leon

this friday 2025.09.12 @statestreetpubssp see @desertliminal and @peretsky bring a friend or something. i'll bring my kool new melodica.

***Out today*** We are pleased to announce the second album by leon todd johnson on Whited Sepulchre Records. Indianapolis-based Leon Todd Johnson has been recording under the moniker Airport People since 2020. Under that name, Johnson’s engaging neoclassical work flirted with Windham Hill/ECM jazz inflections while incorporating a deep melodic sensibility that serves as a throughline across his recorded work. As the name reflects, Airport People’s work harnessed Johnson’s memories of traveling around the world with his family, supporting his civil rights leader grandfather’s work in Africa—a state he described as being “in between where we’re going and where we were, and we don’t have much to say.” Johnson’s second record for Whited Sepulchre Records finds him once again inspired by travel, but as the name change suggests, his work is no longer defined by the space between one place and another. Instead, it focuses on traveling outward and finding home within oneself—both philosophically and musically. Mornings have always featured prominently in Johnson’s work. From Nine Mornings—his previous record for Whited Sepulchre Records—compiled his morning musical sketches into fully fleshed-out songs. Many listeners have described his work as quintessential morning music, accompanying their first cup of coffee or tea. For this most recent record, Johnson reflected on the four principles of the Japanese tea ceremony: Wa (和): Harmony or unity Kei (敬): Respect or reverence Sei (清): Purity or cleanliness Jaku (寂): Tranquility or silence Connecting to the theme more personally, Johnson incorporated field recordings of various tea house gardens from his trip to Japan, as well as sounds from his own morning tea ritual into the compositions. Percussive elements, roomy scrapes, and the tinkling of metal against china all capture his daily practice—one shared by fans who use his music to ease into their days. Artwork by @vonschwab Photos by @jasminetafoyaphoto Mastered by @recitalprogram

thank you @whitedsepulchrerecords for *everything* you've done for me and for this record. thank you @vonschwab for creating such amazing artwork. thank you @jasminetafoyaphoto for the headshots. thank you to everyone in the indy/chicago/cincinnati music scene who made me feel welcome enough to share my music with others. 🙏🏽 wa kei sei jaku will be out on friday—hope you like it! 🖤🕊️🍵

The second single “kei” by @leontoddjohnson is out today on all streaming services in advance of Leon’s album “wa kei sei jaku” out 07.25 on Whited Sepulchre Records. “kei” is the second single from leon todd johnson’s upcoming CD - wa kei sei jaku - and represents the principle Kei (敬): Respect or reverence in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Th “Kei” builds into a serene crescendo with arpeggiated piano and violin counter-melodies. The track would be perfect for anyone’s individual coffee or tea ceremony in the morning.”

@leontoddjohnson meditative track “wa” from his upcoming album “wa kei sei jaku” is out now. Full album out 07.25. Link in bio

Thrilled to announce the first single “wa” from @leontoddjohnson (fka airport people) upcoming album wa kei sei jaku out 07.25 on Whited Sepulchre Records. Pre-orders available now. Link in bio. For many, the ECM- and Windham Hill-influenced, neo-classically inflected jazz of airport people’s from nine mornings became an essential part of their morning ritual. On wa kei sei jaku, Johnson takes that morning tea ritual in a more intentional and explicit direction. wa kei sei jaku reflects on the four core principles of the Japanese tea ceremony: Wa (和): Harmony or unity Kei (敬): Respect or reverence Sei (清): Purity or cleanliness Jaku (寂): Tranquility or silence Johnson weaves these principles into the music, incorporating samples from his own morning tea ceremonies as textural sound beds and percussive elements. wa” is the first single from leon todd johnson’s upcoming CD - wa kei sei jaku - and represents the principle Wa (和): Harmony or unity in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The peaceful piano melody of “wa” is met with some of the most expressive bass work Johnson has recorded—muted runs blend with strings to explore harmony. The track would be perfect for anyone’s individual coffee or tea ceremony in the morning.”

“berceuse for piano and iphone” this is a song i just uploaded to my bandcamp :) (link in bio) 🖼️: @vonschwab #neoclassical #solopiano

midwest dispossessed w/ photos by @g_not_m music feat. @clockworkmakesmusic , @snappypea , and @theclarinetguy we still have a few of these left! head over to @pseudoscope_ to grab a copy if you like. Ginda really did amazing work on these books. (link in bio) #neoclassical #photography #midwest

“from nine mornings” is out today on all the things :) thank you: @vonschwab for this absolutely beautiful artwork, and for your sage advice about art in general. I learn a lot from you. And, of course, thanks for being a great friend :) @s_squares_ for the killer drumming, as always. Thanks for being a buddy, for keeping me honest, and thanks for not letting me take myself too seriously. You rock. @whitedsepulchrerecords for taking a chance on me, and for putting an incredible bit of work into promoting and producing this record. Ryan, I keep saying it because it’s true, I can’t thank you enough. @tweedsmcgeeds for always supporting me, challenging me, and smiling warmly after hearing the same damn tune played for the ten-thousandth time. Thanks for loving me ❤️ and thanks to whomever is reading this. Who knew people would actually enjoy the music I make. I am baffled and humbled by the kindness of this community. #newmusic #newmusicfriday #releaseday #minimalism #ambient #ambientmusic #fieldrecording #pianomusic #piano #minimalistmusic #neoclassical #neoclassicalmusic #modernclassical #midwestambient #indymusic #cassettes #patience

new solo piano single :) 🖼: @vonschwab “the underscore” is the deconstructed heart of “underscore dash apostrophe”. Maybe, listen to the later release (on Bandcamp, for now) first … (swipe for thoughts) #solopiano #calmingmusic #minimalist #minimalistmusic #ambient #newmusic #indymusic #pianomusic #ambientmusic #blackcomposers #neoclassical #modernclassical #ambientclassical #analogrecording

(swipe) #thoughts #taoteching #questions #philosophy #thelittlethings #askwhy #musicforthought #tea #discourse

nice to catch up with an old friend this morning 🎻 . . . . #violin #neoclassical #minimalism #lamp #orchestranerd @landonscaldwell #poetry #modernclassical #bach #sonatasandpartitas