Trev Lukather, son of Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, recently opened up about how legendary former Journey vocalist Steve Perry came to contribute to his band Levara’s debut record. He shared the story in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Trev explained how what began as a casual studio visit quickly turned into a full creative collaboration with Perry.
“When Levara formed, I just felt with Jules’ range as a singer, Steve Perry would dig what we were doing. And I hit him up, and I said, ‘Just come by the studio and hang out. We got a record deal. It would be awesome for you to come by,'” Trev said.
He went on to describe how Perry’s involvement grew organically once he arrived at the studio.
“So he comes by and we’re working on a song called ‘Can’t Get Over.’ And Steve really immediately clicked with what we are doing and he just starts throwing out some harmony ideas for the chorus. And we are like really loving what he’s doing, we’re hearing the voice and we love what he’s saying and singing. And he’s like, ‘I can just go in and do it.’ And we’re like, ‘What?'” Trev continued.
The moment quickly escalated beyond anyone’s expectations.
“And he goes into the booth and just lays down epic background vocals. So we’re freaking out. We’re like, ‘I can’t believe this.’ I mean Perry is not a guy to do that. And it went from that day to him in the studio everyday,” he added.
Trev’s comments came in honor of the deluxe release of Levara’s debut album, out now via Mascot Records.
Perry’s contribution to Levara is notable given how rarely he has stepped into a studio with other artists in recent years. His involvement with the band adds significant weight to what is otherwise a debut release from a young group still finding its footing in the rock world.
Levara is a Los Angeles-based rock trio consisting of Trev Lukather on guitar, Jules Galli on lead vocals, and Tanner Walle on bass. The band signed with Mascot Label Group and released their self-titled debut album in 2021, drawing comparisons to classic rock acts while carving out a modern sound rooted in melody and guitar-driven arrangements, as noted on the Mascot Label Group website.
Steve Perry served as Journey’s lead vocalist from 1977 to 1996 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock singers of all time. Rolling Stone noted that Perry’s voice defined the arena rock era. His reluctance to perform or record publicly over the decades has made any new contribution from him a rare and significant event.
Perry made a long-awaited return to music with his 2018 solo album Traces, his first studio record in 24 years. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and was met with widespread critical praise. Billboard reported that the release signaled Perry’s voice had lost none of its power despite his extended absence from the spotlight.
The deluxe edition of Levara’s debut, which prompted Trev’s reflections on Perry’s involvement, features expanded content from the original sessions. The fact that Perry — a figure known for his selectiveness — spent consecutive days in the studio with the band speaks volumes about the chemistry the group managed to create from what started as a simple, informal invitation.
