Lemar returns with new album, The Letter, a combination of classic soul songs and original tracks
Multi-platinum selling, double Brit Award winner Lemar is back with a new album, The Letter. Recorded in the legendary EastWest Studios in L.A, where Sinatra recorded My Way and Marvin Gaye made Let’s Get It On, the album is a combination of reinterpreted soul classics and brand new, original tracks. The Letter will be released on October 9th. The album’s title track and lead single, was released on 21 August and is available to listen to on Lemar’s website.
The Letter is the record Lemar has long known he would one day make. It’s a sumptuous soul record with a vintage sound, recorded live, perfectly showcasing his distinctive and versatile honeyed vocals. Lemar has reinterpreted tracks by a who’s who of the great soul singers, including Al Green, Sam Cooke and Van Morrison, while purposely avoiding the obvious track choices.
Discussing the covers Lemar said: “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. 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.”
Legendary producer Larry Klein, who has worked with the likes of Tracy Chapman, Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell produced the album. Klein isn’t the only collaborator adding authenticity to the project; The Waters – who previously worked with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and more recently Adele, took up backing vocalist duties on the album.
Lemar said: “The calibre of musicians and the vibe in the studio made it special. So many great artists have recorded there. Being inspired has so much to do with the vibe. It’s hard to write a happy song when you’re down. Being in those rooms, knowing who had been before me was inspirational.”
To celebrate the release of the album, Lemar is hitting the road for a brief run of UK tour dates which will see the singer performing four shows in the space of one week in September, opening in Gateshead and ending in London.
The full tour listing:
14 September – Gateshead, Sage 2
15 September – Salford, Lowry Theatre
20 September – Birmingham, Glee Club
21 September – London, Bush Hall, London
To celebrate Lemar coming to the Lowry Theatre we have two tickets to the opening night of the tour in Gateshead on 14 September 2015 to give away. Simply like the post on our facebook page to enter. Winner to be selected at random 1.00pm on Thursday 10 September 2015. For full terms and conditions see here.
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