Leo Leonski – After Dark – Boyanza Records
Buy link: orcd.co/ygeqemg
On the label’s latest, Boyanza welcomes back global cosmonaut Leo Leonski into the fold, who brings his signature blend of charming melodies, late-night driving progressions, and overall effervescence with full effect….
Leonski has always prided himself on curating a sound that skips to the beat of his travels, and that is very much reflected in the breadth and diversity contained within his discography. Originally hailing from Switzerland but now based in Mexico City, Leonski is a devotee of the iconic fusion between dance music and a myriad of playful music styles, with great emphasis placed upon live instrumentation to convey rhythm and mood – think House paired with Afro-Funk, Latin rhythms, New Wave/proto-disco synths and vocal performances. His music has a real magnetism to it, wrapped up within a fluid array of styles that effortlessly mixes multiple pools of musicality, allowing Leonski to consistently serve up new and exciting perspectives with each of his previous releases.
‘After Dark’ is the newest addition to his captivating body of work, continuing his exploration of bold 80s-style synth and drum work. Inspired heavily by cruising around the city of Los Angeles, the track embodies the city’s incessant hum and captivating ambience, with an intoxicating array of pinks and purples providing the backdrop to a night of adventure. The original mix of the title track is presented first, and this begins with a classic rhythmic outlay that Leonski has made one of his signature motifs. The vocals then slide into view alongside a pounding bass line, with the laid-back nature of the vocal performance helping to convey the mood and emotive atmosphere vividly. A ‘pacific breeze’ warmly greets us as the instrumentation grows in stature, with interwoven synth lines and intricate polyrhythmics playing their part in allowing the track to breathe and grow. The Club mix then provides a flip side view of proceedings, with the rhythm building with more intensity and feel as the dancefloor sways and moves in the euphoric night air.
Release date: August 1st, 2025.