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Leah McFall

{{short description|British singer and songwriter (born 1989)}}

{{EngvarB|date=March 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}

{{BLP sources|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Leah McFall

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1989|7|1}}

| birth_place = Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland{{cite news|title=Newtownabbey Girl To Sing on Bbc 1 Show The Voice|url=http://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2013/04/11/newtownabbey-girl-to-sing-on-bbc-1-show-the-voice/|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=belfastdaily.co.uk|date=11 April 2013}}

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|pop}}

| occupation = Singer-songwriter

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano}}

| years_active = 2010–present

| label = Capitol{{cite web |url=http://capitolrecords.co.uk/artist/leah-mcfall |title=Leah McFall | Capitol Records |accessdate=2014-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718133328/http://capitolrecords.co.uk/artist/leah-mcfall/ |archivedate=18 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

| associated_acts = will.i.am

| website =

}}

Leah McFall (born 1 July 1989) is a British singer-songwriter from Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.{{cite news|last=Mohan|first=Isabel|title=The Voice: Our look at the finalists|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/the-voice/10136422/The-Voice-Our-look-at-the-finalists.html|accessdate=23 June 2013|newspaper=telegraph.co.uk|date=23 June 2013}} She finished as the runner-up on the second series of the BBC One talent series The Voice.

Early life

McFall began her singing career at her local church, Glenabbey, at the age of six.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/pair-eager-to-prove-they-have-the-voice-1246724|title=Pair eager to prove they have The Voice|date=12 April 2013|newspaper=irishnews.com|accessdate=8 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114600/http://www.irishnews.com/news/pair-eager-to-prove-they-have-the-voice-1246724|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}} She was a pupil at Antrim Grammar School. During her childhood she listened to Motown, jazz, gospel, folk and pop music which was played around the family home, and influences both her vocal and song writing style.{{cite news|title=Leah McFall from BBC's The Voice joins us this Wednesday!|url=http://www.beauforthousechelsea.co.uk/leah-mcfall-from-bbcs-the-voice-joins-us-this-wednesday/|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=beauforthousechelsea.co.uk|date=16 April 2013}} After years of gigging around Northern Ireland, Leah moved to London to attend college. After six months there, she began playing at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.{{cite news|title=A year ago I was playing gigs to just a barman – now I'm through to The Voice live|url=http://www.sundayworld.com/entertainment/showbiz/leah-gets-a-fast-pass-to-the-voice-final|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=sundayworld.com/|date=31 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609030715/http://www.sundayworld.com/entertainment/showbiz/leah-gets-a-fast-pass-to-the-voice-final|archive-date=9 June 2013|url-status=dead}}

Career

=2013: ''The Voice UK''=

In 2013, McFall auditioned for the second series of The Voice, where she chose to join Will's team.{{cite news|last=Rigby|first=Sam|title='The Voice' UK: Five best blind auditions week three|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s154/the-voice-uk/news/a472970/the-voice-uk-five-best-blind-auditions-week-three-watch.html|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=Digital Spy|date=13 April 2013}} In the battle round, she sang against CJ Edwards. The pair duetted on the Michael Jackson song "The Way You Make Me Feel", and McFall was chosen to proceed. In the Knockout round, will.i.am gave his Fast Pass to McFall and she performed Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You".{{cite news|last=Hogan|first=Michael|title=The Voice UK: knockout rounds – part one, BBC One, review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/the-voice/10086420/The-Voice-UK-knockout-rounds-part-one-BBC-One-review.html|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=telegraph.co.uk|date=1 June 2013}} In the first live show, McFall sang "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. The studio version of her performance charted at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 19,213 copies within a week.{{cite news|last=Darvill|first=Josh|title=Leah sold 19,213 copies of the track between Friday evening and the close of the chart week on Saturday night, placing her 16th in the charts.|url=http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/150741-the-voice-uk-leah-mcfall-sells-20000-copies-of-i-will-survive-in-one-day.html|accessdate=11 June 2013|newspaper=Telly Mix|date=11 June 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002155551/http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/150741-the-voice-uk-leah-mcfall-sells-20000-copies-of-i-will-survive-in-one-day.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Darvill|first=Josh|title=The Voice 2013 favourite Leah McFall makes Top 10 with 'I Will Survive' cover|url=http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/150413-the-voice-2013-favourite-leah-mcfall-makes-top-10-with-i-will-survive-cover.html|accessdate=8 June 2013|newspaper=tellymix.co.uk|date=8 June 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002161040/http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/150413-the-voice-2013-favourite-leah-mcfall-makes-top-10-with-i-will-survive-cover.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=The Voice star Leah McFall enters the charts as Blurred Lines continues to dominate|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/09/the-voice-star-leah-mcfall-enters-the-charts-as-blurred-lines-continues-to-dominate-3834405/|accessdate=9 June 2013|newspaper=metro.co.uk|date=9 June 2013}} A week later, it rose to number 8. McFall then performed the Fugees' version of "Killing Me Softly" in the semi-final on 15 June 2013.{{cite news|last=Seale|first=Jack|title=The Voice UK 2013: semi-final – review|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-06-15/the-voice-uk-2013-semi-final---review|accessdate=15 June 2013|newspaper=radiotimes.com|date=15 June 2013}} The result was revealed that McFall had received the most public votes, and would therefore represent Team Will in the final.{{cite news|last=Rigby|first=Sam|title='The Voice' UK: Matt, Andrea, Leah, Mike make 2013 final|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s154/the-voice-uk/news/a490452/the-voice-uk-matt-andrea-leah-mike-make-2013-final.html|accessdate=15 June 2013|newspaper=Digital Spy|date=15 June 2013}}

