I recently read an interview with Lemar, in which he mentioned that after coming third in the BBC’s Fame Academy in 2002, he received precisely NO offers. The phone didn’t ring, the record companies weren’t knocking at the door.
I recently read an interview with Lemar, in which he mentioned that after coming third in the BBC’s Fame Academy in 2002, he received precisely NO offers. The phone didn’t ring, the record companies weren’t knocking at the door.
I bet they’re kicking themselves now.
Lemar’s third album “The Truth About Love” (released 11th September on White Rabbit/Sony BMG) is a mature offering by one of the best vocalists we have in this country today.
"I wanted to make a singer's album," says Lemar. "I wanted to take my time, writing and recording, making sure every song delivered; to sing and re-sing and sing it a hundred times if need's be, so that I know I've put everything I can into it."
A singer’s album is indeed what he has made. Don’t expect cutting-edge production – producer Brian Rawling’s sound errs on the side of smooth - but in the same way that you would hang a great painting on a plain wall in order not to detract from its beauty, so the music provides a solid, yet unobtrusive backdrop to a singer at the peak of his ability.
The old school influences of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cook and Ron Isley are obvious, but Lemar also references his US contemporaries such as John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Eric Benet and gives them a serious run for their money.
Lemar’s voice is a quality instrument that does its master’s bidding, be it the husky whisper he employs on “Caroline” or the Prince-style falsetto of “Beauty Queen”.
As for the songs – the standout track for me is the single “It’s not that Easy” which showcases that old soul vibe he worked so well with “If there’s any Justice”, but the rest of the writing is good enough for one to enjoy the whole album.
It’s just a great shame that the track “Anniversary”, which sees Lemar share vocal duties with the internationally successful Joss Stone, isn’t a better song to showcase his talent.
Lemar is easily good enough to follow in Ms. Stone’s (bare) footsteps and take his crack at the States, he just needs the song to do it. I’m not sure that song is on this album, but when it comes, if there’s any justice, Lemar Obika is going global.
A seriously fine singer.
Find out more at www.lemar-online.com
From one North London soul singer to another….
This month we at Vocal Authority were delighted to receive a copy of Kenny Thomas’s new album “Crazy World” to review.
Even if you have forgotten – or are too young to remember – Kenny Thomas was huge on the UK soul scene in the early 90s, with tracks such as “Thinking about Your Love” and “Outstanding”.
Still a huge draw at the Northern soul weekenders, Kenny has spent his time out of the limelight writing, and so for this album he had no shortage of material from which to choose.
From the opening bars of “I Will”, a joyful reworking of Icelandic jazz-funk outfit Mezzoforte’s 1983 instrumental hit “Garden Party” but now with added vocals, we were jigging about the room reminiscing about how much we used to love Kenny…..
That rich baritone is still there, only darker and freer, and the fearless falsetto is beautifully intact.
Kenny Thomas knows his market – the soul fans who have kept the flame alive, so there’s no radical departure, no “new direction”, and you know what, it’s a welcome relief.
Kenny sings soul because Kenny loves soul. He’s not aiming for a chart resurrection – no ill-considered collaborations with trendy producers or rappers here – just to share his music with afficionados of the genre, and possibly to create some new soul classics in the process.
The stand out possibilities for that accolade are the aforementioned “I will”, the title track “Crazy World”, the immensely catchy chorus of “Don’t Come Around”, and the beautiful “Him,” co-written with South African singer/musician Jonathon Butler, all of which have that slightly familiar feel, as if you can’t quite believe nobody has written this song before.
If you like Kenny Thomas you’ll love this, and if you’ve never heard of him give it a try. Cool retro soul-funk at its best.
Find out more at www.kennythomasmusic.com
Speaking of white soul singers enjoying a renaissance – Peter Cox from Go West releases an album of Motown classics “Motor City Music” on October 2nd.
David and I did some live work with Peter in the 90s, to promote his first solo album, and a damn good time we had too. Pete is a truly fine singer, and a lovely bloke with a tremendous sense of humour. You may remember his appearance a few years ago on “Reborn in the USA” when a few forgotten words blew his chances of taking Tony Hadley down to the wire in the final.
Peter and Tony (another good bloke we love) got on so well they have been touring together since, and I don’t know if it’s a coincidence that the Voice of Spandau Ballet releases his own new album “Passing Strangers” on the same day as Peter’s.
Tony Hadley has headed down the jazz/easy listening route for this album, but has avoided the same well-worn American songbook classics that everyone else seems to do.
The track-listing ranges from Bacharach’s “Wives and Lovers” to Porter’s “Love for Sale” to modern standard “Don’t Know Why” – we did wonder if this was a sneaky wind-up for Mr Cox, as this was alas the song that scuppered him during “Reborn”!
Both albums are available to buy at www.townsend-records.co.uk
Fans of urban and R&B – here are our recommendations this month:
Toronto-born singer Ray Robinson released his debut album “What it Is” in his home country of Canada back in 2004, and is now their number one urban artist, but we’ve had to wait two years for the album to reach the stores over here. “What it is” is released on 18th September.
