Featured Artist: Philippa Hanna

Nov 01 2012

Last year Philippa Hanna was voted 'Best British Artist' at the annual LTTM Awards and since then she has gone from strength to strength. But 2012 will be known as the year Philippa supported soul legend Lionel Richie on his massive UK arena tour.

Philippa released her critically acclaimed debut album 'Watching Me' in 2007, following by second album 'Taste' in 2009, making her a household name in UK Christian music. LTTM called it "A fantastic album" and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

2011 started off with the release of her Out of The Blue album, recorded live at Steelworks Studio and produced by Grammy Award winner Eliot Kennedy. The album included the song 'Raggedy Doll' which resulted in the launch of The Raggedy Doll Foundation, a charity which promotes self-worth in children. The year got even busier for this artist, as she also made an appearance on the BBC's Songs of Praise.

What also followed that year was Philippa's first single release with the song 'I Am Amazing'. "The song, which has struck a chord with audiences around the world, is giving a voice to people wanting to break free from a sense of low self-image", said Resound Media.

Discussing the single herself, Philippa added "We've wanted to formally release the song as a single for some time and we finally have the video to go along! You are [all] totally Amazing and I hope the song serves as a reminder of that fact. I'm sure there are loads of people in your life who need to hear that God tailor made them for the life they've been given!"

As 2012 came, Philippa didn't give up on touring, she kept plugging away, playing to anybody who would listen on her 'Coffee Shop Tour' and appearing at the Big Church Day Out festival. Her first DVD release, titled 'Live At The Lantern' also came in 2012. Philippa was joined by banjo, mandolin, harmonica and ukelele bass over 3 nights at one of the UK's most delicate Victorian theatres to film it. "The DVD offers fans the opportunity to enjoy her faultless vocals with new arrangements of her most popular material as well as bonus features such as her music video for 'I Am Amazing', which has rapidly become the artist's most viewed video on YouTube" explains Resound Media.

To end an amazing few years for the singer, she describes the opportunity to support one of the greatest singers of all time, Academy and Grammy award winner Lionel Richie, as "a dream come true and an opportunity I'm hugely grateful for. I'm so excited to watch Lionel- I'm a fan. My dad Pat Hanna is an entertainer and has been singing Lionel's songs since I was small. So it will be emotional to hear them all live from the man himself!"

Originally in the Motown group the Commodores, Lionel Richie had hits with 'Three Times A Lady' and 'Easy'. He then went on to enjoy huge solo success with hit singles including 'Say You, Say Me', 'Endless Love', 'All Night Long' and 'Hello', and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Lionel Richie's Tuskegee UK Tour began at the LG Arena in Birmingham on 26th October 2012 and continues until 15th December at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham. Also included are two dates at London's O2 Arena, plus dates in Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle and Sheffield.

If anybody deserves to be heard by the thousands that come and see this Motown legend then Philippa is certainly one of them. Having just signed to Authentic Media, the talented British singer is due to release her new book with the label in summer 2013. LTTM can't wait to see what else is in store for this amazing artist in 2013.