D'LEAU

D'LEAU is an American musician, producer, songwriter, music director, and creative director based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known as the co-founder and producer of the alternative R&B duo J*Davey, and for his work as music director for Miguel. He is a Grammy Award-nominated songwriter and has co-written multiple platinum-certified songs. As a solo artist and collaborator, he records and releases music under the name D'LEAU.

Early life

D'LEAU grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by music. His father worked cartage gigs for record labels and maintained a home studio, while his mother sang in a choir, filling the home with a wide range of genres including post-punk, new wave, jazz fusion, R&B, funk, and prog rock."Brook D'Leau". Lexdray. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help) After becoming frustrated with the limitations of formal piano training, he began exploring his father's home studio independently, spending three years developing his sound with an MPC2000, samples, and cassettes, drawing early influence from J Dilla, The Neptunes, and Timbaland."Brook D'Leau". Lexdray. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Career

J*Davey

A chance encounter with vocalist Jack Davey led to the founding of J*Davey, an electro-funk duo drawing from punk, soul, and hip-hop. Their early Myspace demos attracted influential tastemakers including Questlove, Prince, Gilles Peterson of BBC Radio 1, and Garth Trinidad of KCRW. After independently organizing a European tour and opening for Prince during his Las Vegas residency, the duo signed a multi-album deal with Warner Bros. Records."Brook D'Leau". Lexdray. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Music direction

Following J*Davey's period of reduced activity, D'LEAU served as music director for R&B artist Miguel, touring alongside artists including Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Bruno Mars, and Drake."Meet Brook D'LEAU of Leau Tech in Inglewood". Voyage LA. November 18, 2019. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Songwriting

D'LEAU co-wrote "Coffee" for Miguel's 2015 album Wildheart, which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Song at the 58th Grammy Awards."Miguel – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)"Miguel Singer Interview – Wildheart Album, "Coffee," Writing Songs". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

D'LEAU also co-wrote "#Beautiful," the double RIAA platinum-certified collaboration between Mariah Carey and Miguel, released in 2013."#Beautiful (Mariah Carey song)". Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

D'LEAU co-wrote "Simple Things" from Miguel's 2015 album Wildheart, which received platinum certification from the RIAA."Gold & Platinum – Miguel". RIAA. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Production work

D'LEAU co-produced Raphael Saadiq's critically acclaimed 2019 album Jimmy Lee, alongside Saadiq, drummer Chris Dave, and rapper Kendrick Lamar, among others."Jimmy Lee (album)". Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help) He co-produced the album's single "So Ready" with Saadiq."We Are 'So Ready' For Raphael Saadiq's Latest Video & Tour Announcement". SoulBounce. September 2019. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Solo and collaborative work

D'LEAU records and releases music as a solo artist and collaborator. He has described the D'LEAU project as inherently collaborative, built around a broader creative community rather than a purely solo endeavor."D'LEAU Collaborates Like Crazy". TRASH Magazine. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

In 2023, D'LEAU released his solo EP Emotional Properties, a five-track project released on his own label."Emotional Properties – EP by D'LEAU". Apple Music. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Also in 2023, D'LEAU served as producer and featured artist on the EP By the Way, a five-track collaborative project with Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Theo Croker and UK singer-songwriter Ego Ella May, released on Star People Nation/Sony Masterworks. The EP was described by Croker as a series of "little vignettes" built around May's lyricism, with D'LEAU shaping the sonic framework across all five tracks."Theo Croker – By The Way EP Out Now". Sony Masterworks. February 17, 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help) D'LEAU also contributed to Croker's album Dream Manifest, appearing on the track "High Vibrations" alongside vocalist Malaya, described by press as pairing Croker's trumpet lines with house-inspired production."Theo Croker Releases Dream Manifest". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

In 2025, D'LEAU released the single "Brake Fluid.""Brake Fluid (Single)". Fluid Supply Co. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Leau Technology Inc.

D'LEAU is the founder of Leau Technology Inc., a Los Angeles-based creative services company providing music production, live music direction, creative direction, tour visuals and animation, merchandise design, and digital distribution for artists across genres."Meet Brook D'LEAU of Leau Tech in Inglewood". Voyage LA. November 18, 2019. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

2024 Eldorado Ballroom reunion

In October 2024, J*Davey reunited for a performance at Solange Knowles' Eldorado Ballroom series, presented by Saint Heron in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, marking their first public reunion since 2017."Solange Knowles' 'Eldorado Ballroom' In Los Angeles: Recap". Vibe. October 18, 2024. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Discography

With J*Davey

The Beauty in Distortion / The Land of the Lost (2008)
Boudoir Synema: The Great Mistapes (Part 1) (2009)
Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes (Part 2) (2011)
New Designer Drug (2011)
POMP (2015)
Lite Wait Life (2016)

As D'LEAU

Emotional Properties (EP, 2023)"Emotional Properties – EP by D'LEAU". Apple Music. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
By the Way (EP, 2023) – with Theo Croker and Ego Ella May"Theo Croker – By The Way EP Out Now". Sony Masterworks. February 17, 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
"Brake Fluid" (single, 2025)"Brake Fluid (Single)". Fluid Supply Co. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Selected production and songwriting credits

Mariah Carey featuring Miguel – "#Beautiful" (2013) – 2× Platinum (RIAA)"#Beautiful (Mariah Carey song)". Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
Miguel – "Simple Things" (2015) – Platinum (RIAA)"Gold & Platinum – Miguel". RIAA. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
Miguel – "Coffee" (2015) – Grammy nominated, Best R&B Song"Miguel – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
Raphael Saadiq – Jimmy Lee (2019)"Jimmy Lee (album)". Wikipedia. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
Theo Croker – Dream Manifest (2025)"Theo Croker Releases Dream Manifest". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links

References

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