“I think vocals are the way forward.”
London singer-songwriter, Lianne La Havas, has an unshakable passion for singing. “It’s one of the most important instruments that we have, the voice,” she beams. “It comes out of you, you know? It’s the only thing that’s not man-made. It’s within you.”
The 23-year-old’s debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, has been critically celebrated since its release in 2012. Having just gone Silver in the UK, La Havas is now visiting Australia for the first time to tour the album, kicking off this weekend in Sydney.
With highly polished vocals, the soulful singer intimately unveiled a collage of lyrical love stories when the album was released to a global audience.
“It’s different, to finally release the album and all these personal songs I’ve spent time with, in my living room,” she reveals. “Suddenly there are people in Australia, for example, that have the album. It’s more exciting than daunting.”
Collaborating with English songwriter Matt Hales (better known under his artist alias, Aqualung) as the record’s producer, La Havas was able to “completely trust him with the music and the lyrics.”
“I found,” she shares, “we just instantly connected musically.” Having met Hales at the age of 19, in 2009, the young singer knew straight away she wanted to work with the established musician. “I mean, if Erykah [Badu] said to me, ‘You need to quit smoking’, I would have listened to her. I’d do anything she says!”
As an Aqualung fan since the age of about 12, it’s no surprise the collaboration was such a successful one. So successful, that Hales may be asked to produce a sophomore release with his newfound friend and colleague.
“Out of everyone that I’d worked with, he was one of my favourites. And he understood my sound the best, I think. He’s just such a wonderful person. I’d love to work with him again,” gushes La Havas. “I think there’s still more to explore with him.”
It’s certainly not the only opportunity the smiling solo artist has had to bump elbows with her musical idols. After supporting Bon Iver on his US tour in late 2011, La Havas went on to shake hands with Erykah Badu, Prince, and perhaps most excitingly for the young singer, Stevie Wonder.
“I was starstruck. He’s just touched so many people’s lives!” she tells of the musical legend. “So many generations of musicians and artists have been so inspired by him. So, I felt truly in the presence of someone special when I met him.”
It was also Wonder who told the understandably impressionable performer she should stop smoking. When asked if she would have given up her nicotine for anyone else, La Havas laughs.
“I probably would! I mean, if Erykah [Badu] said to me, ‘You need to quit smoking’, I would have listened to her. I’d do anything she says!”
It quickly becomes evident that the American queen of neo-soul, Badu, has had a considerable influence on La Havas’ vocal style and technique. As she reminisces attending her first Badu live concert, the joy emanating from her husky voice is almost tangible.
“It was at a venue called The Brixton Academy [in] London, and she played for about two hours. It was just amazing, the whole show. I was just so in awe of her!”
Referring adoringly to the pioneering artist as a “goddess on stage”, she confesses that she found herself “just in tears for the first, like, six songs into the show.”
With musical mentors such as these, it’s little wonder that the emerging London talent has acquired such a heartfelt approach to singing. Her songs display her incredible vocal control, harnessing a similar bluesy tone to those of her predecessors. “Suddenly there are people in Australia, for example, that have the album. It’s more exciting than daunting.”
Lauryn Hill, contemporary American singer and frontwoman of 90s hip-hop group, the Fugees, is discussed as another of La Havas’ musical inspirations. Her voice swells with admiration as she recounts how Hill influenced her debut album, specifically with the 2002 live album release, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0.
“When I’m writing my songs, I think of the way she delivered that album in particular,” explains La Havas. “The way she sang it, and the way she felt so close to it, that she could even be drawn to tears from her own performance, you know? So I tried to put as much emotion, and truth, and honesty into my songs.”
La Havas pauses, seemingly processing the sheer weight of her admiration for the recording.
“Even though that album was made 10 years ago, it seems so poignant even now. She’s a huge inspiration.”
They are big footsteps for the surfacing vocalist to be walking in. But not at all insurmountable. After all, with her debut album still touring, the talented La Havas is ambitiously already started developing ideas for her next recording. “I’m always interested to make things better, if I can. And more interesting.”
She details some concepts she would one day like to explore, with particular emphasis on sinking her teeth into a capella compositions; something Is Your Love Big Enough? gave glimpses of with its opening track, ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’.
“I love the idea of harmonies, and choirs… backing vocals and things. I also love barber shop music, and I love the Andrew Sisters,” she lists, “stuff with really close harmonies.”
Excitedly, she continues, “I’d love to try doing a piece like that, or maybe a few pieces in the next album. Just something that has a strong melody to begin with, and then interpreting it in a way that requires only the voice.”
While her songwriting remains personally reflective, the endearingly positive twenty-something makes it clear that her music should be for her listeners to take and enjoy.
She confides that she hopes the songs are relatable enough that “people can have their own interpretations as well… If they feel like it.”
Is Your Love Big Enough? is out now through Warner Australia, read the Tone Deaf review here. Lianne La Havas plays the Famous Spiegeltent as part of Sydney Festival tonight, as well as dates in Parramatta, Brisbane, and Melbourne next week. Full details and tix below.
Lianne La Havas Australian Tour 2013
Saturday 19th January – The Famous Spiegeltent @ Sydney Festival, NSW
Tickets
Tuesday 22nd January – Salon Perdu @ Sydney Festival, Parramatta NSW
Tickets
Wednesday 23rd January – Salon Perdu @ Sydney Festival, Parramatta NSW
Tickets
Thursday 24th January – The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Tickets
Friday 25th January – The Corner, Melbourne VIC
Tickets
