Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas
Background information
Birth name Lianne Charlotte Barnes
Born 23 August 1989
London, England
Origin London, England
Genres soul, folk
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
Instruments guitar, piano
Years active 2011–present
Labels Warner Bros., Labour of Love
Associated acts Paloma Faith
Website www.liannelahavas.com

Lianne La Havas (born 23 August 1989 as Lianne Charlotte Barnes[1][2]) is an English folk and soul singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.[3] Her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough? was awarded the title of iTunes Album of The Year 2012.

Early life

La Havas was born in London, England, to a Greek father and Jamaican mother.[4] She was raised in Tooting and Streatham, spending the majority of her time with her grandparents following her parents' separation as a child.[5] La Havas began singing at seven, and cites her parents' diverse musical tastes as having the biggest influence on her music.[6] Her mother played with Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige, and her father, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, taught her the basics of guitar and piano. Lianne wrote her first song at the age of 11, but did not learn to play the guitar until she was 18 years old. Lianne attended Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls in Croydon, where she studied art A-level, and had planned to take an art foundation course before she decided to leave college to pursue a career in music full-time.[5] Although born Lianne Barnes, her stage name is an adaptation derived from her Greek father Henry Vlahavas's surname.[7]

Jodrell Bank, Manchester, UK (June 2012) (Photo: musicmafiauk)

Music career

Whilst attending sixth-form in Croydon, a friend of La Havas', the singer and songwriter Allan Rose (who had attended the Brit School), introduced her to other musicians who would assist La Havas in the recording of her first demos.[5] Through that same friend La Havas was also introduced to British singer Paloma Faith; she later sang backing vocals on tour for Faith. La Havas was co-writer and performer in The Paris Parade alongside Christian Pinchbeck (who designed the artwork for Lost & Found and is also now part of the duo Memphis Industries duo Elephant); their short-lived career would kick off La Havas' career in commercial music.[8] In 2010, Lianne signed to Warner Bros. Records, spending two years developing her songwriting skills before releasing any music publicly.[9][10]

Lianne La Havas at Point Éphémère, Paris 2012 (Photo: Ludovic ETIENNE)

Her first EP Lost & Found was released on 21 October 2011 on the Labour of Love label,[11] featuring Willy Mason on the opening track "No Room For Doubt".[12] That same month, La Havas released the live EP Live From LA, which was made available for free download on her website.[13][14] La Havas made her television debut on 21 October 2011 broadcast of BBC Two's Later… with Jools Holland, a programme that also featured Wisconsin folk band Bon Iver;[15] soon after this on 25 October 2011 it was announced that La Havas would be the supporting act for Bon Iver's December 2011 North American tour.[16] Her official debut single "Lost & Found" was released in the UK on 30 April 2012,[17] and her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough? was released on 9 July 2012 on Warner Brothers.[9] At the end of 2012, Is Your Love Big Enough? was named iTunes Album of the Year.

On 24 September 2012, September La Havas supported Alicia Keys at MTV 'Crashes' Manchester, a live performance in front of 1,000 people in Manchester Cathedral, which was broadcast in 164 countries. On 31 December 2012, she appeared on BBC Two's New Year's Eve show Jools' Annual Hootenanny singing Cow Cow Boogie. On 9 June 2013, La Havas played at the RockNess music festival in Inverness, Scotland,[18] and on 30 June 2013 La Havas performed at the Glastonbury Festival 2013.[19] La Havas also performed at the Isle of Wight Festival in June 2013.

In early 2014, Prince played a gig in her living room.[20] She also appeared on Alt-J's 2014 album "This is All Yours" on the track "Warm Foothills". On September 30th Prince released Art Official Age, featuring La Havas heavily through the album, singing in "Clouds" and providing vocals on "Affirmation I&II", "Way Back Home" and "Affirmation III".[21] La Havas performed with Prince on an episode of Saturday Night Live as a featured vocalist on 3 November 2014. [22] She collaborated with Aqualung on the song, "Eggshells", from his upcoming album, " '10 Features' ", due for release on 19 January 2015.[23]

Instruments and equipment

La Havas plays a hollow-bodied 1964 Harmony Alden Stratotone, which is put through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp on stage with her band. For solo gigs she uses a SansAmp DI'd, and a Roland CUBE amp is used for practice.[24]

Discography

Studio albums

Sydney 2013 (Photo: Bruce)
Festival La Voix Du Rock, Tourcoing, 2013 (Photo: Bellenger)
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[25]		 BEL (VL)
[26]		 BEL (WA)
[27]		 FRA
[28]		 GER
[29] 		IRE
[30]		 NL
[31]		 SWI
[32]		 US
[33]
Is Your Love Big Enough? 4 27 66 96 30 21 3 32 142
Blood — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or not released to that country.

