Styles and Sounds Collide: Inside the Sonic Trip of Leon II's Antlers in Velvet

Leon III (pronounced, Leon The Third) is Andy Stepanian  (vocals, guitar, keyboard, piano, Omnichord) and Mason Brent (guitar, bass, vocals, banjo). The duo expands their palate with a rotating cast of musicians, adding strings, keys, pedal steel, drums, percussion, and voices to complete their musical vision.

Andy and Brent met as members of Virginia’s Wrinkle Neck Mules, and they are also founders of the popular Austin apparel brand Howler Brothers. Antlers in Velvet is their second release following the eponymous Leon III (2018). The 43-minute, eight-song excursion is described as, “Beck meets Pink Floyd meets My Morning Jacket, with a little bit of Grateful Dead and Radiohead mixed in for good measure.” The record was produced and mixed by Mark Nevers, whose list of credits includes Billy Ray Cyrus, Vic Chestnut, Silver Jews, Lambchop, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Andrew Bird, Charlie Louvin, Yo La Tengo and more.

My friend Emily (the band’s press agent) initially sent me the album with the words, “All I can say is just listen.” I en-courage you to do the same. Head on over to your favorite streaming service, retailer or the Leon III Bandcamp page and dig in as Andy, Mason and Mark fill us in on the details.