==Performances==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"| Performed

! scope="col"| Song

! scope="col"| Original Artist

! scope="col"| Result

Blind Audition

| "R.I.P"

| Rita Ora

| Joined Team Will

Battle Rounds

| "The Way You Make Me Feel" (against CJ Edwards)

| Michael Jackson

| Winner

Knockout rounds

| "Lovin' You"

| Minnie Riperton

| Fast pass

Quarter-final

| "I Will Survive"

| Gloria Gaynor

| Fast pass

rowspan="3"|Semi-final

| "Rapture" (as part of Team Will)

| Blondie

| rowspan="3"| Safe

"Killing Me Softly"

| Roberta Flack

"I Will Wait" (as part of The Voice UK Semi-finalists)

| Mumford & Sons

rowspan="3"|Final

| "I Will Always Love You"

| Dolly Parton

| rowspan="2"|Safe

"Bang Bang" (mentor duet with will.i.am)

| will.i.am

"Lovin' You" (as favourite performance)

| Minnie Riperton

| Runner-up

=2013–present: ''Weird to Wonderful'' and independent releases =

In July 2013, Will.i.am revealed that he would release a new version of his single "Bang Bang" featuring McFall.{{cite news|title=Will.i.am teases release of Leah McFall version of Bang Bang|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/william/news/leah-mcfall-bang-bang/|accessdate=1 July 2013|newspaper=capitalfm.com|date=1 July 2013}} On 14 July 2013, McFall made her debut performance at the Wireless Festival alongside her mentor will.i.am.{{cite news|last=Ferguson|first=Amanda|title=A bigger stage for Voice star Leah McFall|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/a-bigger-stage-for-voice-star-leah-mcfall-29421814.html|accessdate=16 July 2013|newspaper=belfasttelegraph.co.uk|date=16 July 2013}} During the tour, McFall revealed she would release three music videos before her first official single and album are released. The first of these videos, "No Ordinary Love", was released on 1 February 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmNt6dFiBLM&gl=US&hl=en|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201222335/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmNt6dFiBLM&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date = 1 February 2014|title = Leah McFall - No Ordinary Love|website = YouTube}}

On 6 June, McFall announced the title of her first official single, "Home" featuring will.i.am.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/leahmcfallmusic/status/474989457939398657 |title=تويتر / Leahmcfallmusic: Waited so long to share this! |website=twitter.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204635/https://twitter.com/leahmcfallmusic/status/474989457939398657 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} The single was released on 27 July 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.clickmusic.com/news/article/leah-mcfall-is-coming-home-with-her-huge-debut-single |title=Leah McFall is coming 'Home' with her huge debut single | News | Clickmusic | Online Music News, Downloads, Videos & More |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923051556/http://www.clickmusic.com/news/article/leah-mcfall-is-coming-home-with-her-huge-debut-single |archive-date=23 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} On 21 July 2014, McFall announced her debut album, titled Weird to Wonderful, was due to be released in October 2014,{{cite tweet|user=Flavourmag|author=Flavourmag|number=491171284890312704|date=21 July 2014|title=Leah Mcfall speaks EXCLUSIVELY to Flavourmag about her brand new debut single 'Home', her debut Album and her ...}} but was cancelled, and she was dropped from her record label. McFall returned in September 2016 with "Wolf Den", released independently. This was followed by the release of single "Happy Human", and the release of her EP, INK. The release of the EP was preceded by the "INK Tour", which saw McFall perform at dates around the UK and Ireland. Since INK, McFall has released three singles; "Somber", "White X" and "Marriage".{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details

