Learning from Falling

Learning from Falling is the debut studio album by British singer Lamya. It was released on 30 July 2002 through J Records. The singer worked with Nellee Hooper on most of the album, while Mark Ronson, David Kahne, duo Soulshock & Karlin, and others also contributed. Lamya co-wrote and co-produced on all of Learning from Falling's 13 tracks, with "Pink Moon," a Nick Drake cover, being the only exception.

Learning From Falling
Studio album by Lamya
Released	30 July 2002
Genre	R&B dance trip hop
Length	54:37
Label	J
Producer	Peter Edge Nellee Hooper David Kahne Lamya Lester Mendez Soulshock & Karlin The Soundhustlers
Singles from Learning From Falling
"Empires (Bring Me Men)" Released: 23 September 2002 "Black Mona Lisa" Released: 2002

The album earned largely positive reviews from music critics but was a commercial failure, reaching number 16 on the US Top Heatseekers chart only. A remix of the album's debut single "Empires (Bring Me Men)," produced by Sander Kleinenberg, became a number one hit on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Play chart.^[1] Second single "Black Mona Lisa" was covered by British R&B singer Maria Lawson on her eponymous album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
USA Today	[3]

USA Today editor Steve Jones found that "At her best, Lamya is a genre-defying artist whose exotic rhythms, ethereal vocals and eccentric lyrics create a hypnotic mix [...] and while Lamya has songs that lean more toward traditional pop, she's most intriguing when, as on "Perfect Girl," she doesn't try to fit the mold. She succeeds by celebrating her quirks."^[3] Michael Paoletta, writing for Billboard, found that with Learning from Falling, Lamya "exudes a confidence that is not studied or learned, but simply is [...] Sensual, mysterious, and provocative, Learning From Falling shines brightly."^[4]

Exclaim! critic Michael Edwards felt that Lamya "might just seem like another talented R&B star in the making, but her debut album has more depth than your run of the mill disc, thanks to some real talent. Lamya possesses a voice that is reminiscent of Nelly Furtado and Nicolette, but with a little girl sound that will prove to be an acquired taste for some people. Despite that, there are enough radio-friendly moments present to propel her into the mainstream spotlight, for at least a few minutes anyway."^[5] John Bush from AllMusic wrote that "there are a few promising tracks here, but as soon as she (and, more importantly, her executive producers) begin focusing on what can make her sound unique instead of bankable, she'll be able to get some great, consistent work done."^[2]

Critical reception

Learning from Falling reached number 16 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.^[6]

Track listing

Learning from Falling track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Empires (Bring Me Men)"	Lamya Major	Nellee Hooper Lamya[a]	5:07
2.	"East of Anywhere"	Lamya Major	Hooper Lamya[a]	3:57
3.	"Black Mona Lisa"	Lamya Major	Hooper Lamya[a]	4:22
4.	"Never Enough"	Lamya Andres Levin Camus Celli	David Kahne Lamya[a]	4:13
5.	"Judas Kiss (Brutus Diss)"	Lamya Louis Metoyer Justin Stanley	Stanley Mark Ronson The Soundhustlers Lamya[a]	3:49
6.	"Full Frontal Fridays"	Lamya Major	Hooper Lamya[a]	4:19
7.	"I Get Cravings"	Lamya Stanley Ronson	Stanley Ronson The Soundhustlers Lamya[a]	4:56
8.	"Splitting Atoms"	Lamya Stanley Ronson	Stanley Ronson The Soundhustlers Lamya[a]	4:08
9.	"Never's Such a Long Time"	Lamya Rick Nowels	Kahne Lamya[a]	4:27
10.	"The Woman Who"	Lamya Charles Stepney Richard Rudolph	Soulshock & Karlin Lamya[a]	4:42
11.	"The Perfect Girl"	Lamya Ronald Tomlinson Donald George McLean	Hooper Lamya[a]	3:21
12.	"Pink Moon"	Nick Drake	Lamya Peter Edge	2:47
13.	"Black Mona Lisa" (single mix)	Lamya Major	Hooper Lamya[a] Lester Mendez[b]	4:10
Total length:				54:37

International bonus track^[7]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Bed I Never Made"	Lamya Carsten Schack Kenneth Karlin	Soulshock & Karlin Lamya[a]	4:09
Total length:				58:28

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes co-producer(s)
• ^{^[b]} denotes remix producer(s)

Personnel

Lamya: Vocals Rusty Anderson – guitar Karen Elaine Bakunin – viola Chandru – violin Sal Cuevas – bass Aloke Dasgupta – sitar Allan Gibson – standup bass Lukasz Gottwald – guitar Jimmy Hogarth – guitar David Kahne – bass, keyboards, programming Teddy Kumpel – guitar Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums, percussion

Manny Lopez – guitar Will Malone – arranger, conductor Ralph Morrison – violin Rick Nowels – balalaika Shawn Pelton – drums, percussion Sara Perkins – violin Ian Rossiter – programming Marsha Skins – violin The Soulhusters – beats, multi-instruments Merlyn Sturt – viola Fabien Waltman – programming Adam Zimmon – guitar

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Learning from Falling

Chart (2002)	Peak position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[8]	16