HE'S come a long way since Fame Academy – the only one who has, in fact.
Indeed, from losing out in the first series of the reality pop television show to David Sneddon (where art thou?) to winning Brits for Best Urban Act in 2004 and 2006 and Mobos in 2005 for Best Album and UK Act Of The Year, Lemar has confounded expec
tations.
After signing a five-year £1 million record deal, his first single, Dance (With U), came out nine months after the Fame Academy experience and went straight to number two. But, unlike most other reality telly singers, he managed to maintain chart popularity and further singles 50/50, Another Day, If There's Any Justice and Time To Grow all hit the Top 10.
"Six years and still going good – so I am really happy," beams the 30-year-old former bank clerk from Tottenham, North London, who releases fourth studio album The Reason and its lead single If She Knew in November.
Before then, Lemar will headline the ASDA Be Live show at the Queen's Hall on Sunday alongside X Factor winner Leon Jackson – a gig he is very excited about.
"I'm really, really excited about it," he enthuses. "I've taken a bit of time off, recording another album, so I haven't actually been on the stage in a while. It's going to be great to get up and do some of the new stuff, and I throw in a couple of the old songs as well.
"It will be really great to just enjoy the people again and to be back up on stage," he adds.
Whether he has succeeded because of or in spite of Fame Academy is open to debate, but Lemar's talent has never been in question.
Nevertheless, the singer does feel that losing Fame Academy helped him in the long run.
"The great thing about Fame Academy was that I was watched by millions of people," he explains. "If I'd won it, it might have been harder for me to make the music I wanted.
"The turnaround period for the winner is too quick. They usually have their first album out within weeks. But finishing third gave me time to make a record I was really happy with."
On the advice of Lionel Ritchie – whom he sang with on Fame Academy and now counts as a friend – he bided his time after the show, lying low for nine whole months before his first release.
Having followed a similar path, Lemar reckons that 2007 X-Factor winner Jackson can go all the way when his debut album, Right Now, is released next month.
"I think he's cool," offers Lemar. "He did extremely well to take the opportunity in front of him and he won the X-Factor.
"I haven't heard his new album yet, but hopefully he's coming out with some great, strong material. For any new artist starting out, I think it's really important to just make the best music you possibly can.
"Finish a song and analyse it – 'is it good enough?', you know," he continues. "The way I take my albums and my songs is I say to myself 'OK, if this is the last thing people were to hear from me and I was to leave this earth tomorrow, would it be the best I could give them?'.
"For any new artist coming through, like Leon, if they take this on board they will do well. If you have the talent and put in the time then people will feel when you are being real."
Having carved a niche for himself at the smoother end of the soul spectrum, Lemar appeals to both pop kids and urban connoisseurs. The key to this has been his ability to prove his talent as a songwriter and performer, rather than just coming across as another pop puppet.
His forthcoming fourth album, The Reason, is not only set to keep him on the right path, but it's likely capture an even wider audience.
"There are no covers or guest appearances on the new album, it is just me," he says.
"I feel so confident and happy with this record. I took quite a long time doing this, almost two years. In that time I just wanted to rediscover 'the reason' (where the album gets its name] why I did music in the first place.
"Sometimes you can get caught up in trying to be the best – but the original reason was to inspire people, to enjoy myself, to make good music and make music that inspires me.
"That is what I have done with this record – I have made a record that I am really proud of. I think it is fun, deep, current and people both young and old can get in to it," he adds.
And Lemar has no fears about playing his new songs in the Capital on Sunday.
"I think as long as you are confident with it and you know what you want the people to feel, then it's great," he insists. "As long as the crowd are up for being entertained and want to enjoy themselves it is always a good night, whether it's new material or old material.
"I love coming up to Scotland doing promos and shows – it's always been fabulous. The people are very warm and really receptive, they have a great energy.
"I can't wait till the gig and just getting on the stage and seeing the people once again, it's going to be fun," he adds.
The full article contains 940 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
