ChetSena61 at 09:58, 1 April 2026

2026-04-01T09:58:35Z

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{{BLP sources|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Leon D'Souza
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Leon Saalis de Souza
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|11|10}}
| birth_place = [[Panaji]], Goa, India
| alma_mater = [[Wilson College, Mumbai]]<br/>[[University of Mumbai]]
| occupation = {{Hlist|Singer|songwriter|publicist}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = Yes
| instrument = {{Hlist|Vocals|piano}}
| genre = {{Hlist|Pop|rock|[[filmi]]}}
| label = {{Hlist|[[Sony Music]]|[[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]|[[Saregama]]|Hariharan Music}}
| years_active = 2011–present
| website =
}}
}}

'''Leon D'Souza'''{{Efn|{{IPA|kok|lɪ.joːn ɖɪ.suː.zaː}}.}} (born 10 November 1985) is an Indian [[playback singer]] and songwriter.<ref name="toi-exclusive">{{cite news |last=Giri |first=Aditi |title=Exclusive! 'Hosanna' singer Leon D'Souza: Rahman is a one-man band |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/exclusive-hosanna-singer-leon-dsouza-rahman-is-a-one-man-band/articleshow/80137249.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=21 January 2021 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> He has sung in [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]], [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]], and [[Kannada cinema|Kannada film industries]] and has also recorded advertising jingles. He gained widespread recognition for singing "[[Hosanna (A. R. Rahman song)|Hosanna]]" in the 2012 Hindi film ''[[Ekk Deewana Tha]]'', composed by [[A. R. Rahman]].<ref name="toi-video">{{cite web |title=Check out Hindi all-time hit romantic song music video 'Hosanna' sung by Leon D'Souza and Suzanne D'Mello featuring Prateik Babbar and Amy Jackson |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/music/hindi/check-out-hindi-all-time-hit-romantic-song-music-video-hosanna-sung-by-leon-dsouza-and-suzanne-dmello-featuring-prateik-babbar-and-amy-jackson/videoshow/88203226.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |publisher=Times Internet |date=11 December 2021 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>

== Early life ==
D'Souza was born into a [[Goan Catholics|Goan Catholic]] family in [[Panaji]], Goa, India.<ref name="talkingdesk"/> His maternal grandfather Menino Dias was a violinist who regularly performed at church services and local religious gatherings, and was a known figure in [[Taleigão]], Goa. D'Souza grew up surrounded by music and learned to play the recorder and piano.<ref name="talkingdesk">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Leon D'Souza: I always wanted to become someone who sang well |url=https://thetalkingdesk.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/leon-de-souza-i-always-wanted-to-become-someone-who-sang-well/ |website=The Talking Desk |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>

He also trained in the [[Choir#Types|church choir]] at [[Gloria Church]] in [[Byculla]], [[Mumbai]], under the guidance and mentorship of Margarate Fernandes, who directed the Glorian Choir for over 40 years. This experience shaped his vocal technique and strongly influenced his musical style, which was heavily inspired by [[gospel music]].<ref name="indulg">{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Leon D’Souza, the voice behind the now-viral reel of 'Hosanna,' gets candid about the ARR song that catapulted him into fame |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/music/2022/Oct/05/leon-dsouza-the-voice-behind-the-now-viral-reel-of-hosanna-gets-candid-about-the-arr-song-that-44475.html |newspaper=Indulge Express |date=5 October 2022 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>

== Career ==
D'Souza began his career performing in gospel competitions and church choirs.<ref name="toi-summer"/> He was introduced to Bollywood by [[A. R. Rahman]], who selected him to record the Hindi version of the song "[[Hosanna (A. R. Rahman song)|Hosanna]]" for ''[[Ekk Deewana Tha]]'' (2012).<ref name="newindianexpress">{{cite news |last= |first= |title=AR Rahman music director |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2011/Dec/24/ar-rehman-music-director-323524.html |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=24 December 2011 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref><ref name="bollywoodlife">{{cite news |title=A.R. Rahman: Leon D’Souza's voice has a universal appeal |url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/ar-rahman-leon-dsouzas-voice-has-a-universal-appeal/ |newspaper=Bollywood Life |date=24 December 2011 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> Originally, the song's rap section was not intended for him, but Rahman encouraged D'Souza to perform it, resulting in a signature vocal style combining soft and bold tones reminiscent of R&B artist Usher.<ref name="indulg"/>

Following this breakthrough, D'Souza featured in the remix version of "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" from ''[[Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu]]'' in the same year, composed by [[Amit Trivedi]]. In 2013, he sang "Dhuaan" for the film ''[[D-Day (2013 film)|D-Day]]'', composed by [[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]], collaborating with multiple vocalists.

