Sep 08 2009
Leona Lewis Returns With Brand New Single ‘Happy’!
Leona’s amazing story continues. After winning the hearts and minds of the public in 2006 by winning the X Factor, Leona has gone on to conquer the world. With Number One albums and singles all over the world Leona’s debut album ‘Spirit’ has sold over 6 million copies whilst breaking records, receiving prestigious award nominations and making chart history both here and in the US along the way. Leona has spent much of 2009 back in the studio working on her new album and her brand new single ‘Happy’ welcomes Leona’s anticipated return to work.
‘Happy’ is Leona doing what she does best – she’s back with another trademark epic Leona ballad. From the moment the vocal comes in it’s obvious how this girl has got this far in her career. ‘Happy’ sees Leona back with writing partner and ‘Bleeding Love’ compatriot Ryan Tedder and their formula has worked again. Rising from a fragile, almost acapella intro, a gorgeous piano line carries it to an anthemic life-affirming chorus featuring a gravity defying vocal performance.
“That vocal was totally spontaneous, I sang it down as soon as we finished writing, sometimes it’s better not to over-think things,” says Leona shrugging off any fears of recreating those head-spinning high notes live. “It’s weird because the highest parts of my voice – my head voice - are the actually ones that I find easier singing. I was trained in Opera so that comes really natural to me.”
‘Happy’ gives a hint at what’s to come from Leona’s second album ‘Echo’. ‘Echo’ is set for release on November 16th almost exactly two years since Leona’s phenomenal debut ‘Spirit’. ‘Echo’ promises big emotions, sweeping and widescreen melodies and spine tingling vocals. The album sees Leona teaming up again with writers Ne-Yo, John Shanks, Max Martin and Ryan Tedder as well as working with new collaborators Xenomania and Julian Bennetta.
While Leona readily admits she is well aware of the expectations on her in following up her 6 million plus selling debut ‘Spirit’, she is focused on putting that out of her head and just creating great songs – none more so than lead single ‘Happy’
Leona says: “I’m actually more confident with this album than the last. I’ve taken more control this time and I feel more at ease with everything. To me, it’s all about great songs and I hope the songs move people as much as they move me. I hope so anyway.”
Leona admits she is at time caught off guard by the haunting, ethereal quality in her own voice and is, quite simply, moved to tears, like the millions who have been touched by her voice since she won that show and began releasing a series of songs that defied preconceived ideas of what mere ‘talent show winners’ could ever be or become.
“It’s weird I know, but sometimes it feels like something outside myself. It’s not necessarily that a lyric is even something that’s happened to me but I almost feel like it has because I can get swept up by the emotion, and when I do it can be overwhelming.”
