Lemar Obika, known mononymously as Lemar, is marking 20 years since his rise to fame on the BBC reality competition Fame Academy. The 44-year-old singer, who narrowly missed out on the title to Daniel Sneddon in 2002, has released his first new music in over a decade.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Lemar described the experience as 'surreal' and 'wild'. He admitted he was shocked to even make the final, having been prepared to return to university. The exposure, however, launched a successful career that saw him win MOBO and Brit awards.
After releasing a string of hits including 'If There's Any Justice' and 'Dance (With U)', Lemar took a break from music. He cited burnout, family commitments and the Covid-19 pandemic as reasons for the hiatus. 'Life's not always straightforward,' he said, but stressed that he always intended to return.
Now, Lemar is back with a new single, 'Future Love', ahead of his upcoming album 'Page In My Heart', due for release on March 24. The album, he says, modernises the soulful sound of his 2003 debut 'Dedicated', which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Despite his long absence, Lemar remains grateful for his career highlights, including performing at the Royal Albert Hall. He insists his focus is simply on making the best music he can for his fans.
