Lemar Takes The Weight Off His Feet

Lemar has just released his gorgeous new single, Weight Of The World, so we thought it was time to catch up with the Fame Academy graduate to see just what he’s been getting up to as he prepares to hit the road with JLS.

Hello there pretty, how are things going in your lovely world?

I’m very good thanks! This week I have loads of promo things to do and obviously tour rehearsals because I’ve got the tour to do!

Bloody hell, you’re busy then!

Yeah, I’ve just got back from LA too.

Ooh, what were you doing over there?

Well in LA I was doing the video for Weight Of The World which is the next single and then I stayed out there for the Grammy parties too.

So, to talk about your new single, can you sum it up in five words?

Emotional, Dramatic, argh! Those are the two words! Just repeat them twice, oh but that’s four. Emotional, Dramatic, Emotional, Dramatic, Emotional!

Haha, love it, so your last single, If She Knew, obviously came out just before Christmas, but what one song would you say best sums you up as a singer?

I think the song on my new album that sums up, not necessarily me, but my whole writing process and where my head was at has to be The Reason; that’s where I was when I wrote that.

Ooh, that samples Chris Brown’s song doesn’t it? Controversial.

No! I can tell you a story about that track.. It’s not actually Chris Brown’s track, it’s mine! But there was some kind of altercation and certain business that went on that means he got to release his song first. So Chris Brown is actually sampling Lemar!

He’s a cheeky little fellow, we’ll have to sort him out! If you could cover another musician’s song, what would it be?

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing. I love that song and I think Marvin Gaye is just ‘the one.’

I also noticed that next year you’re planning on releasing a Greatest Hits, how did you decide which songs made it onto the album?

I don’t know really, I think the best of will have all the ones that people know and then a couple of my own personal favourites.

What makes you stand out from the crowd?

I don’t know really, I think probably the thing that people most identify about me is my voice because I think that my voice is quite recognisable on radio and things.

So you obviously began with Fame Academy, what do you think about the reality tv shows now who get rubbish people on just to boost viewing figures?

I think to be honest that’s what the public likes! Haha, everyone wants to see someone not so talented get told that they’re not so talented! Fun people come too and that’s good to watch, it’s the entertaining part and hopefully someone good, who deserves to win will actually win and get a shot. I think it’s just another way of getting your music out there.

Do you think if you hadn’t made it with Fame Academy, you would have entered something like the X Factor?

I don’t think so because when I entered Fame Academy I had been doing this for eight years before that and I came right to the end of my tether and Fame Academy was my last night, if I hadn’t made it I might have thought; “You know what, enough is enough.” But I say that yet who knows, five years on I might have decided to do something like that.

You know we’re having a bit of an economic crisis here at the moment, if people wanted to spend their last £10 on a CD or a ticket to one of your shows?

I would say because I have put 100% into this and I have released a couple of albums before so you know what’s in store. I think it’s not just music but it has substance too as I talk about current issues too. There are songs on there that can lift you out of any dark times too, and if you come to my tour it will be exciting and fun!

What three artists would you have to headline your dream festival?

Hmm, I saw Rihanna at the Timberland party and she was pretty cool so I’ll have her, and the Kings Of Leon, then maybe Coldplay.

Ooh, I love it, I’ll definitely come! So what has been your favourite musical memory to date?

Picking up my first BRIT award, that was a very nice moment for me.

If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably Marvin Gaye’s album, What’s Going On.

Okay, now we want to ask you some random questions;What was one thing you always wanted as a child but never got?

I wanted a black panther. You know Michael Jackson has that music video where he turns into a black panther and just walks off and I really wanted one but then I found out that they can kill you when they get big so I changed my mind.

Name an experience which features an animal that you will never forget.

Once my brother and I was taking the dog out for a walk and we stopped at a shop for some stuff, when we were there I was talking to the owner who is very particular about his floor and the cleanliness of the shop in general and this dog came in and did a big, watery poo all over the floor and I had to spend a good 20 minutes cleaning it all up and it stank too! I don’t take my dog shopping any more

If you had nine minutes to live, what would you do?

I would call up my family and make sure they were all okay and see if there is anything I can do for them before I have to go.

We ask everyone we interview to come up with a question for the next person we interview, and the Noisettes want to know what food or dish, best describes your music?

Soul food! That describes my music - that whole, good wholesome taste that touches every taste bud.

Oh, good idea, so can you come up with a question for The Rasmus please?

The Rasmus! Oh god, erm, who is the least talented member of your band?

Ha, love it, that’s going to be a touchy subject! Good luck with the tour and things! Bye!

FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison