Cardiff born Donna Lewis was classically trained at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, majoring in flute and piano. After years of trying to get a record deal , and even investing in her own home multi-track studio, her big break came when what she calls a 'nursery rhyme'' of a song called 'I Love You Always Forever' found its way to Atlantic records.
This single and her debut 1993 album - 'Now in a Minute' - were both massive sellers and her 'overnite success' was consolodated by the follow-up album 'Blue Planet' two years later. She has also featured on the money spinning soundtrack for 'Anastasia' - with the song 'At The Beginning.' where she duetted with Richard Marx.
After taking time out to start a family, she returns now with 'In The Pink', her first studio album in a decade. It's a record she has described as having a more organic feel although it's hard to detect any major departure from her earlier materal. If you liked that you'll love this, since her musical philosophy seems to be 'if it's not broken why fix it'.
It has a breathy intimacy and an ethereal glow that is destined to draw comparisons with Kate Bush or Goldfrapp. And ,as with those artists, the album boasts meticulous production values with the smooth Daniel Lanois type arrangements of producer Gerry Leonard who also features on synth and "spooky loops".
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These are shiny, happy pop tunes that will please those who went out and bought 'I Love You Always Forever' in droves. These fans are, I suspect, predominantly female, so the track 'Kick Inside' about the miracle of bringing a new life into the world is a surefire winner of a song, being tailor made for the baby mixtape of moms to be
'Obsession' has a funkier feel showing off Lewis' sultry and seductive voice, a bit like Britney Spears but without being quite so brash or sassy.
Throughout the other tunes, there's a dreamy faith that love is what makes the world go around. The optimism of a song like 'You To Me' ("I'm gonna tell eveybody I'm loving my life") or the Mills & Boonesy romanticism ("Don't ever dance in the fountains without me") of 'Don't Ever' grates a little on confirmed cynics like yours truly but it is all packaged so slickly, it offers a guity pleasure on a par with watching a soap opera while eating a box of Belgian chocolates.
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