Since her debut on the British reality talent show, The X Factor, in 2006, 22-year-old Leona Lewis has taken the music industry by storm.

She won the competition by a landslide and secured herself a record deal with the legendary producer, Clive Davis, the man who discovered and shaped Whitney Huston and Alicia Keys. Davis co-produced the album with American Idol's notoriously ruthless judge, Simon Cowell.

Spirit has been labelled as an "historical collaboration" between two of the most influential men in music history. Her first single, Bleeding Love was released in October 2007 and sold 66 000 copies in its first week of release in the UK and has already won several awards in Europe.

And since its release, her album has sold one million copies and garnered her four Brit Awards, Britain's version of the Grammies.

Her powerful voice and dramatic vocal delivery have been compared to industry heavyweights such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

But the person Lewis most sounds like is Carey. They both hit high notes, usually reserved for opera singers. And, like Carey, Lewis is from a mixed race background, her mother is Welsh and her father is from the Caribbean.

Before The X Factor, Lewis worked as a waitress at Pizza Hut; a job she's not likely to go back to soon. So what's next for the chanteuse? If all goes well, she'll conquer the elusive American market.

While most British artists have a huge following at home and around the world, they never manage to crack the US. But critics think Lewis has the X-factor that will appeal to picky American audiences.

Sources: www.leonalewis.com,www.wikipedia.org.

Asa
Just music *****
Remember her name (pronounced Asha) because she is a rising star. This Nigerian native's debut album, which is sung in English, is an enchanting mix of folk and soul music. Like Corinne Bailey Rae and FreshlyGround, her lyrics are soulful without being heavy, and her melodies are light and infectious.

Jaheim
The makings of a man ***
GALLO
There are no surprises here. Four albums later and Jaheim has made no attempt to try and push his creative boundaries. Instead he sticks to his tried and tested formula – ballads and lamentations about being a thug. The tracks I've Changed, featuring Keyshia Cole, and Have You Ever, stand out as possible hits.

Kirk Franklin
The fight of my life ****
SONY/BMG
After a hiatus to cure his addiction to porn, Franklin is back and fighting for his title as the King of Gospel. Thankfully his conversion from his sinning ways has spurred him to produce an album that is filled to the brim with inspirational tracks that will have you clapping and shouting "hallelujah", even if you are not a devout believer.

Angie Stone
The art of love & war **
UNIVERSAL
Angie Stone has always been considered one of the godmothers of neo-soul, but this album does nothing to validate her status. An awkwardly rehashed version of her album Mahogany Soul, The Art Of Love&War is boring, which is disappointing, considering Stone's talent as a producer and songwriter.

Leona Lewis
Spirit ***
SONY
What stands out about Leona Lewis is how much she sounds like Mariah Carey before she became Mimi. Before her emancipation, Mimi was known for spine tingling hits such as Vision Of Love and One Sweet Day, and Lewis's music is reminiscent of that era. This album is a treat for fans of dramatic pop ballads.