…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
British singer-songwriter Lemar has opened up about the death of his mother and how it took him “four or five years” to deal with it and “mourn properly”.
Lemar’s mother, Edna Obika, died from cancer in July 2003, just before the release of his hit single Dance (With U).
Lemar shared his experience in a new episode of the I Never Thought it Would Happen podcast for the charity Help Musicians, where he told charity ambassador Chris Difford that he addressed his mother’s passing years after the event.
He revealed that his mother had told him to “put [his] head down and make it work” and that he wanted to do right by her.
Lemar rose to fame after coming third on the BBC’s Fame Academy in 2002 and has since released seven albums and had 10 top 20 singles.
However, repeated exposure to loud noise led him to develop tinnitus, a condition that causes constant ringing in the ears.
He described the experience of discovering he had the condition as shell-shocking, and feeling like he would “never hear silence”.
The musician also discussed his early life as the son of Nigerian parents who believed studying was crucial.
Despite telling his parents he would take a year off and do pharmacy, he pursued his musical dreams and got his break on Fame Academy eight years later.
He admitted that Fame Academy was a “last-ditch attempt” and that he had £3 to his name at the time.
Lemar also acknowledged the difficulties of pursuing a career in music, noting that only 1% of musicians get to make a living from what they do.
Overall, Lemar’s candid interview sheds light on the challenges he has faced in his personal and professional life, and how he has overcome them.