[Q&A] What happened to Leona Lewis' career

Everyone has an email address, me included. And since it's out there for all to hit me up on (heeeeey!), it's inevitable that I get questions sent to me regarding Divas. I'll be posting my answers to some of these questions under the new heading of Q&A.

Sometimes they'll be in-depth. Sometimes they'll be flippant. But one thing they'll always be is posted with the mailer's consent.

If you want to ask me a question for this segment, you can do so @Divadevotee on Twitter, or via email [divadevotee@gmail.com].

Question:

Leona Lewis is undoubtedly very talented yet very underrated. At one point (during her debut) she was the next big thing (she was compared to Whitney, Mariah and Celine) and many people speculated that she would eventually be legendary; now that seems quite unlikely. What went wrong in her career and please do you think she can get back to reigning on the charts? Thank you!

[Free For All Friday]

This Gif is life. Struggle is real.

[Music Videos] Solange – "Don’t Touch My Hair" / "Cranes In The Sky"

Solange came through last week with her third ("proper") LP, A Seat at the Table.

Already generating acclaim wherever it goes, it's a body of work that ultimately celebrates the Diva's blackness. A risky topic, it was always going to be controversial for those with thin skin. Solange makes it clear early on that this collection isn't for them and remains unbothered by their precious fweelins'. This singer-songwriter is seeking to uplift her community, without concern for those who might find the message uncomfortable. However, away from the lyrical content, it's surprisingly a chill listen, laced with mid-tempos and gorgeous harmonies.

Gaga Confirms Super Bowl 2017 Halftime Show

Despite the NFL denying she was in the running, Lady Gaga has today confirmed her appointment as the Super Bowl halftime act via her Twitter.

An entertainer through and through, there's little doubt Gaga will put on a show that will leave us gagging. However, it'll be interesting to see if/how she bends and moulds her often controversial style to fit the show's conservative viewership.

[Music Video] Kimbra - "Sweet Relief"

Kimbra keeps on marching to her own beat with new single Sweet Relief.

Funky and filled with Prince influence, this latest track has debuted with little fanfare and even less information. The only thing I can ascertain is that it was made with Redinho. We don't even know if this marks the start of the campaign for the Diva's third album.

[Music Video] Zara Larsson - "Ain't My Fault"

Zara Larsson hasn't been on my radar since her fantastic duet with MNEK. Will her latest single Ain't My Fault change this?

Sounding SOOO much like Rihanna it's almost embarrassing, I was ready to dismiss this outta hand. However, the song vastly improves as it goes on- so stick with it. There's a hard knock waiting for you in the chorus, a killer Rnb bridge and some great harmonies to look froward to. There's also various vocal tricks out on show in the latter half that help soften the Rihanna comparison.

Mariah Carey Sounds Great on Empire-featured "Infamous"

Strictly speaking, this is actually a duet. Taken from Mariah Carey's stint on hit show Empire, the Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox produced cut also features Jussie Smollett. Full disclosure, never seen the show but this dude sure does sound like Usher.

Vocally, Mariah's midrange is where this ballad keeps it locked, and it sounds good! Staying away from the breathy, "whisper" register, Infamous sees the Diva FINALLY giving us clear and direct vocals. Don't get me wrong, I love the airy voice when filling out a harmony or used sparingly to add texture to the vocal line. But more often than not, it's unnecessary, distracting and gives the false impression the voice is more damaged than it is.