Calum Scott is joined by vocal powerhouse 3-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis on a stirring rendition of his hit single, “You Are The Reason.”
Leona has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and topped the charts in more than 35 countries with the single “Bleeding Love.” With her debut album, Spirit, she became the first British female solo artist in more than 20 years to top the Billboard 200. She is currently back in the studio working on new music. Leona will also soon join Calum in a new video for “You Are The Reason.”
“Working with Leona was a dream come true,” says Scott. “As a fan, I first remember watching her on TV before going on to grace the globe with her incredibly beautiful voice. Now having the honor of working with her on one of my own songs is completely surreal and the passion and raw emotion she brings to our duet makes it even more special to me. I can still hardly believe that we did it!”
“I remember the day Calum sent me this track, I sat listening at home and had it on repeat,” says Lewis. “It’s one of those powerful songs that touches your heart and such a beautiful ballad, everyone knows I love singing them! Calum’s performance on it is stunning and I loved being able to join him to make this duet version.”
“You Are The Reason” is the first single from Calum’s debut album, Only Human, which will be released on Capitol Records on March 9. Calum talks about the inspiration behind the track, which he calls “the most special song on my album,” in this clip. Streams of “You Are The Reason” have surpassed 50 million worldwide while views of the official video topped 20 million in the first two weeks and are now nearing 40 million.
Fans who pre-order Only Human in digital format will instantly receive “You Are The Reason” plus Calum’s poignant version of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” along with Tiësto’sremix, and “Rhythm Inside,” which has over 40 million streams worldwide. Nominated for a Brit Award, “Dancing On My Own” charted at No. 1 on iTunes in 11 countries. The track has over 670 million streams worldwide and views of the video are approaching 250 million.
Recorded with such producers as Fraser T Smith (Adele, Ellie Goulding), Jayson DeZuzio (Skylar Grey, Imagine Dragons) and Oscar Görres (Taylor Swift, Britney Spears), Only Human showcases Calum’s soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. With his delicate storytelling, he examines unrequited longing on tracks like the aching piano ballad “Hotel Room.” “Only You”blends graceful beats with lyrics that capture adolescent isolation (“So they bullied me with silence/Just for being who I am”), then pay tribute to a beloved friend who brought him solace. The bright and soaring “What I Miss Most” unfolds as a triumphant homage to Calum’s hometown of Kingston upon Hull, located in Northern England.
“To me, Only Human means being okay with how you feel,” says Scott. “My hope is that these songs encourage people to embrace who they are, so that there’s a little less fear in the world and a lot more love.”