Lee DeWyze, last year’s American Idol winner has grown on me a lot recently. While I never really DIS-LIKED him per say, Crystal Bowersoxx got my votes just because I liked her voice better. All things aside, I gotta say that I’m impressed with DeWyze’s first album single, “Sweet Serendipity.” The song, which premiered on the On Air With Ryan Seacrest show in mid October, was co-written by DeWyze and produced by David Glass. A self-taught singer, songwriter and guitarist, DeWyze hails from the Chicago suburbs and counts Ray LaMontagne, Cat Stevens and Kris Kristofferson among his inspirations. Now knowing that DeWyze taught himself how to sing, write music and play guitar is made all the more impressive knowing that he co-wrote all but one of the 11-tracks on the album, including his debut single, making him the first Idol winner to have writing credit on a first single. AMAZING accomplishment.
“To see my name listed in the credits on each song was really important to me because I’m a songwriter,” says the 24-year old. “I also loved working with such talented writers. They all brought so much to the table and helped me flesh out my sound…I want people to relate to these songs.”
Speaking of “talented writers,” DeWyze had the chance to collaborate with some of the best in the business right now, including Toby Gad (Alicia Keys, Fergie), John Shanks (Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow), David Hodges (Kelly Clarkson, Weezer) and the Norwegian production team known as Espionage (Beyonce, Train). That’s a pretty sick lineup for a first timer, just going to show that the Idol machine really does give an artist the tools he or she needs to make a hit record.
The first single, “Sweet Serendipity” really does set a nice tone for the album. It’s up-tempo, it’s breezy, cheerful and fun. The last thing we need is some melodramatic, dramatic rock-ballad. I also gotta say how happy I am that Idol has ditched that awful songwriting contest. No more sappy, “I can’t believe I made it this far,” “I’m so lucky” songs. Leave the songwriting to the professionals. We don’t need 10 versions of “A Moment Like This.” The melody really suits DeWyze’s soulful rock rasp perfectly. The forthcoming album, Live It Up, (November 16th) explores love, regret and passion.
“I love stories in songs and always try to write from an honest place. It’s about capturing emotion, so that when you listen, it takes you back to that place. My best memories are all connected to music and I want to create those moments for other people.”
While I’m still anxiously awaiting new music from Crystal Bowersoxx, Lee DeWyze’s first single has now whetted my appetite for more of that “soulful, rough-edged” voice that America fell in love with earlier this year on American Idol.
Check out the album tracklisting below and download his debut single on iTunes now.
Tracklisting:
- Live It Up
- Sweet Serendipity
- It’s Gotta Be Love
- Dear Isabelle
- Beautiful Like You
- Stay Here
- Me And My Jealousy
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Weightless
- Earth Stood Still
- A Song About Love
