So @MusicNerdery + @Autostraddle + Current obsession with Lianne La Havas = You have to listen to her.

Since the girls over at Autostraddle really love what I’m doing, I decided to break my rule of not telling anyone about my new favorite artists and wrote up a nice little something for my popular favorite at this time, Lianne La Havas. If you read the nerdery often, you should know about her by now. But if not… heres a nice little condenced version of my love for her below.

Crystal over at the A edited me down to sound a bit different, but its all good. I’d rather be grammatically correct than cute. Here is the grown and sexy version over at the straddle, while my unedited madness is below.

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While my recent foray into the Lana Del Rey debate and debacle was entertaining, a few of you commented that there are a plethora of musicians we could focus our energy on; perhaps artists with less controversy behind them that drives their popularity as a result. Since I totally understand your what you’re saying, let me tell you about an emerging artist that truly deserves your attention and time.

Allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Lianne La Havas. A 22 year old multi-instrumental singer and songwriter who hails from the United Kingdom, Lianne brings a wonderful meld of folk, pop and soul music along with her. With the epidemic of ‘artists’ constantly searching for gimmicks to gain attention, Lianne’s presentation of her product is simplistic and beautiful. She’s a girl who is seemingly wise and talented beyond her years working out complex matters of life, love and emotion via the lovely and haunting melodies she creates on her guitar. Hitting that wonderful and rare balance of stunning talent, her ability to stand on stage and find such comfort and ease in her instruments and words is stunning. All this girl needs is her voice and her guitar. (Amy Winehouse in 2003, anyone?)

It gets better. In a industry wasteland of poorly written songs, Lianne’s lyrical content is the stuff dreams are made of. She crafts vivid and lovely stories that reflect on our perceptions of love (and Age) with ease. She sings universal truths within those tricky emotions that we all have felt at some point, and gives straightforward insight on life that most kids her age simply just dont have. And the voice? A soft and sultry instrument with a subtle, yet beautiful vibrato that resonates strong at the softest tones and sores on the highest, loudest notes. Her melodic tunes are rooted in folk and pop, while her voice is jazz and soul.

The comparisons to Corinne Bailey Rae, Andreya Triana and Adele are currently abound are somewhat accurate, however I think more of an Amel Larrieux voice and Esperanza Spalding’s instrumental talents on a guitar rather than bass. But her own take on comparisons with her contemporaries? “Nothing like Corinne Bailey Rae or Andreya Triana, but we all have similar hair.” 

Still accessible and humble enough to reach out and speak to her growing fanbase, Lianne has always made herself available by the Facebooks and Twitters for light conversation or to show gratitude for lovely comments; a trait I love in any human being, especially musicians. La Havas’ has been bubbling on the scene for a minute, but it wasn’t until her landmark performance on Jools Holland last October where the world started taking notice. Delivering powerful renditions of Age and No Room For Doubt, she instantly caught attention of the ever awesome Bon Iver who just happened to be on the same billing as Lianne that night - he instantly signed her on to his tour as his opening act.