D'Souza also recorded songs in Tamil and Kannada, collaborating with composers such as [[Ghibran Vaibodha|Ghibran]] and [[Sachin Warrier]]. He regularly tours internationally as a guest vocalist with [[Arijit Singh]].<ref name="toi-exclusive"/>

In 2019, D'Souza released his first single, "Summer 45", an electronic pop track composed by DJ Tanishq, in collaboration with Johnnie Ernest and Stich.<ref name="toi-summer">{{cite news |last=Giri |first=Aditi |title=Leon D'Souza celebrates summer with his new single |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/music/leon-dsouza-celebrates-summer-with-his-new-single/articleshow/69229789.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=4 May 2019 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> The song reflects tropical summer themes and nostalgic imagery of beaches from his youth in Goa.

In 2022, D'Souza experienced renewed popularity when an Instagram reel featuring his performance of "Hosanna" went viral, garnering over 28 million views within 24 hours.<ref name="indulg"/> The viral moment introduced his voice to a new generation of listeners, many of whom were unaware of the singer behind the original track.

== Musical style ==
D'Souza's music is influenced by gospel and contemporary pop, with a focus on embellishing vocal lines and exploring multiple tones within a single performance.<ref name="indulg"/> He has expressed interest in blending independent music projects with traditional film playback singing.<ref name="toi-exclusive"/>

== Other ventures ==
Outside of music, D'Souza founded a communications company, ''Storytellers101'', in 2013, where he manages brand storytelling and creative projects.<ref name="indulg"/>

== Discography ==
=== Film songs ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Song
!Film
!Composer
!Lyricist
!Co-singer(s)
!Language
!Notes
!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
|"[[Hosanna (A. R. Rahman song)|Hosanna]]"
|''[[Ekk Deewana Tha]]''
|[[A. R. Rahman]]
|[[Javed Akhtar]]
|[[Maria Roe Vincent]] and [[Suzanne D'Mello]]
|[[Hindi language|Hindi]] and English
|
|
|-
|"Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (Remix)"
|''[[Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu]]''
|[[Amit Trivedi]]
|[[Amitabh Bhattacharya]]
|[[Benny Dayal]], [[Anushka Manchanda]] and [[Shefali Alvaris]]
|Hindi
|
|
|-
|2013
|"Dhuaan"
|''[[D-Day (2013 film)|D-Day]]''
|[[Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy]]
|[[Niranjan Iyengar]]
|[[Rahul Ram]], [[Siddharth Mahadevan]], [[Alyssa Mendonsa]], [[Thomson Andrews]], Keshia Braganza and Crystal Sequeira
|Hindi
|
|<ref name="M4">{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/566854|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707001516/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/566854|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|title=D-Day – Music Critic Review|author=Rajiv Vijayakar|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=3 July 2013|access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|"Ae Le Le Etti Paarthale"
|''[[Naiyaandi]]''
|[[Ghibran Vaibodha]]
|[[Arivumathi]]
|[[Sundar Narayana Rao]]
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=21 September 2013 |title=Naiyaandi (Music review), Tamil – Ghibran |url=https://milliblog.com/2013/09/21/naiyaandi-music-review-tamil-ghibran/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250429025256/https://milliblog.com/2013/09/21/naiyaandi-music-review-tamil-ghibran/ |archive-date=29 April 2025 |access-date=16 February 2026 |website=[[Milliblog]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|"Daariya Kaledukondide"
|''[[Katheyondu Shuruvagide]]''
|[[Sachin Warrier]]
|Kiran Kaverappa
|[[Inchara Rao]]
|[[Kannada language|Kannada]]
|
|
|}

=== Television songs ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Song
!Serial/Show
!Composer
!Lyricist
!Co-singer(s)
!Language
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
|2012
|"Teri Meri Love Stories Title Track"
|''[[Teri Meri Love Stories]]''
|
|
|[[Mahalaxmi Iyer]]
|Hindi
|
|
|}

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Song
!Composer
!Lyricist
!Co-singer(s)
!Language
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
|2019
|"Summer 45"
|Leon D'Souza, Pallavi Kedar and Atul Gupta
|Leon D'Souza, Pallavi Kedar and Atul Gupta
|
|English
|
|
|-
|2021
|"Find My Way"
|Candy D'Souza
|Candy D'Souza
|
|English
|
|
|}

== Footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Facebook|theleondesouza}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Souza, Leon}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tamil-language playback singers]]
[[Category:Kannada-language playback singers]]

Leon D'Souza - Revision history

ChetSena61 at 09:58, 1 April 2026