Today sees the release of Leroy Sanchez’s new debut album Sorry For the Chaos, which he has worked on for over two years, and he has previously released singles and music videos from the album Fallin’ on 7th February and Nuclear in September 2024, with the latter marking his return to original music. In November last year, Leroy released his Spanglish Christmas single To Say Feliz Navidad, and in 2022, his original song Una Señal featured in the Disney animated film Strange World. Leroy co-wrote SloMo – the debut single for Chanel, who represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 with the release, finishing third, and Leroy also co-wrote Voy a Quedarme, which Blas Cantó performed at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, once again representing Spain. At the Teen Choice Awards in 2017, Leroy was nominated for the Choice Music Web Star, and he performed at the ceremony with Clean Bandit, and Leroy began his music career in 2006 when he started uploading YouTube videos. Chatting with us, Leroy spoke about his debut album Sorry For the Chaos (released today), returning to original music with his single Nuclear last year, having his song Una Señal feature in Disney’s Strange World and co-writing songs SloMo and Voy a Quedarme.

How does it feel to be releasing your new album Sorry For the Chaos, and what can fans expect from it?

This is one of the most important milestones in my career so I feel excited, emotional, nervous, scared… all of it! Fans can expect to hear the most pop Leroy Sanchez’s ever sounded but also with the most depth. I never had the chance to create a full body of work and this project has allowed me to really explore SO MANY sides of my artistry, and put them all together in one piece.

How have you found the experience writing and recording the songs for Sorry For the Chaos and what have you enjoyed most about putting the album together?

It has been a very fun process writing and getting all the songs together for this album but it has also been very difficult. You see, as an independent artist, getting 12 songs together is not an easy task, so it’s taken quite some time to do. But now that the album is finally ready, I think the most enjoyable part has been seeing people listen to it and reacting to the songs, relating to them and making them their own.

When did you start work on Sorry For the Chaos and how much did the tracklist change over time?

The album started actually more than two years ago and it has changed dramatically. In fact, I had a whole body of work that was supposed to be my album but I scratched it all because it was simply not the right thing for me. They were GREAT songs, but they weren’t “Leroy Sanchez” if you know what I mean. So I started all over, and the end product is Sorry For the Chaos.

How has it been seeing the fan response to your latest single Fallin’, which was released on 7th February?

My fans have been THE BEST. The support and love towards Fallin’ has been so incredible and I feel extremely lucky. I love seeing them react to it, especially when it gets to the chorus!

Can you tell us about Fallin’ and where the inspiration came from for the lyrics?

Fallin’ was born on a stormy night in a Miami studio. Mike and Gio (producers) and I were writing some songs for the album, and the mood was already a bit gloomy. As we usually do, we started jamming on the piano and guitar, and the melodies started to come out. Earlier in the day, we talked about how one of the guys was going through a rough patch in his relationship, and I connected that to a falling out I had with a friend, which made me feel terrible. We tied that to the feeling of wanting to go out more for the drinking than for the partying, and as we were jamming, the melody and the words Fallin’ came out of my mouth like they came from somewhere else.

You released the first single from the album in September, how was it returning to original music with Nuclear?

I loved coming back with Nuclear because it felt like the perfect song to come back with. Big title, big pop melodies and vocals, with a lighthearted love story and lots of heart.

What is it like filming music videos, and how was it seeing the completed videos for Nuclear and Fallin’ for the first time?

I don’t think I ever really get to see a music video for the first time. I’m always at the shoots, even if I’m taking a secondary role (which I love. Let the actors tell the story. It’s all about the story, not about me). When I see a first rough cut, it usually has to go through so many changes. So what I really love is seeing people’s reactions to the finished product. Kind of like with the music, you never really get to hear your songs for the first time.

What was it like releasing your Christmas single To Say Feliz Navidad last year?

It was so fun releasing a Spanglish Christmas song. It was also my first time doing so, and I can’t wait to do more. Love making fun, danceable songs for the holidays. You can’t help but get in a good mood.

In 2022, your original song Una Señal was featured in the Disney animated feature film Strange World, how was it attending the film premiere and hearing your song in a Disney film?

That was definitely one of the most surreal moments in my career. I mean, come on. It’s Disney. It’s crazy knowing that your work will forever be attached to such a beautiful project and that lots of people will hold that film and song dear to their hearts. I feel really lucky to have had such an opportunity.

Can you tell us about your experience co-writing SloMo—the debut single by Chanel, which finished third place at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 and Voy a Quedarme, which was performed by Blas Cantó at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, both for Spain?

Eurovision is wild. Ibere Fortes, Maggie Szabos, Keith Harris, Arjen Thonen and I wrote the song during the lockdown on a Zoom session. I think we all needed to go out, dance, and have some fun. I was asked multiple times to release that song on my own, and I knew it was a hit, but I also knew it wasn’t for me. SloMo wasn’t written specifically for Eurovision (neither was Voy a Quedarme), but I’m really glad it found its way to the contest and to Chanel. It was all meant to be.

What was it like being nominated for Choice Music Web Star at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards and performing at the ceremony with Clean Bandit?

Being nominated for a Teen Choice Award was fun, but getting to perform with Clean Bandit was a whole different story. WOW. The song, the size of the arena we were in. I was SO NERVOUS. But they were so nice and made me feel really comfortable on that stage, and I ended up having a blast up there.

Having started your career posting covers to YouTube, what are some of your favourite highlights from your career so far?

Some of them I’ve already mentioned throughout this interview. I started uploading YouTube videos in 2006, so there are so many highlights I could mention, but I truly want to focus my attention on the highlight in front of me – my first album. I’ve been at it for so long and have gone through plenty of ups and downs to get to this end goal, which was always to create a full body of work. So I want to enjoy it and savour every second of it.

Where does your love of music come from, and how did you get started in the industry?

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved music. It made me feel things nothing else could, and I was always connected to it. My start in the industry happened after I uploaded some videos of me singing on YouTube. That’s when the industry began knocking at my door, I guess.

Can you tell us about your songwriting process?

I have different processes, but the one I enjoy the most is when I have something I need to get off my chest. I grab my guitar or piano and start singing and mumbling until I realise I’m finally letting go of whatever I’m holding onto.

Do you have any favourite music artists to listen to?

So many. I listen to everything, especially Top 40. I’ve been listening to all the new girls who are killing the game right now, like Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Beyoncé.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Free time? What’s that? Hahaha.

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