Leon Thomas Takes Flight: Inside His Surreal Airplane Hangar Concert and New Music Plans
Grammy-winning R&B artist Leon Thomas discusses his unique performance for Delta and YouTube's new concert series, 'Overhead Originals,' and provides an update on his upcoming music.
Leon Thomas has performed in an airplane hangar before, but this time, he actually got on the plane. For the inaugural episode of “Overhead Originals,” a new music series from Delta and YouTube, Thomas and his band played a six-song set inside a fully functional Boeing 767-400 for a select group of fans.
“It was a surreal experience,” Thomas told Rolling Stone. “Arriving to the hangar and seeing all the musical equipment being loaded into this actual plane was insane... It was definitely surreal.”
Leon Thomas Overhead Originals
Known for crafting memorable live performances, the Grammy-winner carefully curated his setlist for the plane gig. It featured favorites from his hit 2024 record, Mutt, including the title track, “Vibes Don’t Lie,” and “Yes It Is,” alongside his 2023 track “Treasure In These Hills,” and two songs from his latest EP, Pholks, “My Muse” and “Just How You Are.”
Turning a jet cabin into a stage was a unique experience, and Thomas credits his creative team for enhancing the atmosphere. “Certain times in your life, you can dream up certain things, and this one I didn’t necessarily have on my bingo card for 2026,” he said. “It was a great opportunity to perform in a space that was unorthodox and really cool. I think creative ideas like this help celebrate artists.”
Currently wrapping up a European and U.K. tour, Thomas will soon join Bruno Mars on his North American stadium tour. Despite the demanding schedule, he makes time to explore the cities he visits, seeking out good restaurants and immersing himself in the local culture.
“Now I have a good bucket list of places I want to come and return to, simply because I got to travel here through music,” he says.
Even on the road, Thomas remains productive, setting up a mobile recording studio in his hotel rooms. While he hasn’t revealed firm details about a Mutt follow-up, he's diligently writing and producing new music. With about 30 songs already written, he aims to expand that number to between 60 and 100 before solidifying his next project.
“I’ve got a long laundry list of songs I gotta finish,” he explains. “Some of them have been easy to finish while I’m on the road, but I’m doing my best to stay creative because I know this is such a momentous time in my life and it needs to be documented not just through visuals, but also through music.”
Following his Grammy wins in February—for Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance—Thomas has been approached by some of his musical heroes. He alluded to a recent photo with Pharrell in the studio in Paris.
“I was doing my best not to geek out the whole time,” Thomas says. “It was nice creating with him, and he’s just like me, man — he’s a fellow alien in the recording studio. He spoke my language.”
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