Extended plays

Title EP details
Lost & Found
  • Released: 7 November 2011
  • Label: Warner, Labour of Love
  • Formats: CD,[35] 10" vinyl,[36] digital download
Live in L.A.
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Warner, Labour of Love
  • Formats: Free digital download
Forget
  • Released: 13 February 2012
  • Label: Warner, Labour of Love
  • Formats: CD,[37] 10" vinyl,[38] digital download

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[39]		 BEL (VL)
[26]		 BEL (WA)
[27]		 NL
[31]
2011 "No Room for Doubt" (featuring Willy Mason) – 67 21 — Is Your Love Big Enough?
"Forget" 142 – – —
2012 "Lost & Found" 126 – – —
"Is Your Love Big Enough?" 103 17 28 —
"Age" – 43 – 96
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or not released to that country

Other appearances

Title Year Notes
"Little Talks"[40] 2012 Cover version recorded for the BBC Radio 1 show Live Lounge

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Work Result
2011 BBC Sound of... Sound of 2012[3] Lianne La Havas Nominated
2012 Barclaycard Mercury Prize[41] Is Your Love Big Enough? Nominated
iTunes Best of 2012 Album of the Year[42] Is Your Love Big Enough? Won
2013 MOBO Awards[43][44] Best Female Act Lianne La Havas Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Act Lianne La Havas Nominated

Concert tours

References

  1. ↑ http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/07/lianne-la-havas-always-in-good-company Lianne La Havas always in good company- Toronto Sun
  2. ↑ Lester, Paul (22 April 2009). "Paloma Faith (No 532)". The Guardian (London).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sound of – 2012 – Lianne La Havas". BBC. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Lianne La Havas on Facebook, retrieved 30 October 2011. Lewis, Tim, "One to Watch: Lianne La Havas"; The Observer, Saturday, 29 October 2011
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jasmine Gardner (12 April 2012). "Sound of the summer: Lianne Le Havas – Music – Arts – Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Nonesuch to Release English Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Lianne La Havas's Debut Album in US This Summer; First LA Show May 22 | Nonesuch Records". Nonesuch.com. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  7. ↑ http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/07/lianne-la-havas-always-in-good-company
  8. ↑ "Ligature Magazine, retrieved October 17". Ligaturemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Lianne La Havas: ‘A Lot Has Happened In My Life’ | First On | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "3 UK Female Singers to Look Out For". Yinnyang.co.uk. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Lost and Found: Lianne La Havas". Amazon.co.uk. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  12. ↑ Ligature Magazine.
  13. ↑ "FreEP: Lianne La Havas – "Live In L.A" « PinBoardBlog.com – Alt-Urban Specialists". Pinboardblog.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Peter Vidani (8 October 2011). "Lady. Bang. Beat". Lady. Bang. Beat. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "BBC – BBC Two Programmes – Later... with Jools Holland, Series 39, Episode 5". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  16. ↑ De Souza, Kris, "Lianne La Havas confirmed for Bon Iver's December US tour"; Thefourohfive, 25 October 2011 (retrieved 27 October 2011)
  17. ↑ "Lianne La Havas' Sold Out Scala Show To Be Streamed Live". Femalefirst.co.uk. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  18. ↑ Lynn, Kirstin. "RockNess 2013: Lianne La Havas raises the bar in supreme soul diva set". STV. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  19. ↑ Lachno, James (1 July 2013). "Glastonbury 2013, Day Three review: other stages: Bobby Womack, Lianne Le Havas, Sir Bruce Forsyth". The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Prince to charge $10 for live shows". BBC. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  21. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (15 September 2014). "Alt-J - 'This Is All Yours'". Time Inc. (UK). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Watch:Lianne La Havas Performs on “Saturday Night Live” with Prince". Nonesuch. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "AQUALUNG UNVEILS VIDEO FOR ‘EGGSHELLS’, FEATURING LIANNE LA HAVAS". DIY Magazine. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Guitar Girl'd: 'Is Your Love Big Enough' for Lianne La Havas?". NewBay Media, LLC. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "2012-07-21 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Official UK Charts Company.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Lianne La Havas – Belgium (Flanders) Charts". ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Lianne La Havas – Belgium (Wallonia) Charts". ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  28. ↑ "Discographie Lianne La Havas" (in French). lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  29. ↑ "Album – Lianne La Havas, Is Your Love Big Enough?". Media Control. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  30. ↑ "IRMA Irish Charts". IRMA.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Lianne La Havas – Dutch Charts". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  32. ↑ "Swiss Charts > Lianne La Havas". hitparade.ch Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  33. ↑ "US Billboards". Billboards.
  34. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  35. ↑ "Lianne La Havas – Lost & Found EP (CD) at Juno Records". Juno. 7 July 2012.
  36. ↑ "Lianne La Havas – Lost & Found EP (10") at Juno Records". Juno. 7 July 2012.
  37. ↑ "Lianne La Havas – Forget (CD) at Juno Records". Juno. 7 July 2012.
  38. ↑ "Lianne La Havas – Lost & Found EP (10") at Juno Records". Juno. 7 July 2012.
  39. ↑ "Official Charts Analysis: Newton Faulkner needs just 16k sales to hit No.1". Music Week (Subscription Required). 16 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  40. ↑ "Lianne La Havas – Live Lounge". BBC. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  41. ↑ Jonze, Tim (12 September 2012). "Mercury Prize 2012 Nominations". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  42. ↑ "Lianne La Havas, Emeli Sande, amongst iTunes Best of 2012". Music Week. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Disclosure, AlunaGeorge, Jessie Ware & more nominated for MOBO Awards 2013". thelineofbestfit.com. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "Winners 2013 MOBO Awards". mobo.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.

External links

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