Lemar
R&B / Soul · GB · Active since 1978

Lemar

Silky, sophisticated British soul that balances radio-ready hooks with deep emotional warmth. Perfect for late-night drives or slow Sunday mornings.

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Intro

Lemar’s sound is the musical equivalent of a well-tailored velvet jacket: smooth, classic, and undeniably premium. He occupies a specific space in the UK R&B landscape where the grit of the city meets the polish of high-end studio production. His voice has a distinctive, honeyed quality that feels intimate even when backed by expansive, cinematic arrangements. It is music that prioritizes melody and emotional sincerity over aggressive posturing.

What sets him apart is his ability to bridge the gap between traditional soul sensibilities and the rhythmic bounce of 2000s pop. While his peers often leaned into harder club sounds, Lemar maintained a focus on the 'song' itself, often incorporating acoustic guitars and rich piano foundations. His vocal layering is particularly noteworthy, creating a lush, choral effect that gives his choruses a sense of uplifting scale without losing their personal touch.

Start with his breakthrough album 'Dedicated' to hear the blueprint of modern British soul. It captures a moment when R&B was becoming more global, yet Lemar kept it grounded in a very specific, soulful London warmth. It’s the ideal soundtrack for moments that require a bit of grace and a lot of heart.

Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978), known mononymously as Lemar, is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially rising to fame after finishing third on the first series of British talent show Fame Academy, he was later signed to Sony BMG, where he has gone on to release five studio albums, three of which are certified platinum or double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Lemar's double-platinum debut album Dedicated was released in November 2003 and contained the successful singles "Dance (With U)", "50/50" and "Another Day", all of which charted in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. His second effort, Time to Grow, saw similar success, again achieving double platinum certification and spawning his most successful single, "If There's Any Justice", which peaked at number 3 and spent four months on the UK Singles Chart. Lemar has seen considerable chart success in the UK and Ireland, releasing ten top 20 singles, seven of which peaked in the top 10, and has sold over two million albums.
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Our Catalog7 Albums · 2003 · 2023
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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