“I’ve decided my new mantra is going to be: ‘feel the fear, and do it anyway!’” a playful, yet self-assured Lemar declares as he ponders the enormity of returning to the mainstream music scene following a somewhat self-imposed hiatus from the fast-paced world of pop. “I’m aware it’s been a minute since I last put out an album, and I know that when an artist almost purposely disappears, kind of like I did, they run the risk of being left behind, but I needed to take a break from the rat race, both personally and professionally, to experience a little bit of ‘normal life’ again.”
“I’ve always taken pride in the fact that people could relate to my music, but when you’re working to the degree I was 10 years ago, writing, recording and releasing new material every year, you become a little bit removed from the regular everyday things that people go through. My schedule and routine back then consisted of travelling to an airport, getting on a plane, flying to a different country, playing a show somewhere and then going to some fancy afterparty… let’s just be honest, the majority of my audience aren’t the slightest bit interested in hearing me sing about that!”
“As a songwriter I believe your work should be a reflection of your true life experiences, and I think because my lifestyle was starting to become a little bit removed from reality, I was aware there was a danger I could maybe start to lose that special connection with my fans… which was concerning to me. So I decided I needed to go back to basics, and try to re-discover that same magic I had at the start of my career.”
Born in Tottenham, North London to Nigerian parents David and Edna Obika, Lemar’s story is one of determination, resilience and hard work. From humble beginnings to his early affiliation with the arts, the path to success for the future hitmaker was by no means an easy one.
Having developed a deep love and affinity for legendary American recordings artists Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5 and Lionel Richie at a young age, as a teenager he passed on the opportunity to study pharmacy at Cardiff University, instead choosing to pursue a career in music, cutting his professional teeth on the live circuit serving as the opening act for Usher, and Destiny’s Child, before experiencing his first taste of industry success at the turn of the millennium, with the release of his debut solo single, “Got Me Saying Ooh”. However it was to be his appearance as a contestant on the inaugural series of the hit British TV talent show Fame Academy in 2002, that would change the trajectory of his career forever.
Praised throughout the season for his exemplary rich, vocals, first class penmanship, and stellar performances of soul classics “Let’s Stay Together” and “Easy”, Obika would eventually end up finishing the competition in third place. Having captured the imagination of the both the public and record label execs, the then 24-year-old star signed a five-year album deal with Sony Music in early 2003, and began work on his debut album.
In the years that followed Lemar went onto enjoy major chart success, becoming one of the most successful British male artists of the last two decades, achieving seven UK Top 10 singles and selling over two million albums worldwide, with three of his studio albums reaching certified platinum or double platinum status. His awards include three MOBO Awards (two for Best UK male and one for Best Album) and two BRIT Awards for Best British Urban Act.
Following the unveiling of his last album ‘The Letter’ in 2015, the father of two has consciously, and successfully, explored other areas of entertainment, acting alongside fellow British pop legend Jamelia in the Sky Kids mini-series Little Darlings, presenting on radio and then taking to the ice as a celebrity contestant on the tenth series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Lemar – Dance (With U) (Official Music Video)
11 years on and the singer is finally releasing his 7th studio album “Page In My Heart”, a collection of new music that encapsulates the love, heartache and personal growth he has experienced since. Spanning 10 tracks, and incorporating elements of funk, electro-disco and soul, as well the classic R&B sound that has long been his calling card, the cohesive record is testament to Lemar’s dedication and commitment to his craft.
“Because all of the songs on this album were written over a prolonged period of time, I find that when I listen (back) to them now, I’m taken to very different places emotionally,” the singer muses as he begins to try to verbalise the personal connection he feels towards the plethora of material created for the project. “A song like ‘I Been’ was written at the very beginning of last year, whereas ‘Take Care’ was written two years ago, then you have the other half of the tracks that have been birthed over the course of the last 11 years that I’ve been away; so we’re talking about music that spans a big chunk of my life. I feel like I’ve lived through, and experienced a lot since ‘Invincible’ and ‘The Letter’ came out, so my goal with this album was for it to be a reflection of all that I’ve learnt during the last decade.”
Diving deeper into the essence of the records DNA, the “Time To Grow” singer continues: “To me music is like a form of therapy, so I always write with a desire to create songs that people can connect to. Of course I want to share my story, and have my records be something of a platform for me to showcase all of the different sides to my character and personality, but more than anything I want everybody to be able to feel, and relate to what I’m saying.”
“From a musical perspective this time around it was all about bringing back melodies, big choruses and songs with structure, but from a lyrical point of view, it was more about conveying emotion,” pausing for a moment to reflect, Lemar adds: “Songwriting is incredibly healing – personally, it’s how I release all of my thoughts and deal with my feelings, I’d be lost without it, and I hope I never lose sight of that.”
