" \| Tamil
2019	LKG
rowspan="1" \| 2020	Oh My Kadavule
2021 \| Paagal	rowspan="3" \| Telugu	1 song "Kanapadava" Background score
2022 \|Ori Devuda \|Remake of Oh My Kadavule
rowspan="3" \|2023 \|Das Ka Dhamki \|
Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum \| rowspan="2" \|Tamil \|
Saba Nayagan \|
rowspan="4" \|2025 \|Laila \|Telugu \|
\|Dragon \|Tamil \| Also credited for keyboards for soundtrack album and mix & mastered credits for "Rise of Dragon"
Mazaka \| rowspan="2" \|Telugu \|
{{pending film\|G.O.A.T}} \|{{cite web\|title=GOAT Cast & Crew\|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sudigali-sudheer-goat.html#cast\|website=Filmibeat}}