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

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

02/20/2008 - Leona Lewis - The Brit Awards 2008 - Red Carpet Arrivals - Earls Court - London, England © Landmark / PR Photos

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. 

British 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.