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17.08.12MusicWeek 3
SONY CAMPAIGN SETS SIGHTS ON UK THEN THE WORLD WITH ‘GLOBAL PRIORITY’ LEWIS
Leona causing Trouble with comeback S
RELEASES BY TINA HART
ony Music, Syco and Team Leona Lewis are looking to command the
limelight in a competitive fourth quarter this year with a striding international campaign for the singer’s third album Glassheart. Syco Music MD and project
A&R Sonny Takhar told Music Week of Sony’s confidence in the record as a potential worldwide hit even prior to its first single Trouble reaching radio. “The retail pre-order figures
are fantastic; that’s really encouraging,” he said. “We’re very confident about
Trouble, which is an incredible Emeli Sandé-penned song. “Her storytelling within the
song is unsurpassed and, coupled with Leona’s vocal prowess, it’s a killer combination,” he added. “It was a very early contender for a single. Emeli and Leona undoubtedly have a very special chemistry.” Takhar pointed to
international plans for Glassheart with no reservations about Lewis’ position at Sony Music: “Leona is a global priority,” he said. “The aim now is to get the UK release right. We want to launch as big as we possibly can out of the UK and
“[Sandé’s] storytelling coupled with Leona’s vocal prowess is a killer combination. Emeli and Leona undoubtedly have a very special chemistry” SONNY TAKHAR, SYCO
thread” through the record, according to Takhar. “It’s been a long time coming
and I feel really proud of what we’ve done,” said Smith. “Leona’s been very involved
THE SOUND OF GLASS
Music Week has heard three tracks from Glassheart
COME ALIVE Lewis debuted Come Alive at the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend event, describing it as “kind of dark, but with a real edgy energy”.
TROUBLE The lead single from the album, produced by Smith and Naughty Boy, boasts Emeli Sandé as co- author as well as featuring American rapper Childish Gambino. Lewis calls the track “raw, emotional and real”.
UNLOVE ME A radio-friendly, melodic track that Smith sees as “a classic Leona Lewis record that the fans will love”.
then follow that path globally.” The UK singer-songwriter's
comeback has been masterminded by executive producer Fraser T Smith and
includes co-writes from Naughty Boy, Ina Wroldsen (Shontelle, The Saturdays), Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears) and Kelly Sheehan (Mariah Carey,
Karmin) alongside Sandé. The album was originally
slated for release in late 2011 but Smith was brought on board last year to weave a “creative
in the writing process, telling everybody what her vision is. I’ve been with her for 99% of the process, which is very important. This is very a much a bespoke Leona Lewis album and I’m proud of it. “We aimed for a continuity
that runs through the vocal, recording, the style, production and writing, so hopefully that comes across,” he added. “We’re really excited about every aspect of it.” Lewis described her own
excitement about the release: “I feel like I’ve come quite a long way [since winning The X Factor],” she told Music Week from LA, where she’s been mastering the LP. She went on to praise Smith in
his executive producer role: “He’s captured everything beautifully. He’s so musical and sensitive to what I need as a vocalist. “The little nuances that he
brings to [the album] have really made it,” she added. Album Glassheart is due for
release on October 15 with lead single Trouble out on October 7, preceded by a performance on The X Factor UK.
6 Music to celebrate live music with special performance series
BBC Radio 6 Music is to celebrate live music this autumn with a series of special performances from the likes of Richard Hawley, The xx and New Order (pictured right). The season of live music
programming – dubbed BBC Radio 6 Music Celebrates Live Music – will also include a number of live sessions from its Maida Vale studios. The Radcliffe and Maconie
One-Date Roadshow will kick off the series live from the MediaCity Plaza in Salford on August 27, featuring an acoustic session from James Mercer, lead singer of The Shins, and The Cribs.
Singer-songwriter and
guitarist Hawley will perform with the BBC Philharmonic in his hometown of Sheffield on September 8. Marking the first time Hawley has performed with an orchestra in the UK, the concert will be introduced by Jarvis Cocker and broadcast in a Tom Robinson Special.
Mercury Prize-winning outfit
The xx will showcase songs from their new album Coexist on Steve Lamacq’s show on Monday September 10, while performances from New Order and Mercury Prize-nominated Everything Everything at the No. 6 Festival will be included in a special Marc Riley Show on
September 16. Live Music Monday is
scheduled for September 24 beginning with Chris Hawkins’ show in the morning and ending with Gideon Coe’s show in the evening. There will be a session in every live programme, including performances from The Charlatans lead singer Tim
Burgess, Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny and The Invisible. The celebrations culminate
with live sessions from Maida Vale from October 1-6, including a special performance from Bat For Lashes. Each will be streamed online and made available to watch via the Red Button. Alongside its live music
programming, 6 Music will draw on its archive to broadcast documentaries about classic live music venues and events, as well as live recordings from sessions and festivals over the last decade.
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