Everyone in the music industry is talking about soul sensation Lianne La Havas!

Jasmine Holley reviews her debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’ for Your Coffee Break…

Lianne La Havas first came to our attention last year with her sensational performance on Later With Jools Holland, she was picked as the one to watch by the Observer and Zane Lowe chose her single ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’ as his ‘Hottest Record In The World’. She has even earned the respect of Stevie Wonder and Prince who are huge fans of this talented young lady.

With only 22 years behind her, there is no doubt that soul-singer Lianne La Havas has years of beautiful songwriting ahead of her and that is what’s so exciting.

Her debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’ is easy, breezy and beautiful. Take a listen to ‘Age’ and you’ll be captivated by it’s humour and La Havas’ ability to laugh at herself. Her penchant for the older man is heartfelt and honest with lyrics such as ‘So is it such a problem that he’s old? As long as he does whatever he’s told I’m glad that it’s just my heart that he stole and left my dignity alone’

Comparisons to Corrine Bailey Rae are common and you can hear the similarities in their sweet sounding vibrato, but this lady has her own way of toying and teasing the audience with her jazzy wit and clever interplay.

The purrs and pounces are soon followed by the second half of the album which slows down in tempo and sings sounds of lost love, mistakes and failed relationships. You are lured in and lost in another time.

So where has La Havas been and why haven’t we heard of her before now?

Growing up in London with a Greek father and Jamaican mother she started singing aged seven. Surrounded by the sounds of Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill as a young girl, her passion was to perform.

In her college days she was approached by a friend of a friend who introduced her to Paloma Faith who she later sang backing vocals on tour. It was around this time that she recorded her first demo tracks. Her EP ‘Lost And Found’ won the hearts of the nation with the opening track ‘No Room For Doubt’ featuring Willy Mason.

Her popularity has soared since her performance on Jools Holland and with a string of festivals this Summer, she is sure to wow the crowds.

Lianne La Havas is the one to watch…