The studio sits on Leland’s property in the hills of Studio City, and it has turned into its own little oasis over time. It has produced a steady stream of hits, and the 39-year-old producer says the first session there was with MUNA in 2019.
From the Main House to Its Own Oasis
His studio began within the walls of the main house on his property before moving into its own distinct building. Warm colors and burning candles give it an atmosphere closer to a fashionable retreat than a place of work. Leland employs it as a meeting point for himself and other creatives in his circle, with his dog, Crosby, frequently joining in.
The photo Leland has of one of MUNA’s members with Crosby as a puppy establishes the 2019 date. He uses that image to mark the passage of time.
Writing Outside the Room
Not everything happens in the studio itself. Leland explains that the writing doesn’t have to happen in the room, and the recording can. “The writing doesn’t have to happen in the studio. The recording can happen in the studio,” he says. “I feel like a lot of it is just sitting out here having conversations.”
The cottage on the property frequently serves as a place for artists to stay while they work there. It’s convenient, since they can walk down to the studio, something Leland says has been really nice. Hayes Warner, who stars in Shards, was among those who stayed in the cottage during filming of the Ryan Murphy show, and Leland wrote music for it. A soundtrack is set to come out next month.
Hikes, Flowers and Goop Bags
On a day when he’s welcoming an artist into the studio, Leland starts with a hike. He walks to Fryman, though he admits he can be dangerous on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. He’s had one close call, and it came from a friend.
“One of my best friends happened to be driving down Laurel Canyon, and he was like, ‘Girl, did I almost hit you?’ I was like, ‘Yes, but I would’ve wanted it to be a friend,'” he says cheekily.
He picks up fresh flowers and a candle or incense for the studio after the walk, and his schedule varies based on who he is collaborating with at any given time.
“I love getting the studio ready for a session. I love that part of it,” he says. “Or cleaning up after a session, which is usually just Goop [Kitchen] bags, water and Coke Zero.”
A Space of Peace and Quiet
The studio is meant to be a peaceful place, even if that’s not always what’s happening inside it. Leland works with a wide range of artists, from longtime collaborator Troye Sivan to Charli xcx, who recorded some of the Wuthering Heights album there, to Demi Lovato. A Drag Race executive producer or even RuPaul might be around while Leland tinkers on Sivan’s work, so they’ll share it.
Working With Women and Queer Energy
Leland says he loves working with women. “I love a pop girl,” he says. His most impactful collaboration, both professionally and creatively, remains Sivan. Getting to be part of a gay pop star’s career is something he’ll never take for granted.
“So many songs that you love that are by the female pop stars that we love, a lot of the times there’s a queer person as one of the collaborators when you look up the credits,” Leland says. “I think now my ear is trained to where I can tell if a gay person was in the room or not.”
The speaker includes an added remark, “I really think for songs, you can tell. And not that every song needs to have a gay person in the room, obviously, but I think depending on what you’re going for, you can really hear if there was some queer energy in the room or not. I feel like it’s been so fun to sometimes be that person with the different artists that come through.”.
Adéla and Rebecca Black
Adéla is the young pop star whose career has exploded this summer, and she holds a special place in Leland’s heart. She began as a contestant on the talent show Dream Academy before becoming a member of the girl group KATSEYE. Leland and the pop star collaborated on songs from her first EP, “SexOnTheBeat” and “DeathbyDevotion.”, with 22 being her age.
“I have the same feeling about [Black] that I had when Adéla first walked into the room,” Leland says. The pair wrote the track “Corsetry” from her latest album in the space.
Sivan’s Upcoming Album
The pop star’s upcoming album She’s the Best is on its way next month, and Leland and Sivan are back together on it. Looking at how far many of the great pop stars of the past have come to reach where they are today, Leland admits that watching Sivan’s career get to the point it’s at now has felt almost surreal for him.
“People like Troye are allowed to be pop stars, and you’re allowed to have that experience, and maybe not allowed, you’re demanding it,” the producer says.
Queer Identity in the Room
Leland is careful about how his identity shows up in his work. “I always want the music to speak for itself. I don’t want opportunities because I’m queer. I want opportunities because I’m good. I don’t want opportunities for Troy because he’s a gay pop star,” he says. “I want opportunities for him and for our music because the music is good and the music videos are good and the team’s good and the energy is good.”
He contributes, “I want that support from the queer community because the music is great and the art is great. I want that support from the straight community because the music is great and the art is great, not just because any of us happen to be queer.”
| Artist | Collaboration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MUNA | First session, 2019 | Confirmed by a photo of a puppy |
| Troye Sivan | Longtime collaborator | Recorded She’s the Best |
| Charli xcx | Recorded Wuthering Heights | Credits include queer collaborators |
| Demi Lovato | Past work | Shared with Drag Race producers |
| Rebecca Black | “Corsetry” | Clear vision for the track |
| Adéla | First EP, “SexOnTheBeat” | Blowing up this summer |
The story is a reminder that behind every hit there’s a space, a routine, a dog and a producer who knows exactly what he’s doing.
Source material: “Inside the Hollywood Home Studio That’s Birthed Several Pop Hits,” The Hollywood Reporter.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.