Leona Lewis ready to drop new album in US on April 8th

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By M&C Music News Mar 6, 2008, 0:42 GMT

Leona Lewis, winner of the British TV talent show “X Factor,” a British talent show executive-produced by American Idol’s Simon Cowell, lands in the US this spring with an appearance on Oprah March 17th and her debut album 'Spirit' hitting stores April 8th. 02/20/2008 - Leona Lewis - The Brit Awards 2008 - Red Carpet Arrivals - Earls Court - London, England © Landmark / PR Photos

02/20/2008 - Leona Lewis - The Brit Awards 2008 - Red Carpet Arrivals - Earls Court - London, England © Landmark / PR PhotosBritish singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has a lot going for her: She has beauty, and she is down-to-earth with a soaring voice that has charmed Britain.

Her debut 'Spirit' entered the album chart at Number One and became Britain’s fastest-selling debut of all time. The album's lead-off single “Bleeding Love” —co-written and produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan “Alias” Tedder — claimed the Number One spot for seven weeks, and the album sold over 1 million copies in the UK in just 5 weeks. Ushering in 2008, Leona received four prestigious Brit Award nominations, the UK equivalent of the Grammy Awards.'Spirit' will be released in the US by J Records/Syco on April 8, 2008. Written and produced by an array of top-notch hit-makers, the album is a showcase for Lewis’ powerhouse voice — which has evoked comparisons to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Céline Dion. Her album inspired Entertainment Weekly to issue a caveat: “Divas, watch out!”)Lewis won the 2006 competition handily, stunning the notoriously critical Simon Cowell into silence who said: “I think she’s one of the best singers we’ve seen in this country for a long, long time.”A 22-year-old London native - Lewis received four prestigious Brit Award nominations, the U.K. equivalent of the Grammy Awards. A U.S. video for "Bleeding Love," shot by acclaimed video director Jessy Terrero, premiered on VH-1 February 4th as part of their highly coveted "You Oughta Know" campaign. Simon Cowell tipped off Clive Davis to Lewis' talent during last year's the X Factor competition.

"I was immediately knocked out by her range, her versatility, and the pure beauty of her voice," said Davis. "She is an artist who will be a true star for many years to come." 'Spirit' is a mix of fresh pop and R&B, filled with "songs with a contemporary edge," as Lewis puts it, ranging from soulful up-tempo numbers ("I'm You," "The Best You Never Had," and "Whatever It Takes," which Lewis co- wrote) to ballads ("Better in Time," "I Will Be," and "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" - a song that Roberta Flack made famous). Tracks were written and produced by an array of top-notch hit-makers, including Tedder, singer/songwriters Akon and Ne-Yo, songwriters Josh Alexander and Billy Steinberg, and songwriter/producers Dallas Austin, Stargate, J.R. Rotem, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, Madd Scientist and Rock City - all of whom have worked with some of the biggest names in music.

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Leona Lewis ready to drop new album in US on April 8th

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