Seasoned singer-songwriter Leroy Sanchez made a booming return with his new single “NUCLEAR,” a romantic track marking his comeback after some time away!
Following the release and a special event at Catch Steak LA celebrating the single, we had the opportunity to chat with Sanchez to discuss his renewed journey in pop reaching over 600 million views on YouTube in his career, the inspiration behind his songwriting, the production of the music video, and his upcoming endeavors.
“NUCLEAR” perfectly captures that exhilarating yet daunting feeling of a romance you’re hesitant to pursue but know is worth the risk.
The music video offers a unique and playful take on the song, set in a grocery store where two love interests dance around each other, navigating their feelings. Sanchez himself makes a fun cameo as the check-out cashier!
Watch the full music video below!
Check out our full interview with Sanchez below!
The Knockturnal: Congratulations on your new single, “NUCLEAR.” It’s been a while since we’ve heard new music from you! What inspired you to come back with this specific track?
Leroy Sanchez: Thanks! The last couple of years have been really interesting. I’ve always written for myself, but I started working more with other artists, which I loved. It pushed me to think outside the box, take bigger risks, and explore styles I might not have otherwise. In the middle of all that songwriting, “NUCLEAR” came to life, and it completely shifted my focus. I had a whole project ready to go, but once “NUCLEAR” was born, I knew I’d found the right direction. It’s one of the best tracks I’ve written over the past couple of years and I knew it would make a strong statement – coming back with a bang, so to speak.
The Knockturnal: You played a key role in the music video for “NUCLEAR” as one of the producers! How was it to both act and conceptualize the video? It was a surprising and exciting storyline! Where did the idea for the video come from?
Sanchez: Putting together a music video is something I’m used to, but this was the first time doing it at this scale—and wow, it was a lot of work! We had a crew of over 35 people, all of them incredible professionals, so I definitely can’t take all the credit. Kyle Hanagami directed the video, and he’s the genius behind both the emotional storyline and the electrifying choreography. We also had Jacob Caron as the director of photography, and he really brought the visuals to life in such a stunning way. We wanted to create a romantic scenario that felt real but also had this almost otherworldly vibe. The song itself is such a hyperbole, and Kyle really captured that feeling in the video perfectly. I also loved stepping back and not being the lead in this one—it’s not about me; it’s about the song and the story. For me, it’s all about making sure the listener and the viewer feel something, and that’s what matters most.
The Knockturnal: You worked with some incredible talent on “Nuclear,” including Lucas Santos and Scott Nicholson. What was that experience like?
Sanchez: I love these guys! We just had so much fun, and honestly, that’s sometimes the hardest part—just letting go and not overthinking everything. It’s easy to second-guess yourself in a session, but the best songs are the ones that flow naturally. That’s what working with Scott and Lucas was like—just effortless. Lucas is an amazing producer. He knows pop inside and out, but he also brings this heart and soul from his Brazilian roots, which makes his work so unique. He’s one of Stargate’s prodigies, so his pop sensibility is next level. And Scott, with his background as a choreographer and his work with Ariana Grande, just has an incredible feel for rhythm and vibes. The two of them together made the perfect combo for “NUCLEAR.”
The Knockturnal: Can you describe how the songwriting and recording process went for “Nuclear?” Are there any specific events or emotions that inspire your songwriting?
Sanchez: During the session, my publisher had asked me for a pop song—something energetic yet emotional for an artist like Katy Perry or Sofia Carson. I thought, “This is gonna be fun!” and we jumped right in. As soon as Lucas played me the track, I instantly knew… The idea for “NUCLEAR” hit me after I saw a banner for Oppenheimer in LA weeks prior to the session, and the track felt like the perfect fit. After we were done, I realized that we’d just made the kind of song I used to hear on the radio in Spain growing up and always dreamed of creating for myself.
The Knockturnal: Is there any specific spot in the song you feel the strongest about? A lyric – a melody?
Sanchez: I honestly feel so proud of the song overall—the lyrics, the melodies, the vocals, track, everything. But if I had to pick what I’m most proud of, it’s the prosody, how all the elements work together. The way the melodies build during the verses, the storytelling, and the tension that ramps up—it’s all on point. The lyrics talk about a love so intense it could be catastrophic, and those ticking sounds in the verses set you up for the explosion of the chorus. Even after the first chorus hits big, the song keeps the tension going, and that final chorus implodes right before it blows up in such a satisfying way with those three hits. It’s dramatic but beautiful. I love how effortless it all sounds, but there’s a lot of meticulous detail and care in this song, and I’m truly proud of it.
The Knockturnal: On the same topic – are there any other artists you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Sanchez: I would love to collaborate with Ryan Tedder or Max Martin, and I’d love to be on a song with Mimi Webb, I think she’s so incredible and her songs are just pop gold.
The Knockturnal: Your recent release event at Catch Steak LA must have been memorable. Can you tell us a bit about it? Did it make you even more excited for future events?
Sanchez: I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to celebrate this first single! It’s not super common to throw a party just for a single (most people wait for album releases), but I’m so proud of this song. After two years without releasing any music, it just felt right to honor the moment and kick off this new era with a celebration. What made it even more special was having so many friends and family show up to support—like the amazing team at Hyundai (music video sponsor), musicians like JC Chasez (NSYNC), Sofia Reyes, mega producer Mikkel Eriksen from Stargate (Rihanna, Katy Perry), and other incredible names like Paul Forman (Emily in Paris), fashion designer Michael NGO (Gaga, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande), and Luca Schaefer, among others. It truly was an unforgettable night. And if this was only a single release party, wait until we celebrate the whole album!
The Knockturnal: We know you have more music coming soon! What can we expect in terms of sound and themes? What do you hope listeners will take away from your upcoming releases?
Sanchez: This next project is the perfect mix of pop and singer-songwriter styles, really showing who I am and what I love about music. It tells a whole story from start to finish, highlighting how my skills as a songwriter and storyteller have grown over the years. Sonically, there’s been such an exciting evolution with bigger, more intricate production and even advanced spatial mixing and mastering. I hope fans get hooked by the melodies, find themselves singing along, and dive into the stories to take something meaningful from them.
The Knockturnal: Before we end the interview, do you have any closing statements or messages tuning into Leroy Sanchez?
Sanchez: I want to say how much this new release means to me. Even though English wasn’t my first language, living in the U.S. for almost 14 years has been an amazing journey of improvement. This new release is proof that all the hard work and dedication have paid off and I’ve achieved something I once thought was impossible. I’m sure that kid from Spain who barely knew English would be super proud of this album.
FOR MORE OF LEROY SANCHEZ:
INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | “NUCLEAR” MV | WEBSITE
