Right before she leaves for her much-awaited Broadway comeback in “Les Miserables”, the country’s one and only international pride, world-class artist Ms. Lea Salonga pays her local fans and followers with a fitting tribute of timeless songs in an album called “Inspired” under Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

The album, a product of her close collaboration with arranger-produced-brother, young maestro Gerard Salonga, is Lea’s first studio album in seven years after her highly-successful “In Love” in 1998 and “By Heart” in 1999. Both albums were also under Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

“Inspired” is a collection of lea’s personal favorites, a few originals exclusively written for her by Jim Brickman (“To Hear You Say”) and Lani Macaraeg (“Do You Hear It”) plus her official wedding song “Two Words” penned by Louie Ocampo.

She says of this album, “I'm very, very excited about this. It's been a while since I've gone into the studio to record a full scale CD, so the process has been truly enjoyable.  I love these wonderful orchestrations (courtesy of Gerard Salonga, Ria Osorio and Marvin Querido) and the sound they've created.  My job was made incredibly easy!  All I had to do was open my mouth and sing!"

“The song selection was definitely collaborative... Gerard, Sony BMG and myself had a hand in what song would make it to the album.  A lot of them were personal favorites, songs I've enjoyed singing in concert that were never yet recorded, or originals that were so beautiful we had to include them.  And singing all of them was just a joy."

Asked why “Inspired” for a title, Lea proudly states, “I guess its a word that describes our collective state of being.  We were inspired by various things: my new baby, different artists' albums and/or vocal stylings, experiences, people, just going about our individual days.  There wasn't any one thing I can pin down or point out, but whatever these things were, it brought out our best.  I hope you all enjoy what you'll hear."

First single off the album is “Promise Me” by Beverly Craven and will be heard on the airwaves very, very soon. Other much-awaited tracks in the album are: “Who Are You?,”  “When October Goes,” “Brian's Song,” “Sing,” “Two Words,” “When The Winter's Gone,” “Land Of  The Loving,” “Waiting For Love,” “To Hear You Say,” “My Foolish Heart,” and “Do You Hear It?”  

Lea Salonga’s “Inspired” is available at all record outlets under Sony BMG Music Entertainment.