For VZN’s first digital cover, LeoStayTrill steps into focus as one of the UK’s most exciting young voices
London-born and raised in South London, the 19-year-old artist has been building momentum with a sound that moves between UK rap, Afrodrill, melody and instinct without feeling forced
With records like “2s N 3s”, “Honeybun”, “Falling In Love” and his recent single “Till The Wheels Fall Off” with Shoday, Leo has continued to show range while keeping his world rooted in faith, real life and a clear sense of self
Co-signs from Dave and K-Trap have only added to the noise around him, but Leo’s appeal comes from something more direct: he knows who he is, and he is not trying to sound or dress like anyone else
In conversation with VZN, he opens up about how music started for him, his relationship with style, the future of AI in music, the current UK scene and why authenticity still matters most
When and how did it all start?
It all started from just being around music and wanting to express myself properly
Growing up, music was always something I connected with naturally and over time I realised it was more than just a hobby to me
A lot of what I make comes from real life experiences, the people around me and the things I’ve seen
I never really forced it, it all happened naturally and once I started taking it seriously I knew this was what I wanted to do
Who is your biggest inspiration in music?
My biggest inspiration is God
I feel like everything comes from Him and I always try to stay grounded and thankful for the position I’m in. Of course I respect a lot of artists and creatives, but spiritually that’s where my motivation and strength comes from the most
Who is your biggest inspiration in fashion?
Honestly in fashion I don’t really have one inspiration because I’ve always been against the grain
I’ve never liked following trends too much or trying to look like everyone else
I think style should come naturally and reflect who you are as a person
I’d rather wear something that feels true to me than copy what’s popular at the time
Did you ever think about going to university?
I never really thought about uni properly
From early I always saw myself doing something creative and building my own path
I respect people that go to uni and do their thing, but for me personally I just knew my journey was gonna be different
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see more success, more prosperity and more blessings
I don’t really like putting limits on myself because I believe anything can happen with hard work and faith
I just want to keep growing as an artist and as a person, keep elevating my sound and take everything to another level while staying true to myself
How do your family and friends feel about your success?
I hope my friends and family are all proud
At the end of the day they’ve seen the journey from the beginning, so being able to make something out of it means a lot
I always want the people around me to feel like they’re winning too whenever I achieve something
How do you think AI is going to affect the music industry and your career?
I think AI is definitely gonna change a lot in the industry and probably take over some people’s jobs, but I guess time will tell
Technology is always evolving
But at the same time I think real emotion, real experiences and real human creativity can never fully be replaced
People connect to authenticity
As a young artist in the industry, what’s the best advice you would give to someone starting with music?
Don’t let anyone tell you to be something you’re not
Be yourself and stay authentic because that’s what people connect to the most
A lot of people will try to tell you how to act, sound or dress, especially when you’re coming up, but it’s important to stay true to who you are and trust your own vision
How do you see the UK artist scene nowadays?
I feel like the UK artist scene is lacking inspiration a little bit right now because a lot of people are following the same wave instead of bringing something new
But I trust we’ll overcome it because there’s still so much talent here
I think people just need to take more risks creatively and be more confident in being different
Tell us about your process behind creating a song and recording music
Most of my inspiration comes from real life experiences
That’s always been the main thing for me because I want the music to feel genuine
Sometimes it can come from conversations, emotions, memories or situations I’ve been through
Recording wise, I like being in an environment where I feel comfortable and can really lock in creatively
Once I hear the right beat and catch the right feeling, everything flows naturally from there
Send a message to yourself one year from now
I’m proud of you boy, keep going
Keep staying focused, keep believing in yourself and never lose sight of why you started
No matter what level you get to, always stay grounded and keep pushing forward
Special thanks to Colt, Leo Prothmann, Timberland, Canoe Inc, Jaded London and Protect LDN for supporting the cover wardrobe
