Lemar

The Letter - out now! Includes the title track ‘The Letter’ and 'Love Turned Hate' iTunes - http://smarturl.it/TheLetteriTunes Google Play - http://smarturl.it/TheLetterGP CD album on Amazon - http://smarturl.it/TheLetterCD Lemar isn’t daunted by any musical situation. He’s had too many triumphs in a career that began way back in his teens; he’s sung alongside enough of his idols to know the drill; he’s a multi-platinum selling, double Brit Award winner who is well aware what he’s capable. But last autumn, in legendary EastWest Studios in L.A, standing where Sinatra recorded My Way and Marvin made Let’s Get It On, surrounded by some of the world’s most experienced musicians, laying down songs in the old-school way for his soon-to-be seventh album, Lemar admits he felt nervous. “I wouldn’t say scared,” he laughs. “It was a challenge. One of the most enjoyable challenges of my life, but also one of those times you think – shit - I really do have to dig deep here. There was definitely pressure, but I thrive on that.” The Letter is the album Lemar has long known he would one day make. It’s a sumptuous soul record with a vintage vibe, recorded live, on which his distinctive, honeyed vocals are at their most versatile. Few modern singers have a voice as warm and instantly intimate, that can connect with an audience and keep them spellbound, whether on stripped-back, falsetto-strewn ballads or up-tempo tracks that effortlessly encompass soul, rock and a nod to gospel. The Letter reflects the man who made it, a charismatic performer whose old-fashioned charm and infectiousness have always been part of his appeal. It’s a retro album, but with a modern feel, comprised of covers – some familiar, others less so, none obvious – and three original songs. “Over the years, I’ve been approached to do several soul projects but the timing never felt right. After a decade on the road, it does. My voice has matured and strengthened so much that I knew I could do justice to the songs. But I also knew the right players had to be involved. It’s not only about my voice. It’s about the musicianship, the way the songs are recorded, where they’re recorded, the vibe. Getting all of those right isn’t easy.” “For me, the artists who have made this type of album – interpreting other people’s work – and done it convincingly have taken a no-holds-barred approach. Basically, if I was going to do this, I had to do it properly. My versions had to be raw and gritty. They had to expose the essence of the songs.”