Virgin Islands Featured Artist: Th3rd
Let us introduce you to this next artist, he's a singer, song writer & Grammy nominated engineer. Leo Sibilly III who goes by his stage name Th3rd was born and raised in the beautiful sister island of St. Thomas U.S.V.I. Growing up he was an athlete with a strong passion for music, his interest began from his father (Leo Sibilly Jr.) who was apart of a band. He started putting on shows with his cousin at family gatherings. It was at that moment he knew he wanted to be a musician. Encompassing every genre & influence into his own sound. Fast forward to 2016 & 2017, he was nominated for a Grammy for his work alongside Musiq Soulchild's. Growing up, he was surrounded by music, Th3rd's father played keys in a band named "Obession Band" and he would always attend their practices and performances, he would sometimes grab the mic. Apart from that him and his high school friends would record in the downstairs of his cousin's house. They just found ways to create their own music. It was in that moment he realized that singing was growing on him and he really enjoyed it. After his first year of college, he transferred to Full Sail University to pursue his music career, because it felt like music is where he belonged. Most of the artist's inspiration comes from the people who surrounds him in his life. To see and hear their stories, knowing some of the things they've gone through is truly motivational and blows his mind. He's also had the pleasure of working with some of his favorite artists as a kid growing up. Having the opportunity to work beside them always felt like a dream come true and its something he'll never take for granted. To have them believe in him and see all the work he's done makes th3rd work even harder. Leo Sibilly III is the full name of this artist, he's always been Leo, but somehow felt like he needed his own identity when it came to his music. That was the moment he decided to leave the beginning part of his name out an just stick with th3rd (III). We asked him to describe his favorite performance and why, he replied with the following. My Favorite performance would have to be 2019 A3C Festival in Atlanta, GA. Around that time I recently came back from St.Thomas and was dealing with a lot as an artist. I’d parted ways with old management and really had a lot to prove to myself and those around me. I vividly remember being nervous because I hadn’t performed in a while; and everybody that I didn’t expect to be there or hoping wouldn’t be there WAS there. The time came and it was My time to go on the stage.... and I killed it! The energy was something I've never experienced on stage and I proved to everybody that was there as well as myself that the stage was where I belonged. -Th3rd-
Th3rd has been an active artist since 2012, he sang soca music before th3rd came about. His first big record was VI Twerk, but alot of people has no idea that it was him. Fast forward to 2017 he changed his name and his sound. The new music he created was called RC&B (Rhythm Caribbean & Blues).
Was it hard to leave to further you career. And why? In the beginning it wasn’t as hard as you’d expect; mostly because I was excited to be in a new place and starting my career. After some years, I remember going home and really embracing everything the Virgin Islands had to offer me and offered me throughout my life and there really is no place like home. I came back to Atlanta after that trip and was so home sick. I'm happy to be able to travel back and forth to do what I love as well as spend time with the people I love. -Th3rd-
His recent project "Deh Ville" is a 15 song project he put together that was originally not supposed to be out. However, covid 19 hit and everything changed the album derives from where he grew up St. Thomas. All of his family lives on the same hill and they nicknamed the area "Sibilly Ville." He created his own slang for the area, and he and his friends called it "Deh Ville." (The Ville)." Th3rd went through multiply names and he realized that all the songs and all the inspirations from the songs kind of originated in Deh Ville. Most of the songs started and were created in Deh Ville as well.
There was a time I was home for about three months, and my friends would come over and we would just record songs . When I looked at the final project, I was like this is ‘Deh Ville.’ Keeping it close to home is something that I’m trying to embrace, where I come from, and where I grew up is always somewhere in the midst of my journey. The album features artists from the Virgin Islands, such as Monéa featured on “Put You On,” Nadia featured on “Show You More,” Timo featured on “Mamacita” and Kruziano who is featured on “Sweep Me.” -Th3rd-
I would like to thank every one that helped me bring this project to life and everyone who has supported me thus far. Summer has officially started and I have so much more music on the way( I’m excited because this is only the beginning! #Th3rdSZN
Written By: Minoca A.
Info provided to make the article possible: Thi3d
Pc: Thi3rd
Vid Cred: Thi3rd Youtube Channel
