Known for his vintage, soulful sound, Leon Bridges steps a foot into a more modern sound with his newest single, Why Don’t You Touch Me.

Whenever people think of Leon Bridges, they associate his sound either with his beautiful, folky ballads, or his homage to old school soul like Sam Cook and Marvin Gaye. He’s been the master of vintage R&B, which made his newest song all the more a surprise. Right away, the listener is greeted by a more electronic, chill-sounding beat. We’re already in new waters, but the rest is absolutely mesmerizing. His smooth, slow delivery is all-too familiar to those familiar with his sound, yet this feels so fresh and new. The clean guitars, the breathy harmonies, all of them are done so prestigiously, you would think Leon has been doing this for decades.

His performance in this song is the true highlight of Why Don’t You Touch Me. His voice sounds almost addicting, it just feels so perfectly in place. As the composition builds and builds, his tone shifts and adjusts to the dynamics so seamlessly. Another major feat of this song is its dynamics, it pulls off the chill vibes of a slow-moving R&B ballad all the while constantly keeping the energy moving up, all the way to the end of the track. Skipping ahead would shock a listener, to be sure, but listening through as intended gives the two different sounds all the context it needs.

The tune definitely still has its retro-inspired tones. There’s a vintage feel to the melodies, all executed in a much more neo-soul fashion. This isn’t better or worse, it’s far too different to compare. Leon Bridges has once again blown my mind, and to many others, I’m sure. He is one of the most musically gifted singers in recent years, and this song could even be seen as an open invitation to those not used to his older style into both his new album and the rest of his discography.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.