In a very short time, British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas has gone from being a relative unknown singing backup for Paloma Faith to becoming one of the most buzzed about solo artists on both sides of the Atlantic.
She released her first solo EP, Lost & Found, on Oct. 21, 2011, the very same day she appeared on the taste-making British music show Later... With Jools Holland. It exposed the world to La Havas's minimalist mash-up of folk and soul, and her career has been on a direct ascent ever since. She's toured with Bon Iver and Alicia Keys, was longlisted for the U.K. Sound of 2012 poll, and her full-length debut, 2012's Is Your Love Big Enough?, was named the iTunes album of the year. Now the 23-year-old singer kicks off her largest North American tour, including dates in Vancouver on March 26, Toronto on April 4 and Montreal on April 5.
We caught up with the affable singer while she was en route to Birmingham, U.K., to talk about why it took two years to record her debut, what she plans for a followup and how some big-name remixes have brought her music to a whole new audience.
La Havas was signed to Warner in 2010 and worked for two years before releasing any music to the public, a rare luxury today where debuts are rushed to capitalize on viral hype (see: Del Rey, Lana).
My label was very, very creatively wonderful to me. I was allowed the opportunity to work with some amazing producers and to just work on my craft and play live a lot and come to grips with the whole concept of being an entertainer as well as a singer-songwriter. I was also able to write new songs and experience things that inspired those songs.
I was never rushed, and I’m very grateful for that. I wanted to get it perfect. I wanted to make something that I would be proud to put my name next to and I’ve been given that chance. And now I can’t wait to make the next one. I’ve started writing for it and I’m hoping to put my ideas onto record in May and start recording and just see which direction it goes. It could go anywhere.
La Havas grew up in a house where her mother played a lot of Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige, both obvious influences on the half-Greek, half-Jamaican singer. Although that's not all.
There was a lot of reggae in my house. I grew up with my Jamaican grandparents so they would play Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. I remember one of my earliest memories of listening to Michael Jackson on vinyl and Stevie Wonder and Prince. My dad also played instruments, so he was the one that introduced me to amazing jazz, like Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, stuff like that.
Everything is autobiographical.
All my songs are personal, in a certain way. Is Your Love Big Enough? documents snippets of my feelings and thoughts from the age of 19 to 22, which was the period of time I was making the record. So these songs are about various relationships with a partner and with myself, so I talk about that on my record mainly.
Mainly, it’s just me singing about my life and playing guitar chords that I think sound nice.
When La Havas's "Forget" was remixed by acclaimed L.A.-based hip-hop producer Shlohmo in early 2012, it exposed the singer to an all new audience, which in turn has resulted in other big-name producers remixing her songs.
That was a good remix for me. I’m so happy with it, and it just brought the music to a whole different audience, which is great. [Shlohmo and I] haven’t spoke about doing anything official, but I’d love to. If he’s reading, I would absolutely love to try something.
I was very flattered in general when I heard my songs remixed because hip-hop is a genre I’m very interested in. It’s one of the most creative where you can make some music without even having to pick up the guitar. It’s very simple what I do, really. Fundamentally, I sing a lyric or a feeling and then they can do what they will with that, so I love that aspect.
And it could be anything, really. Personally I’m into lots of different things and I’m willing to try anything. I love music and the possibilities that are open to you as an artist. I’m just excited about the prospects of even just working with the people who have remixed these songs.
She's a big fan of another L.A. artist, rapper Kendrick Lamar.
I would love to work with Kendrick, or whoever he’s working with would be great. I love his beats and love the way he raps. Even just maybe singing a hook for someone like that would be cool.
Right, so maybe I’ll just call up [Lamar producer] Dr. Dre and see what he says.
Although, for a long time I’ve worked with a producer called Matt Hails, who is one of my best friends and one of the few people I'm willing to share my personal feelings with and what direction to take them. I just trust him from the get-go.
Lianne La Havas plays Vancouver on March 26, Toronto April 4 and Montreal April 5. For more information visit Liannelahavas.com.
Follow Jesse Kinos-Goodin on Twitter: @JesseKG
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