Thomas Lea
Thomas Lea (pronounced “Lee”) is a string arranger, producer, violist and violinist whose classical training is matched by a deep understanding of contemporary record-making. His arrangements are written from inside the song—following its rhythm, vocal phrasing and production—so the strings feel essential to the record rather than added to it.
His credits span hip-hop, R&B, soul, pop and electronic music, including work with Common, Mos Def, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Bilal, Logic, Hi-Tek, India.Arie, Jhené Aiko, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Mark Ronson, Diplo, Kamasi Washington, Arthur Verocai, Leon Ware, Rhye, Yuna and Earth, Wind & Fire. He has contributed to critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated releases and toured internationally as a member of Rhye’s live band.
Thomas earned degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and UCLA, but his musical perspective extends well beyond the concert hall. Years of working alongside producers, rhythm sections and vocalists have given him an unusually nuanced command of timing, space and texture—particularly within hip-hop and R&B.
His role in the studio is closer to that of a writer and producer than a conventional session player. From a single counterline to a complete orchestral arrangement, Thomas helps determine the harmony, movement and structure of a song, making him a creative contributor to both the composition and the finished master.