Joe Leone: Where Classic Soul Meets the Future of R&B

Joe Leone

At a time when R&B is rediscovering the value of authenticity, Joe Leone is emerging as one of the genre's most compelling new voices. Rooted in soul, musicianship, and honest storytelling, the Burbank, California native isn't chasing trends—he's creating music built on emotion, substance, and genuine human connection.

Signed to JBR Creative Group, led by Grammy-nominated R&B standout Eric Benét and veteran entertainment executive Alison Ball, Leone has quietly built an impressive résumé as both a recording artist and songwriter. From co-writing J. Brown's Billboard No. 1 Adult R&B hit "True Love" to touring alongside Tamar Braxton, October London, and Ro James, he's earned a reputation for crafting records with both heart and staying power.

His latest single, "Safety," is the next chapter in that evolution, but it's only part of a much bigger story. Whether writing for himself or collaborating with others, Leone remains committed to the timeless belief that great R&B should make people feel something. It's an approach that honors the genre's rich legacy while helping shape its future.

If his journey so far is any indication, Joe Leone isn't simply making music—he's helping usher in a new era of R&B where authenticity, musicianship, and meaningful songwriting once again take center stage.

Before the Billboard charts, the tours, and the industry recognition, there was a kid in Burbank whose first audience was church and community. Looking back, how much of that foundation still guides every note you sing and every lyric you write?

When I think about where I came from, I don't think about stages or streaming numbers—I think about church. I think about singing in front of people who knew me before I knew what an artist was. Growing up in Burbank and being raised in a pastor's home, music was never separated from community. It was rooted in faith and family. When you're singing in church, people don't care about trends or algorithms. They care whether they feel something. A lot of the songs I write today are still chasing that same feeling.

Joe Leone

R&B has always been at its best when it tells the truth. In an era where so much music celebrates the chase, "Safety" asks what happens after you find someone worth trusting. What inspired you to tell that story now?

"Safety" is my way of welcoming listeners into a love story. Love and human connection are my favorite subjects to write about. The song serves as both a preview of my upcoming album and a reminder of the kind of love people are yearning for today. It asks a simple but essential question: Can you let yourself go and feel completely safe? I wrote this song in hopes of helping answer that question.

Eric Benét has built a career on authenticity, longevity, and substance. What was the biggest lesson you learned from him that had nothing to do with hitting the right note?

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to create authentically alongside an R&B legend like Eric Benét. I've worked with Alison Ball, the founder of my label, since I was a construction worker with a dream. She originally signed and developed Eric at Warner Bros., and when he had the opportunity to build a home for developing emerging talent, he brought Alison in to lead JBR Creative Group. I was the first artist they signed.

The biggest lessons I've learned are the importance of patience and maintaining strong relationships. Success doesn't happen overnight.

As a songwriter, you've helped shape other artists' stories before continuing to tell your own. Does writing for someone else change the way you look at your own music, or are those two completely different creative muscles?

I think they're different muscles, but they make each other stronger. I love making music with people who inspire me. When I'm writing for another artist, my job is to listen first. It's not about how I would tell the story—it's about understanding who they are and helping them find the most honest version of their message. At the same time, writing for others has made me a better songwriter for myself.

Joe Leone

Co-writing J. Brown's "True Love" and watching it reach No. 1 had to be a rewarding moment. Did that success give you greater confidence as a songwriter, or did it raise the bar for what you expected from yourself?

Co-writing "True Love" with the incredibly talented J. Brown definitely gave me the confidence I needed as a songwriter, and it also raised the bar for what I expect from myself. It was one of the coolest validations of my work, alongside my experiences with Eric Benét and JBR Creative Group.

You've shared stages with artists like Tamar Braxton, October London, and Ro James—each with their own style and audience. What have those experiences taught you about connecting with people beyond the music itself?

Those experiences taught me that my music is bigger than I ever imagined. I've met so many different people on tour and watched complete strangers connect with my songs in deeply emotional ways. They've shown me that human connection is everything. Being able to express yourself honestly and create meaningful moments for rooms full of people goes far beyond music.

As a multi-instrumentalist, do songs usually begin with a lyric, a melody, or are they born from simply sitting down and letting the instruments lead the conversation?

Honestly, it's different every time. Being a self-taught multi-instrumentalist is both a blessing and a challenge because I don't have just one doorway into a song. I see songwriting as a fluid creative process where ideas can begin with a lyric, a melody, a chord progression, or simply a feeling. It all depends on what inspires me in that moment.

The title "Safety" is powerful because it's something people rarely associate with romance anymore. In your opinion, has love changed, or have we simply forgotten what healthy love is supposed to feel like?

We live in a world that's moving incredibly fast. Everything is immediate, public, and often feels replaceable. Safety is a reminder that love is rooted in trust and security. It's vulnerability without fear. It's being loved on your worst day, not just your best. The song is about what healthy love can feel like—not because it's perfect, but because it's safe enough to let your guard down completely.

R&B is experiencing another renaissance, with listeners craving vulnerability and musicianship again. Where do you see yourself fitting into this new chapter, and what do you hope your voice adds to the conversation?

More than anything, I hope my voice adds sincerity to the conversation. There's already enough noise in the world. If someone hears one of my songs and feels seen, comforted, challenged, or inspired to be more honest with themselves or someone they love, then I've done my job as an artist.

Streaming has introduced your music to audiences around the world, but timeless records have always been built on replay value, not algorithms. When you create a song, are you thinking about today's playlist—or ten years from now?

Some of my favorite records were classics long before anyone realized they were classics. The people making them weren't chasing trends—they were chasing a feeling. That's what inspires me. When I think about artists like Otis Redding and the soul records that shaped me, those songs still resonate decades later because they're rooted in something human and truthful.

Of course, I want people to discover my music today. Every artist does. But success, to me, isn't just landing on a playlist. It's creating a song someone returns to years later because it helped them through a difficult season, reminded them of someone they loved, or brought them back to a meaningful moment in their life.

Every artist reaches a point where confidence is replaced by conviction. What has the journey from an independent musician to becoming part of JBR Creative Group taught you about trusting your own path, even when it doesn't look like everyone else's?

My label and team are made up of legendary executives and creatives who helped shape generations of Black musical excellence. To work alongside people who helped create the music I grew up listening to is an incredible blessing—one I never take for granted. They believe in my vision, give me the freedom to be myself as an artist, and provide the experience, guidance, and support I need to continue growing.

If someone presses play on Joe Leone for the very first time today, what do you hope they discover beyond the voice? What do you hope they feel—and why is that feeling the legacy you're really trying to leave behind?

I hope they discover real music—music that's memorable, creative, and meaningful. I want to create songs that can instantly transport someone to a new moment or take them back to an old one. Ultimately, I'm chasing longevity. I want to be the kind of artist whose music inspires people, makes them feel something genuine, and stays with them long after the song ends.

Joe Leone | Safety

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