“GTFOH is ultimately a comment on the times that we’re living in. In a world that is constantly trying to beat us down, LEONE hopes that GTFOH will serve as a reminder to stand up for what you believe in and fight for your life.”
LEONE at its core is a project based in evolution. From its initial conception as a solo-artist moniker in 2021 to its manifestation now as a staple group in the Brooklyn alt-rock scene, lead singer/songwriter Richie Leone constructs an evocative, emotional landscape rich with introspective lyricism and an electric sound. Their debut EP, (thisbodyisn’tmine), serves as a reflection on loss with a sultry spark of metamorphosis. Within this debut lies the single “Monochrome Colors”, which effortlessly encapsulates LEONE’s cosmic potential in its multi-textured examination of grief and mourning. Unsurprisingly, listeners eagerly attached themselves to this authenticity; through this positive response, as well as an undeniable creative evolution, a new journey was forged.
GTFOH, LEONE’s highly anticipated sophomore EP, is the product of this odyssey. Set to release August 18th, this collection is a quintessential diary of angst, lust, grief, and self discovery.
“I’ve been reflecting a lot on this album & my journey overall as an artist within the past couple of years. With the first EP, there was a lot of sadness & depression going on & I really needed to heal MYSELF first and foremost. This second definitely comes from a different perspective & has a little more bite back. I’m sitting in my power in a different way & I’m the most driven I’ve ever been. I hope to continue to heal, grow, & inspire others to do the same." - Richie
The collection opens with ‘Kiss ‘Em Bye Bye’, a bright, sharply strung and unapologetically crisp entrance to their dynamic EP. “With the last EP (thisbodyisntmine), we allowed ourselves to really go there and feel all that pain, while with this one we’re standing up and being strong on our own,” says frontman Richie Leone, “This track is the final goodbye to a past relationship and the start of a new beginning.” LEONE wastes no time in teasing; they open with their full hand on display and dare you to question why you’d expect anything less than truth. Richie’s frustrated rasp pierces through a stunning, nostalgic composition with distinctive force and precision; despite this being a new ground for the artists, they seamlessly navigated this emotional outburst. “This was the first time that I really let myself express anger through my music. When I was writing this song, I questioned if it was too harsh and pointed, but ultimately I realized that it’s important for me to be able to express all forms of grief.”
Locking all your hopes into your
Tiny little dreams
Because you think the world is just
Too big to ever see
So you push them all away
You leave them far behind
What’s the use in taking chances
In this god forsaken life
This god forsaken life
‘See the Sun’ takes this feeling a step further, drawing on a vulnerable perspective that gives listeners a more intimate glimpse of the group’s intentions. This trails into the sultry, suggestive ‘Can I Call You Mine?’, which weaves a deeper examination of expectation in love and relationships.
“Although it sounds very sexual, I am really wanting to challenge the audience to see past the controversial lyrics and to the heart of what I am actually saying, which is, "Respect my body. Stimulate and challenge my mind. Because THAT is ultimately what I am attracted to and what I look for in a partner." If you stimulate my mind and respect me, you can have all of me.”
‘‘I Wanna Be” brings another stunning visual component and further cements the group’s ties to Brooklyn, as its narrative unfolds in the borough’s iconic House of Yes. Director Beth Fletcher constructs a hypnotizing tango of suggestion and deceit that serves as a nod to Leone’s poker-loving father.
The titular track is perhaps the most sonically striking, likely due to its poignant examination of the artistic industry as a whole. “GTFOH is my first time speaking about my frustration with the establishment and the world we are living in. How we turn on each other at the flip of a dime, and are so easily manipulated by the media and people in power.” That being said, LEONE acknowledges that this is a small component of a much larger issue, and invites the audience to develop their own interpretations and responses. “There are so many issues and subliminal messages that are being talked about,” Richie continues, “and I really want the audience to come up with their own opinion & story.”
Today, I miss you
I’m walking in your t-shirt
Just to hold you
I’m trying to remember
A smell that’s gone
One that’s washed out
And shouting to move on
Well I’m not moving on
Cause I don’t want to
Be here without you on my own
I wish there was a way to let you know
It’s hard not seeing you anymore, anymore
Today, I miss you.
The EP ends with ‘Today I Missed You’, an intimate return to previously explored themes of grief and mourning. The song nearly transports you into an intimate Brooklyn venue and the echoes of Leone’s longing bleed into a steady escalation of longing. It was written on the fifth anniversary of Leone’s father’s passing. “I had woken up (not realizing what day it was) and decided to put on his t-shirt to walk around Brooklyn by myself. I was sad but I didn't know why,” Leone recalls, “I spent the whole day walking around aimlessly, missing him. It wasn't until much later that I realized it was his birthday (which was 4 days before his passing). I came upstairs for a moment and sat with my guitar, and "Today, I Miss You" poured out of me. It is by far the most emotional song I have written to date.” The song leaves you sore but satisfied, capping the EP with a symphony of screams and an earned release.
The heart of the music carries long after the composition ends; perhaps this is LEONE’s greatest strength. GTFOH, on the whole, is a reclamation of an authentic sort of power: a power that LEONE was built to yield.
GTFOH officially releases August 18th.
