22/9/14 BLACKTOWN SUN - Leith loves getting back to intimacy
Sept 24, 2014 12:49:15 GMT 10
Post by thebraff (Braffy) on Sept 24, 2014 12:49:15 GMT 10
www.blacktownsun.com.au/story/2576340/leith-loves-getting-back-to-intimacy/?src=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Leith loves getting back to intimacy
By Andrew Brown
Sept. 22, 2014, 3:28 p.m.
DAMIEN Leith has certainly come a long way since winning Australian Idol in 2006.
After touring extensively around the country to promote his seventh album Chapter Seven, the Irish-born singer is set to perform at Rooty Hill RSL on October 17.
Moving away from larger scale venues, he says that the smaller shows allow for him to connect with fans more.
"It's great to have a few intimate shows," Leith said. "I get to interact a lot more."
His latest album sees him not only feature in front of the microphone, but also behind it, with Leith taking on the role as a producer for the album.
"I was doing it a lot more with other artists from The X Factor and The Voice and I thought, wait a minute, why don't I do it myself?"
As well as this, Leith recorded the album in a studio that he built himself, which allowed him a lot more time for production.
As part of his touring, Leith is playing songs from across his career, with songs ranging from his latest album to covers and previous hit singles.
"I'm doing everything from Hallelujah to Roy Orbison."
Chapter Seven allows Leith to showcase his vocals with new songs he has written himself.
"The main thing was to get back to a more intimate album," Leith said. "The voice is really out the front."
Eight years after beating out fellow singer Jessica Mauboy in Idol Leith has spent time when he isn't touring working and writing with contestants from other reality singing contests such as The X Factor.
However, despite gaining his fame from a reality contest, he says shows such as these don't prepare current contestants for the rigours of the music industry.
"They help get a profile but they don't prepare new acts for the industry. It's a tough business," he said.
He says he was quite lucky that upon taking out Idol he had an idea of what the music industry had in store as he had been part of a family band since the age of 17.
As well as singing and songwriting, Leith also fills in as co-host on Channel 7's The Morning Show among other roles on TV, as well as being the author of two books, with a third on the way.
As for what's next for the singer, an eighth album is well under way.
"I just recorded in Ireland but it won't be out until April. There's a few duets as well."
Remember even though the outside world might be raining, if you keep on smiling the sun will soon show its face and smile back at you. – Anna Lee.
It's also a great article and shows his progress and what's to come. Thanks Braffy 