! scope="col"| Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK
scope="row"| Weird to Wonderful

|

| N/A

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Details

scope="row"| Frills and Fur

|

  • Release date: 21 November 2010{{cite tweet|user=leahmcfallmusic|author=Leah McFall|number=6391310139265024|date=21 November 2010|title=New ep 'Frills and Fur' OUT NOW
! Download at www.leahmcfall.bandcamp.com}}
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: digital download
    • scope="row"| Ink

    |

    • Release date: 27 March 2017{{cite web|title=Watch: Leah McFall releases new music video for single Happy Human|date = 2 March 2017|url=http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/watch-leah-mcfall-releases-new-12678550#ICID=sharebar_twitter}}
    • Label: Independent
    • Formats: digital download

    =Singles=

    ==As lead artist==

    class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

    ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

    scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK
    {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/leah%20mcfall/|title=Leah McFall > UK Charts|publisher=officialcharts.com/ Official Charts Company}}

    ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO
    Peak positions for singles in Scotland:

    • For "I Will Survive": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20130616/41|title=Chart Archive > June 16, 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company}}
    • For "Killing Me Softly": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20130623/41|title=Chart Archive > June 23, 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company}}
    • For "I Will Always Love You": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20130630/41|title=Chart Archive > June 30, 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company}}
    • For "Home": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20140803/41|title=Chart Archive > August 3, 2014|publisher=Official Charts Company}}

    scope="row"| "Home"
    (featuring will.i.am)

    | 2014

    | 56 || 47

    | {{N/A|Non-album single}}

    scope="row"| "Wolf Den"

    | 2016

    | — || —

    |rowspan="2"|Ink

    scope="row"| "Happy Human"

    | 2017

    | — || —

    scope="row"| "Somber"

    | rowspan="2" | 2018

    | — || —

    | rowspan="3" {{TBA}}

    scope="row"| "White X"

    | — || —

    scope="row"| "Marriage"

    | 2019

    | — || —

    colspan="5" style="font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

    ==Promotional singles==

    class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

    ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions

    ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

    scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK

    ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE
    Peak positions in Ireland:

    • For "I Will Survive": {{cite web|url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=24|title=Chart Archive > Week 24, 2013|publisher=(IRMA)|date=13 June 2013|access-date=14 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116113127/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=24|archive-date=16 November 2018|url-status=dead}}

    ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO

    scope="row"| "I Will Survive"

    | rowspan="3"| 2013

    | 8 || 39 || 13

    | rowspan="3"| Non-album singles

    scope="row"| "Killing Me Softly"

    | 36 || — || 53

    scope="row"| "I Will Always Love You"

    | 43 || — || 48

    colspan="14" style="font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

    ==Guest appearances==

    class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
    scope="colw" style="width:15em;"| Single

    ! scope="col" | Year

    ! scope="col" | Album

    scope="row"| "Bang Bang"{{cite web|url=http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/166960-will-i-am-releases-new-version-of-bang-bang-with-the-voices-leah-mcfall.html|title=Will.i.am releases new version of Bang Bang with The Voice's Leah McFall|publisher=Telly Mix|date=19 November 2013|accessdate=9 December 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203043510/http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-voice/166960-will-i-am-releases-new-version-of-bang-bang-with-the-voices-leah-mcfall.html|url-status=dead}}
    (will.i.am featuring Leah McFall)

    | 2013

    | Now That's What I Call Music! 86

    scope="row"| "Spiritual Warfare"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/ghetto-gospel-the-new-testament/1433887301|title=Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament by Ghetts|publisher=iTunes (UK)|access-date=5 September 2018}}
    (Ghetts featuring Leah McFall & Jordy)

    | 2018

    | Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament

    =Music videos=

    class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
    scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title

    ! scope="col"| Year

    ! scope="col"| Director(s)

    "No Ordinary Love"

    | rowspan="2"| 2014

    | noMSG

    "Home"

    | Elisha Smith-Leverock{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Jimmy|title=Leah McFall ft Will.I.Am 'Home' by Elisha Smith-Leverock|url=http://www.promonews.tv/videos/2014/07/02/leah-mcfall-ft-william-home-elisha-smith-leverock|publisher=promonews.tv|accessdate=10 July 2014}}

    "Happy Human"

    | rowspan="2"| 2017

    Concert tours

    Supporting act

    • Leon Jackson solo tour (2010) (supporting Leon Jackson)
    • #willpower Tour (2013) (supporting will.i.am)
    • Forestry Tour (2014) (supporting Jessie J)

    Headlining act

    • INK tour. (2017)

    References

    {{reflist}}

    External links

    • {{IMDb name|5624270}}

    {{authority control}}

    {{DEFAULTSORT:McFall, Leah}}

    Category:1989 births

    Category:British contemporary R&B singers

    Category:Living people

    Category:People from Newtownabbey

    Category:Pop singers from Northern Ireland

    Category:Women singer-songwriters from Northern Ireland

    Category:21st-century singer-songwriters from Northern Ireland

    Category:The Voice UK contestants

    Category:21st-century women singers from Northern Ireland

    Category:Musicians from County Antrim

    Category:Capitol Records artists