Why Leona Lewis Isn’t Hiding Behind Her Hair Anymore
Singer Leona Lewis. (Photo: Instagram)
To say Leona Lewis exploded onto the music scene in 2007 would be an understatement. The X-Factor winner’s first single “Bleeding Love” went quadruple platinum and hit Number 1 on the charts in 35 countries with the album Spirit selling 8 million copies. While her subsequent albums haven’t had the same impact, a decade later Lewis is still at it, releasing her fifth album I Am this September. It is an album that rock legend Stevie Nicks encouraged her to finish, telling Lewis that the world needed to hear her voice. Just in time for summer, Lewis just released her empowering new single “Fire Under My Feet.”
After a decade in the spotlight, Lewis has been candid about the ups and downs she’s experienced. Lewis posted a heartfelt, handwritten open letter to fans last fall explaining her decision to leave Simon Cowell’s label for Island Records and the personal struggles she went through, including feeling depressed. “I was asked to make a record that would not have been true to myself. I cannot make music that does not speak to my soul, and as scary as it seemed, I could no longer compromise myself, and so I decided to leave…..I chose to swim… I’m not sure where I’ll end up but one thing I’m certain of is I’ve stayed true to myself and I’ve followed what my heart says is right.” Lewis was thrilled with the response from fans, who reached out sharing their own stories with her. It inspired Lewis to start #empowermonth on Twitter this June, asking fans to post their inspiring and heartfelt stories.
Lewis talked to Yahoo Beauty the song she wrote to lift up her spirits, her life-changing moment with Stevie Nicks, and about the beauty transformation that has come from feeling strong.
Sara Bliss: Congratulations on your fifth album, I Am, coming out this September. Tell us about it.
Leona Lewis: I’ve been working on it for about a year now. It’s really exciting especially because I’m also now with Def Jam Records in America, which is totally different from working with my previous label. It’s got a lot of energy. It’s very strong and a very empowering record.
What is “Fire Under My Feet” about?
I wrote “Fire Under My Feet” as kind of a motivational song. Whenever I feel a bit low or bit down, it’s a song I want to play to uplift my spirits. It’s really about overcoming obstacles, putting yourself into action, and being sure of yourself.
What has been the biggest obstacle that you’ve overcome so far?
I’ve had a lot of different obstacles. Growing up, certainly, being a mixed girl trying to find my place a little bit. Then, at school, I was bullied by two girls for a year, so I had to overcome that. Having to overcome things to get into what I really wanted to do with [music], with certain people saying, ‘Well I’m not sure you can do that.’ So it was really many things that, in my life, that have just built me into who I am today.
In September you wrote a letter to your fans saying, “It has been quite the roller coaster year. The emotions I’ve felt have been more powerful, in both a positive and negative way, than any time I’ve ever felt in my life. At some points I felt extremely depressed and other times experienced amazing highs, but it got to a place where the downs were outweighing the ups. So I’m writing this letter for everyone who has ever felt the same way.” Why did you feel like it was so important to be really candid about what you were going through?
Like, everyone, I have good days and bad days. I’m still human and I wanted to really connect with people in a very honest and open way. I do go through bad days just like anyone else, and what I do to get through it is my friends, my family, and my fans that just always lift me up and keep me going. I felt that it was important to be very honest about that.
Were you happy with the response?
It was a great response! I had so many people telling me their different stories and what they’ve been through, saying that the letter, as well as my music, had really inspired them and really helped them in some way. So, that letter for me was just to be open, and it was amazing that it connected in a way that actually helped people. It inspired me to do this initiative called Empower Month in June. It was about putting out positive inspiration messages for people to pass on and empower themselves and others.
Leona Lewis’ album cover, ‘Fire Under My Feet.’ (Photo: Instagram)
I heard that Stevie Nicks has been big inspiration to you.
I actually met Stevie when I was writing the album. I was invited to one of her rehearsals and I got to meet her afterwards. She was just so lovely, and she grabbed me and hugged me and said all these words of encouragement. She said that world needs to hear my voice and that I need to keep going and keep doing what I do.
What was that like to hear that from such a legend? That must have been amazing.
First of all, I didn’t even think she’d know who I was. But then she started singing my song to me. She grabbed me and hugged me for ages. I was a bit like, is this really happening? It was incredible.
With the new album, you will be touring again. What’s your beauty look on stage vs. off?
On stage it’s heavier because there are so many lights and also, you get so hot. So, I use a lot of powder and a lot of really strongly defined eye onstage as well.
Offstage, it’s much more natural. And I love glittery, shimmery eyes. That kind of thing. And Bobbi Brown is great as well, for day makeup.
Leona Lewis with short hair. (Photo: Instagram)
You’ve always had the most beautiful hair, but I read that you felt like you used to hide behind it.
Mainly I would wear my hair long so much, and I think it is because it was bit of a curtain. You can hide behind your hair. I actually chopped it all off a couple days ago to even shorter. For me, it’s very liberating to be able to do that as a woman so I can’t hide behind that anymore. And actually, I don’t feel the need to anymore.
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