X Factor winner Leona Lewis: My six best albums
LEONA LEWIS, 30, was The X Factor winner in 2006 and had hits with A Moment Like This and Bleeding Love.
X Factor winner, Leona Lewis
STEVIE WONDER Songs In The Key Of Life (Motown)
My dad was a DJ and I used to hear him playing this a lot. It’s a timeless record. I listen to it in the morning and I’d definitely put a few of the songs on a party playlist.
MARIAH CAREY Music Box (Sony)
I loved this when I was younger because of her range. Mariah was killing the vocals on it. It came out at a time when I was looking at different singers. I loved to sing along and I sang a few of her songs at shows.
ALABAMA SHAKES Sound & Colour (Rough Trade)
The frontwoman has a raw and gritty voice that’s also beautiful and soulful. It’s an eclectic album and I love music like that. I grew up on a mix of music. My dad loved Motown but my mum loved rock and classical.
BRANDY Full Moon (Atlantic)
Brandy’s voice is so smooth. At the time I was obsessed with the title song and played it every day on the Tube. I felt she was writing about what I was feeling about breaking up with a guy.
COLDPLAY Parachutes (EMI)
This came out when I was about 15. I was in a band at the BRIT School and looking for influences outside of the soul and gospel that I usually do. I remember wanting to be an indie rock singer at the time.
EVA CASSIDY Songbird (Blix Street)
This album melts my heart, it’s so soulful. Someone played this to me in the car and I found her voice magical and mesmerising. She was very influential for me as an artist and I’ve covered some of these songs.
Leona's latest album I Am is out now and she is on tour from February 21. leonalewismusic.com/tour.