Lee DeWyze felt very strongly that his major label debut album “Live It Up” be a reflection of him and that included not just singing the songs, but writing them as well.

With writing credits on all but one track, DeWyze is the first “American Idol” winner to have co-written a first single.

“I like to be connected to the music and know what I’m singing about and feel what I’m singing about and it’s a lot better for me if I’m writing it,” DeWyze tells CTV.ca over the phone.

“I’m really proud of the album.”

DeWyze, who hails from Mount Prospect, Ill., was crowned the Season 9 winner of “Idol” last May and has had a whirlwind ride ever since.

He accompanied the rest of the Top 10 on the “American Idols LIVE!” tour shortly after his win and was also tasked with writing material for his album while on the road.

But DeWyze says it wasn’t that hard to find the time.

“It wasn’t a matter of me trying to find out what kind of artist I was or anything like that. I knew what I wanted to do and I knew who I was as a musician, as a singer and all that. I just wanted to be me and that was my main goal, was to make sure the album was honest and was from me.”

The first single, “Sweet Serendipity,” is an upbeat radio friendly tune that he says explores the idea of fate. 

“It’s kind of how I live my life (believing in fate) so I could say I definitely believe in that song,” says DeWyze.

The accompanying video features DeWyze leaving love “letters” for the object of his affection around the city at night, juxtaposed against visuals of her finding them as she goes through her routine the next day.

With the content of the album focusing on the ups and downs of relationships, DeWyze says much of it is based on personal experience.

“The whole album really just examines love and relationships from all angles, whether you’re in it or outside of it.”

The album definitely has a lighter tone than his first two independent albums, “So I’m Told” and “Slumberland,” says DeWyze. As a result he thinks the album will appeal to everyone, whether or not they were a fan of “American Idol.”

“It’s not an album where every song sounds the same. Every one’s got its own little personality and life and that was important to me. I think I’m just in a different place now and being able to release a record on a major label was obviously different than recording in a small studio in Chicago.”

While DeWyze has plenty of faith in his album, “Live It Up” was released with the lowest first week sales of any “Idol” winner or runner-up yet at 39,000 copies. But DeWyze says that’s the furthest thing from his mind.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about album sales and this and that and to me I don’t gauge success or talent on anything other than true, honest, good music so I feel like if I stay true to that, nothing else really matters to me.”