With his rough-hewn voice and laid-back Midwestern charm, Lee DeWyze won over millions of viewers as a contestant and eventual winner of the ninth season of American Idol. An accomplished singer, guitarist, and songwriter who had already built a following on the Chicago club scene by the time he auditioned for Idol, Lee displays his true nature as an artist on his major-label debut, "Live It Up." The title track captures the easygoing spirit of the album – a breezy blend of rootsy pop, rock, and folk, anchored by Lee's soulful, husky voice and bright-sounding acoustic guitar. "I love guys like Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Dave Matthews, and Ray LaMontagne,” Lee says, "I'm a sucker for hard-edged vocals over pretty melodies and catchy grooves, so that’s what I wanted to do on this album. It shows the flip side of what I was able to present on Idol because it’s 100 percent me. I’m so proud of it.”