R&B star Lemar is like the Chris Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson of the UK.

The 31-year-old singer, whose full name is Lemar Obika, rose to stardom on the UK after appearing on the BBC reality show 'Fame Academy.'

Though the Tottenham, London-bred vocalist didn't win the series – he actually came in third place – Lemar has shot to superstardom in the UK and has released four studio albums – 2003's 'Dedicated,' 2004's 'Time To Grow,' 2006's 'Truth About Love,' and 2008's 'The Reason.'

I sat with the two-time Brit Award winner when I traveled to London as a part of VisitBritain.com's Transatlanticism Campaign (www.transatlanticism.org) to talk about his career in music, his desire to break in America and his love for Alicia Keys.

As a male performer, how eager were you to see Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' concert run here in London?

It's unfortunate and I didn't even get to see him live. He was definitely one person that I wanted to get to see live. I was really looking forward to the performance and had my tickets in hand and everything. The news was such a shock. I was coming back from the studio and one of my friends hit me on the Blackberry and said that Michael was dead. I thought it was a lie, but I got home and saw it on the news and it was shocking. It didn't really make sense, but it was one of those things.

Didn't you have a record deal before you did the UK reality show 'Fame Academy?'

It was crazy. 'Fame Academy' came to me in a point of my life where I was just about to give up on music in general because I had been doing it for eight years. I was really fortunate to open up for Usher when he came to our town when I was 17. From there I supported Destiny's Child, Uncle Sam and different American acts that were coming over here for the first time. I had done a lot of performances and for me it didn't equal a deal. 'Fame Academy' was my last attempt before I decided to continue studying. It turned out that my last shot got me an opportunity to do what I love doing. It was a crazy time on the TV show because I was on the show for three months in a house. My main focus in the house was just to try and show people what I had been learning for those eight years and hope that one of the people watching would sign me. I didn't know whether it would amount to a deal at the end of things because most of the record companies knew me over the eight years. I had meetings with them and they had seen me perform. They said I was good, but it never amounted to a deal. I was happy that I was able to show the people what I had been learning and that it worked for me and I got my deal.

Did you imagine things would take off for you like this after you didn't win the show?

It's gone extremely well. I didn't win the show and at the time I felt very disappointed that I didn't win, but at the same time I felt very blessed because I got to meet a lot of good people on the show. I got to work with Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie so I felt very blessed to have had that experience. It would have been nice to have won, but in hindsight it's done me well. I am recording my fifth album at the moment so something is going right.

Beverley Knight told me that she fell in love with your singing when you were on 'Fame Academy.'

It was really odd because when I did the show reality TV was quite new. 'Pop Idol' was the only show on and this one was next so I decided to try it and get my name out there. I didn't really know what the end result would be, but I remember the last night of the show, the producers told me that Beverley Knight wanted me to join her on the end of her U.K. tour for a night. I was pretty shocked. When Lionel Richie came on the show he gave me some really positive advice and we chatted in private as well. He has been a good supporter as well. I felt very honored to have people that you respect reciprocate that same respect and love to you.

You've become extremely popular with the ladies now. Have you gotten use to your new heartthrob status?

I don't know. It's flattering, but I just try and focus on the music. I'm a very shy kind of person anyway. I'm a different person on stage because its work, but it's also fun. You take everything that comes with that with a pinch of salt. Personal life failure comes sometimes when you try and take the character from stage into real life and become arrogant. I try and separate the two when I can.

You and your girlfriend have a one-year old daughter named Nyiema. How are you balancing fatherhood with your hectic life as a musician?

It's great. You never have enough time for either and I'm a passionate and focused kind of person. I love music and want to stay up until 6 o'clock in the morning, but now the heart is split in two. When 12 or one o'clock comes around I have to at least go in and look at him. It's good for balance and it reminds you of what's really important in life. It's not the chase for money or fame, its family and that real love. I have a real love for music as well and I try to divide it up and it's been working out okay.

Are you ready to finally release a CD in the US?

Definitely! I am frustrated that I haven't released anything in the US yet. I guess the stars need to align for me in a certain way, but I definitely think that I have something to offer the people over there. I have worked over there a lot. I did some work with Jim Beanz, Jack Splash, Jim Jonsin and some really cool people. There's a lot of love out there on the down low so I just want to show the mainstream what I can do.

Now I first met you at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Dinner in Los Angeles earlier this year. You told me you were in Los Angeles to shoot a music video. Do you work a lot in the US?

I've done a whole lot of music videos in the US. I did my last video there. Most of my videos have been done in LA or New York. There's a music side of things and a politics side of things. I need the politics to line up with the music at the right time and I'm confident that it will happen.

Your fifth album is out this fall, right?

This fifth one is more like a greatest hits, which is like a celebration while I'm making the album for next year. I'm hoping that it comes out first or second quarter of next year. At the moment, we have one new song and looking for another one as a starter and then we'll move. Hopefully, in about a months time I'll be out again and I'll be doing my thing. That album could be the one to go because you just need one big song.

Have you started on the next studio album and if so, what's it going to sound like?

At the moment I'm still finding my sound. A lot of people know me for my voice and tell me that I'm a good singer. With this next album I think there's gonna be a lot of pace. I just finished my last tour and it was by far my most successful one. The show in general had a lot of pace to it which meant that the slower moments or mid-tempo moments were more special. I hope to carry that into my next album as well to keep that energy, but keep it soulful. I think sometimes UK doesn't translate because in America, they appreciate natural talent. The music can be whatever it is but as long as the artist has natural talent you'll give it a listen. That's why some acts have worked and some haven't. Amy Winehouse and Duffy have done well over there and they are singing. There are other artists who are based more on their character than their ability and that doesn't translate in the same way although they are bigger artists. I hope that when I do get my shot the live moments will win over more people.

Any artist that you're dying to collaborate with that you haven't?

Alicia Keys! I have said that about 100 times and I'm gonna keep on saying it. I think that we compliment each other and it would work vocally. I said hello to her once about five years ago. We just need to get through the politics of it.

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VIDEO: Watch Lemar's music video for his song 'Don't Give It Up.'

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To read other UK music features in BV Buzz's 'Conversations Abroad' series, check out:

'Conversations Abroad: UK's Queen of Soul Mica Paris'

'Conversations Abroad: Introducing UK Music Sensation Jamelia'

& 'Conversations Abroad: Meet UK Soul Siren Beverley Knight.'