Robinson’s voice is reminiscent of Benet, Hamilton and D’Angelo, but his music has heavier reggae influences than any of them, and his self-penned lyrics have a touch of Marley about them.
Find out more at www.myspace.com/rayrobinson
Closer to home, 9th October sees the release of “Secret Garden”, the new album by nu-jazz/neo-soul singer Natalie Williams.
Born and raised in Berlin, to a British father and Yugoslavian/Hungarian mother, Natalie won a scholarship to study jazz singing at Berklee School of Music, Boston in 1995, then studied a semester at the Hans Eisler Academy, before moving to London to study for a BA in jazz vocals at the Guildhall.
During this time she began to collaborate with producers such as Artful Dodger, Full Crew, Midas Touch and Ruff & Tumble, and upon graduation she signed to independent urban label Eastside Records.
Her debut album “Yours Truly” was released in 2003 to great acclaim, with critics comparing Williams to the likes of Jill Scott and India Arie.
Her influences range from Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin to Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.
Listen to the album, then check out the lady herself on one of her forthcoming live dates (see gig guide for details).
Listen to tracks and find out more at www.nataliewilliams.net
Vocal Authority Gig Guide
Friday 22 September
Toby Jepson at The Pitz, Milton Keynes
Vocal Authority associate and former lead singer with rock band Little Angels continues his long-awaited mini tour. Expect lots of sweating, swearing and knicker-throwing. We love you Tobes!
Maggie Bell & The British Blues Quartet at Carling Academy, Newcastle
Saturday 23rd September
Toby Jepson at Corporation, Sheffield
Sun 24th September
Alabama 3 at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Wed 27th September
Journey South at Hammersmith Apollo
Richard Fleeshman at Tameside Hippodrome, Ashton under Lyne
Against my better judgement, last January someone persuaded me to take a look at ITV’s Soapstar Superstar. From the moment he took to the stage, the winner could only have been 16-year-old Corrie regular Richard Fleeshman. The boy can sing like someone twice his age – what a little popstar. One to watch.
Thu 28th September
Paolo Nutini at ABC, Glasgow
Journey South at New Theatre, Oxford
Fri 29th September
Natalie Williams at The Pigalle Club, London W1
Sun 1st October
Greg Kofi Brown with Pauline Henry at Dingwalls, London
Paul Rodgers at Sheffield City Hall
Mon 2nd October
Corinne Bailey Rae at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
John Legend at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Tues 3rd October
Heather Small at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Pink at NIA Birmingham
Paul Rodgers at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Lucie Silvas at the Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
Thu 5th October
Heather Small at the Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
Paul Rodgers at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Jocelyn Brown at the Jazz Café, London
Natalie Williams at Soul Family Thursday @ Too2Much, W1, London
Fri 6th October
Paul Rodgers at Colston Hall, Bristol
Level 42 with Kenny Thomas at the Lowry, Salford Quays
Sat 7th October
Journey South at Manchester Apollo
Corinne Bailey Rae at Southampton Guildhall
Seth Lakeman at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
Paolo Nutini at Barfly, Birmingham
Sun 8th October
James Morrison at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow
Corinne Bailey Rae at Leeds University
Journey South at Edinburgh Playhouse
Paul Rodgers at the Lowry, Salford
Mon 9th October
James Morrison at Manchester Academy 2
Tues 10th October
Incognito at the Jazz Café
James Morrison at KOKO, London
Keisha White at Carling Academy, Islington, London
Paul Carrack at Cambridge Corn Exchange
Tom Jones at The Brighton Centre
Wed 11th October
Keisha White at Carling Academy, Bristol
Level 42 with Kenny Thomas at Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Thu 12th October
James Morrison at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
Paolo Nutini at the Mean Fiddler, London
Paul Carrack at Hove Centre
Paul Rodgers at Newcastle City Hall
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at Bournemouth International Centre
Fri 13th October
James Morrison at Junction, Cambridge
Paul Rodgers at Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
Tom Jones at MEN Arena, Manchester
Sat 14th October
Journey South at King George’s Hall, Blackburn
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at Portsmouth Guildhall
Sun 15th October
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at Cambridge Corn Exchange
Tues 17th October
Keane at Hull Arena
Wed 18th October
Keane at Manchester Apollo
Tom Jones at Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield
Thu 19th October
Keane at Aberdeen Exhibition Centre
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at Victoria Hall, Stoke on Trent
Fri 20th October
Jazz Jamaica at the Jazz Café, London
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Tom Jones at Cardiff International Arena
Sat 21st October
Tom Jones at Cardiff International Arena
Jazz Jamaica at the Jazz Café, London
Sun 22nd October
Keane at Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Mon 23rd October
Andy Abraham at Newcastle City Hall
Level 42 and Kenny Thomas at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
John Mayer at The Forum, London
Singer/songwriting wunderkind from the States. Still a baby but sounds like a man in his 50s. Over here promoting new album Continuum. Has collaborated with Kanye West among others. We think he’s great.
Tues 24th October
Andy Abraham at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
The Fratellis at Carling Academy, Liverpool
If YOU have any listings you would like to see included, or an album you would like reviewed, please contact lisa.laudat@vocalauthority.com