“Because this industry is so fast paced, and you’re constantly on the go, all of the time, it can be really easy to forget the reason why you wanted to become a singer, and an artist in the first place. So much of the passion, and joy of being a creative gets lost in the politics of everything to where the art of making music almost becomes a secondary component to the business side of things. I’m not complaining or bashing the system or anything, I’m just sharing with you the realities of being an artist (laughs). Facts are facts though, and the truth is you can’t do all of this on your own!.. or you couldn’t when I first started out, maybe times have changed, I don’t know. But to be in the position I’m in now, and to be putting out music on the own label is a blessing, and something I don’t take for granted.”
To me music is like a form of therapy, so I always write with a desire to create songs that people can connect to.
Lemar on his thoughtful approach to songwritingHaving long fulfilled his original recording contract with Sony Music, “Page In My Heart” serves as Lemar’s first musical release as a fully independent artist, emancipated from the constraints of record company politics and free to finally march to the beat of his own drum.
“It’s so fulfilling,” Lemar says with a lightness in his voice. “The beauty of going down the independent route is that you have full creative control over all aspects of the music your making, and releasing. From a writing perspective, I was very lucky that my previous label and A&R guy pretty much always allowed me to do, and say what I wanted. I was present, and attended almost every writing session, I wrote on nearly every song I recorded, and was fortunate enough to be able to have input into what songs ended up on my albums, which I’m very, very thankful for… that’s not to say however there weren’t times when I did have to compromise, and perhaps do things that I didn’t want to, which as a new artist is to be expected, but after two decades, I think (and I hope) I’ve earned the right to do things my own way now.”
Whilst it’s clear he relishes having the freedom to work, compose and create without having any sort of restriction or limitation imposed upon him, it would be foolish to not acknowledge the actuality that there are obvious pitfalls to being an independent artist, as Lemar philosophically explains: “Learning about, and trying to understand parts of the industry you’ve not been privy to in the past is tough. I’ve always been very hands on across all aspects of my career, so to be suddenly faced with a situation or problem you know absolutely nothing about can be quite unsettling.”
“I’ve been very fortunate over the years to build some really strong, solid relationships, and I’m lucky in that fact that I’ve been able to build a really good team around me, who support and understand the vision for what I want to do moving forward. But listen, you’re obviously going to make mistakes, either operationally or behind the scenes, and there are going to be times when end up falling flat on your face (laughs) but that’s just life isn’t it? You’ve just got to pick yourself up and keep going. Like I said before, I’ve been doing this for 20 years now, and I haven’t made it this far without taking a knock or two along the way. The most important thing though, is that I’m still here, doing what I love… I can’t quite believe it (laughs).”
Lemar “Dedicated”
To celebrate this monumental milestone in his career, as well as the 20th anniversary release of his debut album “Dedicated”, Lemar will perform two special live shows in Manchester and London next month – his first major headline gig in quite some time.
“I’m definitely excited to be getting back out there, and I’m really looking forward to these shows!” the clearly delighted star admits with a smile. “I actually haven’t performed with my band and done a full set for a really long time, so I’m hoping it’s going to be a really special couple of nights celebrating two decades worth of music, and of course the album that started it all.”
Released back in the winter of 2003, “Dedicated” won rave reviews from both fans and critics alike, with The Guardian calling the singer “North London’s answer to Luther Vandross“, and BBC Music’s Karen Goodchild stating: “this is an album that is packed full of potential hits that showcase Lemar’s amazing vocal ability. That, coupled with the fact that Lemar co-wrote several of these tracks, will surely mean that he’ll be around a lot longer than the other over-hyped reality TV stars.” Featuring the top ten hit singles, “Dance (With U)”, “50/50” and “Another Day”, the record is certified double-platinum by the BPI for sales in excess of 300,000 copies.
As the nostalgia of the occasion starts to set it, it’s clear Lemar has fond feelings of those early years fresh out of the ‘academy’…“The start of my career feels like a bit of a blur to be totally honest with you. There was so much going on, and so much to get used to, it was crazy… but I loved it! In many ways it feels like a lifetime ago, in others it feels like it was just yesterday. Each album I’ve done serves as reminder of who I was, and where as was at in my life during the time of it’s recording and release. When I look back on the “Dedicated” era, I remember a lot of happy and exciting times for sure. In a funny way, it’s almost the same feeling I have now releasing “Page In My Heart” because although this is my seventh album, it feels like it’s my first all over again.”
“Taking that long break away from music has given me a whole new appreciation for what I do. Of course I’m nervous to be back, and it’s daunting to be putting out new music, but more than anything I’m excited… and grateful, I’m so, so grateful to still have the opportunity to sing and entertain people.”
Tickets for Lemar’s 20th anniversary shows in London and Manchester are on-sale at gigsandtours.co.uk and ticketmaster.co.uk. “Page In My Heart” is available to download / stream now.
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